Same day, this week or next month?
Your options depend largely on how much notice you can give. With no notice at all, look for a cake shop or bakery with a chilled cabinet of ready-made cakes – most will pipe a name on in a few minutes. With two to five days, many local bakers can produce a decorated cake in your choice of flavour and colours. With two weeks or more, you open up the full world of custom design: themed cakes, sugar figures, tiers and photo prints.
- Today – ready-made cake with a piped message
- 2–5 days – simple decorated sponge in your chosen flavour
- 1–2 weeks – themed cake with fondant decorations
- 3+ weeks – tiered, sculpted or highly detailed designs
Choosing a size
A 6-inch round cake usually feeds 8–12 people, an 8-inch round 16–24, and a 10-inch round 30–40, depending on how deep the cake is and how generously it is cut. Ask the baker how many portions they estimate, and whether that is a party slice or a smaller finger portion.
For children's parties, a slightly smaller cake plus cupcakes is often easier than one enormous cake.