Frequently Asked Questions
What sets you apart from other custom cake shops?
Chris's reputation is second to none. The personal one-on-one service you’ll receive from Chris is unmatched by anything you’ll get elsewhere. He’ll work within your budget without sacrificing quality or value. Our custom cakes not only look great — they taste great too!
What advice do you have when ordering a custom cake?
Make sure your expectations are realistic. Each cake we make is truly one-of-a-kind and every effort is made to create the cake you envision based on your budget. Keep in mind the cakes you see on TV can start at $1,000 each and involve a small army of workers to complete them.
When should I place my custom cake order?
It’s never too early to get your order in. Because our schedule fills up quickly, a minimum of 1 week is appreciated. After an order has been placed, every effort will be made to accommodate changes, but may not be possible if supplies have already been purchased. Rush orders will be considered on an individual basis. Additional charges may apply.
Do you offer delivery?
Yes, all custom creations are delivered right to you in our refrigerated van (a.k.a. The Polar Bear) and include set up if required. The minimum fee is $25. Charges are determined based on mileage to and from delivery location.
What is the difference between buttercream and fondant?
Buttercream is what you see on many traditional cakes. It’s primarily made of sugar and butter and is easy to spread onto cakes and use for decorating. Fondant has a dough-like consistency which is rolled out and placed over the cake or molded for decorations. Fondant is very versatile and creates a smooth finish, which can be harder to obtain with spatula-applied buttercream. Most people prefer the taste of buttercream over fondant. Fondant covered cakes cost more because there is more labor and materials involved. All of our fondant covered cakes are first covered in a layer of buttercream so you can have the best of both worlds – taste and design.
What are your deposit and payment terms?
When you place your custom order, you will be required to make a deposit equal to 50% of the total order cost. The balance is due upon delivery.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellations for all custom work must be received at least 1 week prior to delivery in order to receive a refund of your deposit.
What methods of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, checks and major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover). No work can begin until checks have cleared.
“Chris created a wonderful birthday cake for my husband’s surprise party, and were the most responsive of the four DC/Silver Spring bakeries. Because I was in ‘the other Washington’ during party prep time, I faxed a sketch with details of the artwork I wanted about two weeks before the party. The price was excellent for the high quality and detail of the icing artwork.”
— LJ C., Olympia, WA
“I ordered a cake for a birthday party — the theme was “My Super Sweet 25.” I wanted that written on the cake in graffiti letters. No one at Safeway or Giant understood my bizarre request, so I had to bring in the big guns for some “Ace of Cakes”-style baking. This is the conversation I had with the person on the phone:
Me: And I would like this all to be graffiti letters and colorful.
Chris: OK, one of our bakers is in a gang, I’ll have him work on it.
Pretty sure he was joking, but the cake turned out beautifully, and it was so tasty! Chocolate fudge, yum. A big hit at the party!”
— Adele C., Washington, DC