askmacmo

Your frequently asked questions answered

The world of bespoke cake decoration is full of mystery and wonder, and you will no doubt have questions that aren't addressed here. If you spot one you do have, just click it. Any other queries, don't hesitate to call us or drop us a line.

How much does a wedding cake cost?: The price of a wedding cake is understandably an issue for those planning a wedding. Here at macmocakes the answer to that question varies considerably. The numbers of tiers, the type of cake, the complexity of its design and the intricacy of its decoration will all affect the final cost. As a very general rule of thumb, our cakes cost between £2.50 and £4.00 per person. If you browse through our collections on the site you'll find prices for specific designs, which should help give you a better a idea of what to expect to pay. If you have an idea for a cake and need a guideline price for it, get in touch.
What flavours are available?: Our cakes are created in a variety of flavours, for both the sponges and their icings or frostings. The most popular flavours we provide are:
Lemon Sponge: with either a Raspberry Crush syrup & Lemon frosting, or a Lemon Butter Cream
Chocolate Sponge: with a Vanilla Frosting, Vanilla Butter Cream, or a Chocolate Ganache
Carrot Cake: served with either a Lemon Frosting or a Lemon Butter Cream
Rich Fruit Cake: served with Marzipan & Royal Icing
Can I have different types of cake for each layer of a tiered cake?: We can provide a different sort for each layer of the cake. There are some issues to be aware of with this approach, the main one arising when a layer of Rich Fruit Cake is desired - in order for the design to work, the whole cake needs to have a Royal Icing covering. However, all other decoration is unaffected by the choice of cake combination.
Frosting or Butter Cream - what's the difference?: Both are variations of icings, which come in all sorts of guises. Essentially, a frosting is made up of icing sugar, cream cheese & butter, then flavoured with either vanilla pods or lemons. A butter cream is made using butter, sugar & eggs (and no cream): there are numerous variations - American, Italian & French amongst others (for the aficionados amongst you, we use the Italian variation). Butter creams are whisked with egg-whites and so have a lighter, fluffier finish.
What size cake will I need?: Another question with the answer "that depends".
If the cake is going to be served as a final course, portions will probably be bigger than if it is being served separately later, so you'll need to plan accordingly (for alternatives ideal for the latter,check out our minimo ranges).
A fairly standard size cake is one with three tiers of 12", 9" & 6". This will serve about 80 people as a dessert, or 120 people if served as ‘party portions’.
The type of cake chosen is another factor in determining quantities needed: a Rich Fruit Cake can be divided between many more people - the same sized cake composed entirely of fruit cake would serve 125-180 people.
Things get more complicated when we have a mixed cake. Needless to say, we work this all out for you during the consultation, so you needn't worry too much at this stage.
What sorts of ingredients do you use?: When you're making edible art, you don't mess about! All of our cakes are created with the best and freshest ingredients: free range eggs, butter, organic lemons and the finest Belgian chocolate go into our various creations.
What about any allergies/dietary requirements?: It is absolutely essential that we know about any specific allergies or dietary requirements as early on in the process as possible, as it may mean avoiding things like marzipan, or determine the type of icing we'll use. We're very flexible around diet, and can make adjustments wherever necessary. Of course, you can't get more tailored than a batch of personalised minimos!
Do you deliver?: Yes we do, within reason. For all weddings within a 50 mile radius of Edinburgh, including Glasgow and surrounding areas, we will deliver in person and assemble your cake(s) on site. For weddings further afield we need to discuss transport options with you.
Do you provide cake stands?: We do stock a selection of stands, but by no means enough to account for all tastes and requirements. However, we can assist you in finding a suitable stand elsewhere. Our own cost £25 to hire, with a refundable deposit (as a cheque, to be handed back to you on return of the stand).