Is there a profession that combines art and science and offers sweet rewards? There is – just ask a professional cake crafter. Cake specialists with the ability to bake a tasty treat and to customise its trimming to make it uniquely suited to the occasion are in demand year around. Weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, job promotions and retirement parties are a few of the celebrations that merit a cake. Learning to master the art and science of baking and decorating cakes can lead to a lucrative hobby, cottage industry or full-time career.
In 2014, there were 262,240 marriages performed in the UK. Even if half of those couples opted not to have a traditional wedding cake served at their reception, that still leaves over 100,000 cakes to be baked and decorated. And for an upscale event in which the cake involves multiple layers and is heavily embellished, one cake can sell for as much as £1,000.
As most weddings take place during the month of August, that means bake shops and catering firms are inundated with orders during a relatively short time period. This is an opportunity for a newly-established cake baker and decorator to fill a gap.
Wedding cakes may tend to be seasonal, but that doesn’t mean there is a lack of demand for decorated cakes during the other 11 months. Holidays and holiday parties often warrant specialty cakes, as do birthday celebrations, anniversary parties, first communions, christenings, baby showers, and Sweet 16 or “debutante” parties. On the business side, companies often order in a cake to commemorate achieving a business milestone or to congratulate an employee or department for a noteworthy accomplishment. Truly, even a cake baker operating a small sole proprietorship has a good chance of building a solid client base and a steady income doing a job that he or she enjoys.
The ace cake baking specialist has the eye of an artist, a scientist’s dedication to precision and quality control, a personality that is able to deliver impeccable customer service and a strong sense of time management. The cake baker insists on producing a luscious and moist product each and every time, often relying on time tested recipes rather than boxed mixes. The customer service expert interviews his or her client in order to establish the client’s wishes, budget, timeline and discover something of the client’s aesthetic tastes. The artist translates the information gleaned into a masterpiece of frosting, fondant and sugar art. The administrator organizes each step of the process so the end result exceeds the client’s expectations, is delivered on time and easily fits the individual’s budget.
If this fusion of art, science and business acumen feels like a good fit with your personality and skill set, then training with an experienced cake specialist is a wonderful way to embark on a new career path. Adam’s Cakes provides on-site and remote training sessions for students interested in becoming cake artists, or those who merely wish to improve skills they already use. Proprietor and legendary cake artist Adam Cox is happy to work with interested and motivated students from novice level to baking tradesperson, and provides lessons in his London location. However, he is also willing to travel to surrounding regions as long as a suitable location is available and offers discounts if two or more students are present at the lessons. If visions of sugarplums now dance in your head, then consider making this the year to be mentored in cake artistry. It’s a delicious way to make a living.
