Questions?
Cakes
How do I order a cake?
To order your dream cake for 10, 100 or 1,000+ guests, call 212/993-6441 or e-mail orders@sugarflowercakeshop.com. We will discuss your needs and, when appropriate based on the size and timing of your event, invite you to our next cake tasting party.
How far in advance should I order?
Producing Sugar Flower Cake Shop cakes can be very labor intensive, depending on the number of sugar flowers needed for each design. The Shop typically books four to six months in advance for large special occasion or wedding cakes containing many flowers. For small party cakes or larger cakes with simple designs, we can sometimes work within shorter timeframes. Same day cake purchases can usually not be accommodated, though you are always welcome to try! Call the Shop at 212/993-6441 or email orders@sugarflowercakeshop.com.
What flavors are offered?
Sugar Flower Cake Shop creates the most exquisite cakes, using only the finest and freshest ingredients (local when possible, completely organic when requested). Cake flavors include white, chocolate, almond, and velvet. Fillings include buttercream and mousse in various flavor combinations. Sugar Flower Cake Shop prefers to use buttercream icings to achieve the same look of smooth fondant.
Do you use fondant?
Yuck! We avoid fondant as much as possible. You will notice in looking at our cakes, the same smoothness can still be achieved on a buttercream cake. Occasionally, we will use fondant for small decor or for sculpted cakes. Whenever possible, we like to work with modeling chocolate (much tastier!), custom colored to match any detail. Should you insist on the fondant look, we'll opt for faux tiers on the display cake and create delicious sheet cake to serve.
Do you ship cakes?
Should your budget allow, we will happily accompany a cake and it's components as it is being transported to you to ensure proper set up on arrival. Sugar Flower Cake Shop does not currently ship cakes, though we will ship individual sugar flowers for clients wishing to bake or purchase their own cakes.
How do I arrange for pickup or delivery?
Full cake delivery service is available to New York City metropolitan area clients. Special occasion and wedding cakes require careful coordination to ensure safe delivery. A small delivery charge will be determined based on location and size of cake. You are welcome to pickup smaller cakes and cupcake orders at our studio.
Are all your cakes real?
That depends...when a cake is ordered, we look at the number of servings required and make a decision. We've done five-tier cakes for 50 guests and three-tier cakes for 300. Without being wasteful of extra cake or reception time (cutting a large cake can be a lengthy process!), we will sometimes include faux tiers into our design, making up additional servings with sheet cake. All tiers are covered in buttercream, iced super smooth. Bet you can't tell the difference in our photos! Give you a hint...the bottom tier is always ready for the newlyweds to cut.
Should we freeze the top tier of our wedding cake?
NO! Eating frozen cake is simply gross, no matter who makes it. Instead, included in most of our wedding cake proposals is a one-year anniversary cake. We'll create a small cake, completed by a few of your wedding cake details. There will be enough to share with a couple friends (should you choose).
Cake Tasting Parties
What is a cake tasting party?
Simply, it's an opportunity to try our cakes! Essentially, you get to mix and match all of our different flavor combinations. The possibilities are endless, but we promise to guide you through it to come up with your favorite! Read more specific details here.
When is your next cake tasting party?
Our cake tasting parties are held on Thursday evenings, from 6-8 pm, every three weeks. They are conducted in an open format, so you can feel free to arrive at any point during the evening. Give us a call to receive your invitation.
What if I can't make one of your parties?
Don't worry! We will happily conduct a private tasting and consultation with you at your convenience. The only thing is that we ask for a $100 consultation fee (applied toward the cost of your cake). This covers some of the preparation time to bake cakes and flavor buttercream.
Design Consultations
What is a design consultation?
During a design consultation, we discuss cake architecture (three tiers? four? twelve?), placement of flowers and decor (cascade? groupings? branches?) and other special details for your cake. We have an extensive checklist to cover all aspects.
Looking for something out of the box? We shy away from nothing, and we've done it all: Storm Troopers, Alice in Wonderland, even sugar Budweiser bottles.
When should we schedule a design consultation?
Once you've attended one of our cake tasting parties to pick out your flavors, it makes sense for us to sit down and talk cake design. This can be done between 11 am and 6 pm on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. (It's difficult for us to take time out of our weekend production schedule.) Not convenient? As long as you have a phone and internet connection, sketches are a scan away!
What should I bring to a design consultation?
Knowing that you've likely never designed a custom cake before, that is an excellent question! We dedicated an entire blog post to answer it, so click here.
Sugar Flowers
Can I order just the sugar flowers?
Yes! Sugar Flower Cake Shop flowers allow clients the opportunity to save time and money while achieving a showcase cake. Within seconds, a simple homemade cake can become a work of art or a dessert buffet can be transformed into a garden of delights. Without sacrificing taste, the budget-conscious couple can order tiers from their favorite bakery or enlist the help of a close friend or family member to effortlessly place Sugar Flower Cake Shop arrangements on one of the most photographed objects of the day. Specific instructions for placing each flower on your cake can be provided or it can be left to you to create your own whimsical design.
Why sugar flowers and not real flowers?
Many clients want the look of a fresh floral display on their cakes, but are concerned with the chemicals and pesticides found in commercial flower growth. Using sugar flowers from the Shop is a safe alternative while maintaining the desired aesthetic. As an added benefit, sugar flowers will not wilt. They can be preserved for years to come as a display under glass or in a simple box keeping the flowers dust and moisture free.
How long do sugar flowers last?
Forever and ever! Many of our clients choose to save their flowers long after the cake has been devoured. They can be preserved as a display under glass or in a simple box keeping the flowers dust and moisture free. No refrigeration required.
Can you really ship these delicate creations?
We are one of the few realistic sugar flower artists that are willing to ship our flowers anywhere in the world. Special packaging precautions are taken to ensure safe arrival. On larger orders, Sugar Flower Cake Shop creates extra flowers just in case damage occurs here at the Shop. Any additional product that survives will be included in the shipment. Some arrangements have traveled to destination weddings outside of the country and are packed for safe airline passage. Flowers can be successfully shipped internationally through FedEx or UPS. While Sugar Flower Cake Shop takes every precaution to carefully pack these delicate items for shipment, we cannot fully guarantee against damage in transit. Kindly indicate preferred shipping method when ordering.
Are sugar flowers edible?
Sugar flowers and decor from Sugar Flower Cake Shop are made from edible material, but are not intended for consumption as most products contain wires added for strength and flexibility to achieve a more natural look. If you choose to break off a petal piece, we won't look!
Classes
Do I need to bring anything?
Unless indicated at registration or via email, all of the supplies needed for each class are available for you at the Shop. You just need to arrive with a willingness to learn - we'll take care of the rest!
Interns
Can I come work at the Shop?
Sugar Flower Cake Shop is focused on fostering an educational environment in which beginning pastry chefs can develop their skills. Our interns are looking for a hands-on experience, including, but not limited to: cake and cupcake production (baking, filling, icing, stacking, etc.), making buttercream, learning the art of sugar flowers (working with gumpaste), other sugar work and some occasional 3-dimensional cakes, plus time spent in kitchen preparation and cleaning.
Program requirements
• Minimum of three days per week (at least one weekend day) for a minimum of three months.
• Able to lift 50 lbs. on a regular basis and can stand for long periods of time.
• Willing to practice and can take direction.
• Competent in basic mathematics, reading and writing.
• Proficient in basic word processing and social media outreach (within a Mac environment).
• Excellent communicators and have strong social skills.
• Ideal candidates are already NYC food safety certified, though this is not required.
Interested candidates should send their cover letter, resume and three photos of their work to staff@sugarflowercakeshop.com
