The entire process of planning, baking, decorating, and delivering a beautiful, high-quality cake requires a lot of diligence and motivation. Safely delivering a tiered cake is arguably the most stressful part of completing the order. However, this endeavor is worth it once the client praises your efforts’ appearance, aroma, or taste. Keep reading to discover the four best methods to deliver cake orders safely.
The Four Best Methods for Safely Delivering Cake Orders
Thankfully, there is more than one way to transport a cake safely and many of these methods can be combined for maximum security. There are also a few alternatives that allow for the delivery of oddly-sized cakes. These are the four best methods of safe cake transportation.
Use a Cake Safe
One way to increase the chances of a successful cake delivery is to use a cake safe. A cake safe is a box designed to prevent cakes from sliding, melting, or falling during transportation. These durable boxes also protect cakes from elements like strong winds, rain, hail, intense heat, dust, or pollen, and they can be cleaned and reused multiple times. Many companies sell cake safes nowadays.
Prepare an Emergency Cake Kit
Inevitably, some cakes will require fixing in the process of reaching the cake’s target destination. The necessity of such fixes may be small or extremely important, but you prepare for any potential mishaps. Fixing small issues can also prevent larger ones, so it is good to employ this method along with any of the other options listed here.
An emergency cake kit will vary depending on the cake’s qualities, so be sure to bring supplies that might be applicable for whatever cake you have in the vehicle. For example, a buttercream cake may need more frosting and spatulas to restyle it, whereas a cake coated in fondant could require more of the fondant, knives, rolling pins, sugar for icing, or extra decorations. Bring more than you think you need. It’s always better to overprepare than regret that one tool you left home.
Create a Unique Cake Delivery Box
If you don’t have a cake safe or find yourself with an unusually sized cake, you may need to “frankenstein” multiple sturdy, clean boxes. These boxes can be combined to cover the cake and cut slits in the cardboard to fit odd sizes if needed. For additional protection, place non-slip materials on the bottom. Superfine Bakery has a helpful YouTube tutorial on how she boxes up and delivers a tiered cake.
Transport Cake Layers Separately
The most secure way to transport a tiered cake is to keep the layers separate and assemble them at the venue. However, if you would prefer to travel with a cake that has already been stacked, keep the cake small, no more than three to four tiers, and make sure to use a lot of dowels to secure each layer, as well as a center dowel that goes through each tier of the cake.
Before You Deliver
The best you can do is prepare, don’t rush to get to the venue, and think through ahead how you will safely deliver the cake.
Having had my share of mishaps and very stressful deliveries, here are always a few things I recommend:
- If you are not in direct contact with the venue already, have the customer give you all the information, including who you should ask for when you arrive.
- Reach out in advance and confirm when you will be arriving and what you need. That could be a table to unpack and put the cake on or a large refrigerator to store it. Questions to think about include: Is there an easy place to park? Will the venue be open? Get all the information you need so you don’t have to wonder about it when you are on the road to deliver.
- Ensure the cake is as cold as possible and that you aren’t placing it in a steaming hot car. Hopefully, you have air conditioning in the delivery vehicle.
- Drive cautiously. Going slow, careful braking, and taking turns slowly is key.
- When you arrive, go inside the venue to let them know you arrived and find out where you need to go.
- Take a photo to record that the cake was delivered safely. You can’t control what happens after you leave.
Use a “Cake On Board” Sign
Put a “Cake On Board” sign on the transport vehicle. While it goes without saying that whoever is transporting the cake must drive carefully and do their best to avoid sharp turns, other drivers may not always be so considerate. This sign will let other drivers know that you are carrying important cargo.
How many posts have you seen in baking groups with smooshed cake photos that happened because another driver abruptly stopped short?
Such signs or car magnets are readily available for online purchase, or a “Cake On Board” sign might be homemade. A do-it-yourself (DIY) sign will probably be less costly, but keep in mind that they should be legible from at least ten feet away. How effective is this sign? Who knows, but it’s an easy precaution to take.
Conclusion
While getting a cake order to a client or venue can be the most nerve-wracking part in the process of completing the order, it does not have to be. There are several ways to ensure that a cake safely arrives at its target destination, and several of these methods can be combined to maximize the cake’s security. Your customers will appreciate all of your devotion to their cake order.
