How to Work Faster on Your Cakes (and Book More Orders)
If you're anything like most cake designers I know (including myself when I first started), you're probably familiar with this scenario: it's midnight, you've been working on cakes for hours, your kitchen is a disaster, and you're wondering how on earth you'll finish everything before tomorrow's delivery. Sound familiar?
When it’s just you who is responsible to create a cake from start to finish, it can feel very daunting knowing you only have so much time to start and complete a cake order.
While you want to grow your cake business and take on more cake orders, there’s only so many cake orders you can accept because we technically can’t add more hours to the day.
Or can we?
Today, I want to talk about something that transformed my cake business and helped so many of my clients: how to work faster on your cakes without sacrificing quality.
Why Working Faster Matters
Before we dive into the strategies, let's talk about WHY this is so important. Learning to work efficiently isn't just about getting more sleep (although, trust me, that's a wonderful benefit!). It's actually critical to growing your cake business.
Think about it: If you want to increase your income as a cake designer and make more money, you ONLY have two options. Period.
Charge more per cake (which I absolutely recommend - most designers should be charging at least $8-12 per serving!)
Book more cake orders
But here's the thing - if you're already maxed out time-wise with your current workload, how can you possibly take on more orders? You're stuck in a frustrating cycle that limits your growth.
That's where these strategies come in. I went through this exact struggle with my own business and had to find ways to be more productive and efficient. After implementing these changes (and especially after my experience on Food Network's Sugar Showdown!), I discovered I could complete my cake orders in HALF the time without compromising quality.
Strategy #1: Eliminate Visual Distractions
I'm going to share something a bit embarrassing... I used to watch entire Netflix series while decorating cakes. (Anyone else binge-watched "Once Upon a Time" while working on fondant? Just me? 😂)
While it felt like I was being productive by "multitasking," I realized I was actually slowing myself down significantly. When your eyes keep darting between your cake and a screen, you lose focus and momentum.
Instead, try switching to audio-only entertainment. I found that audiobooks, podcasts, or music allowed me to stay entertained while keeping my eyes - and attention - focused on my cake work. The difference in my speed was dramatic!
Strategy #2: Time-Block Your Cake Tasks
This strategy was absolutely game-changing for my business. Instead of just working on cakes whenever you can fit them in, set specific time blocks dedicated to specific cake tasks - and make those blocks your absolute priority.
For example:
Mondays: Baking day - ONLY baking, no decorating or other tasks
Tuesdays: Filling and stacking cakes
Wednesdays - Fridays: Decorating and finishing touches
Here's the crucial part: when you set that time block, you need to create a sense of urgency. Tell yourself, "I ONLY have from 1-5pm to get all my baking done" instead of leaving it open-ended.
I learned this technique by accident during my time competing on Food Network! When you're on a food competition show, you're given strict time limits that are actually quite short (though longer than what they show on TV). I was amazed at how quickly I could work when I knew the clock was ticking.
When I returned to my cake studio after the show, I realized I'd been giving myself way too much open-ended time. By creating these artificial deadlines in my schedule, I started working with much greater focus and speed.\
If you are still struggling to book more cake orders in your cake business, I’m here to help! I have a FREE eBook, My Top 4 Strategies to Double Your Cake Orders in Your Cake Biz. Click here to download, it’s located inside the Cake Business Library.
Strategy #3: Batch Similar Tasks
The third strategy that revolutionized my workflow was batching similar tasks together. Many cake designers work on one cake at a time from start to finish before moving to the next. This is actually highly inefficient!
Instead, group similar cake tasks together:
Bake ALL cakes for the week in one session
Make ALL your buttercream at once
Stack and crumb coat ALL cakes together
Do ALL decorative work in a focused session
Your brain works more efficiently when it can stay in one mode rather than constantly switching between different types of tasks. Every time you switch tasks, there's a mental "startup cost" as your brain adjusts.
I discovered that when I batched my baking, then my fillings, then my stacking, etc., I was able to get into a rhythm and work much more efficiently. Everything from my tools to my mental focus was aligned for that specific task.
Strategy #4: Prep Smart, Not Hard
Let's talk about something that saved me HOURS every week once I implemented it: strategic prep work!
So many cake designers I coach are making the same mistake I used to make - reinventing the wheel every single time they start a new cake. They're mixing colors from scratch, cutting fondant decorations individually, or searching for that one specific piping tip buried in a drawer somewhere.
Instead, create systems that allow you to work smarter:
First, prepare your commonly used items in advance. I started dedicating one session per month to pre-making fondant decorations that I used frequently - flowers, bows, simple toppers. I'd make them in batches and store them properly so they were ready to go. This alone cut HOURS off my decorating time!
Second, organize your workspace strategically. Have dedicated stations for different tasks and keep your most-used tools within arm's reach. I can't tell you how much time I wasted just looking for tools or walking back and forth across my kitchen.
Third, create your own "recipe shortcuts." For example, I figured out exactly how many drops of gel color created my signature pink shade. Instead of eyeballing and adjusting each time, I wrote it down and could replicate it perfectly in seconds. Same with my ganache ratios, buttercream consistency, etc.
This prep-smart approach might seem like extra work upfront, but trust me - it's the difference between professional cake designers who manage their time effectively and those who are constantly overwhelmed and behind schedule.
Strategy #5: Know When to Hire Help
I remember the exact moment I realized I couldn't do everything myself anymore. I was up at 2 AM, exhausted, with three cakes still needing work and a delivery scheduled for 10 AM. That was my breaking point - and maybe you've hit yours too.
One of the BIGGEST game-changers in my cake business was hiring my first assistant. Now, I know what you're thinking - "I can't afford to hire anyone!" But let me challenge that thinking.
Calculate how much you make per hour on your cakes (if you don't know, we need to talk about pricing!). Now think about all the basic tasks that don't require your specific artistic skills:
Measuring ingredients
Baking cake layers
Making simple buttercream
Washing dishes and cleaning up
Handling basic prep work
These are all tasks you could delegate to someone else while you focus on the high-value work that only YOU can do - the design elements that make your cakes special and command those premium prices.
Start small if you need to - maybe it's just a helper for 4-5 hours on your busiest day. I started with a culinary student who wanted weekend experience. The investment paid for itself immediately because:
I could take on more orders since the basic work was handled
I could focus on the creative aspects that I actually enjoy
The quality of my work improved because I wasn't exhausted
I stopped making costly mistakes from being overworked
The key is finding the right person and creating clear systems for them to follow. Document your recipes, create checklists, and train them thoroughly. Yes, this takes time upfront, but the long-term payoff is absolutely worth it.
Remember, every successful cake business eventually reaches a point where the owner can't do everything. Recognizing when you've hit that ceiling and being willing to bring in help is what separates cake hobbyists from cake business owners.
Are you going to hit your Cake Business Goals this year? I’m here to help! Click here to download my Free Cake Business Goal Setting Workbook Guide for you to smash and accomplish your goals this year. It’s free and it’s located inside my Cake Business Library.
The Results: More Orders, Less Stress
After implementing these three strategies consistently, I was able to:
Complete cake orders in about half the time
Take on more orders without feeling overwhelmed
Have actual evenings and weekends to myself
Grow my business revenue significantly
Here's the beautiful thing about working faster: it doesn't mean rushing or cutting corners. It means eliminating inefficiencies so you can produce the same beautiful, high-quality cakes in less time.
Which of these strategies are you going to implement first?
I'd love to hear from you in the comments!
Whether you're struggling with time management or just looking to optimize your workflow, I promise these techniques will make a dramatic difference.
