How Many Flavors should be at your Cake Tastings?
How many flavors you should to have at your Tastings
How to Choose the Perfect Cake Flavors for Your Premium Cake Business
Cake consultations is where the rubber meats the road to showcase your cake business and show off what an incredible baker you are. While your cake design is extremely important, what is just as important is how good your cake tastes.
Growing a cake business takes time and focus, but with the right strategies, you can create a business that lights you up while working on cakes that excite you. Today, I want to share a different perspective on how to choose cake flavors for your consultations—whether you're just starting out or looking to refresh your current menu.
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Love What You Sell (And Your Clients Will Too!)
Here's my number one piece of advice that might surprise you: Choose cake flavors that YOU are passionate about.
Why is this so important? Because we're in the business of selling cakes, and your genuine excitement is contagious! When you present flavors that you absolutely love and are crazy about, that passion shines through in your consultations. Your eyes light up, your voice gets a little perkier, and clients can feel your authentic enthusiasm.
I've experienced this firsthand in my business. There were times when I included certain "staple" flavors on my menu simply because I thought I should—flavors that industry veterans or other bakers told me were "must-haves." Guess what? Those were the flavors I rarely sold! When I wasn't genuinely excited about them, clients weren't either.
For cake flavors I wasn’t that excited about, I hardly sold them. Because deep down, I didn’t care for the flavor myself. I thought I “should” have that flavor on the menu.
Let's be honest—many brides don't even eat their wedding cake on the big day (they're too busy dancing, talking, and celebrating!). But they still have this deep desire for their cake to taste amazing. When they see you genuinely passionate about your flavors, they'll trust your expertise and get excited too.
Think about it this way: Your enthusiasm is part of your unique selling proposition. When you're describing a chocolate cake that makes your own mouth water as you're talking about it, that authentic passion becomes a powerful sales tool that no generic flavor list can compete with.
Create a Smart Mix of Flavors
While loving your cake flavors is essential, you also need to think strategically about offering a well-rounded selection. I absolutely adore chocolate cake (give me all the chocolate, please!), but I'm not going to fill my entire menu with different chocolate variations.
A thoughtful mix serves several purposes:
It showcases your versatility as a baker. Clients see that you can expertly handle different cake bases, fillings, and frostings—which builds confidence in your skills.
It caters to different taste preferences within a couple or family. Often one partner loves chocolate while the other prefers something lighter or fruitier. Having options makes everyone happy!
It allows clients to trust your expertise beyond your tasting menu. When they see your mastery across various flavor profiles, they're more likely to trust you if they request a custom flavor not on your standard menu.
When creating my flavor menu, I focus on offering a diverse selection that covers different taste preferences. I ensure there's something for chocolate lovers, vanilla enthusiasts, those who appreciate classic flavors like red velvet, and clients looking for something more unique and fruity. This range ensures that almost every client will find something they love, while also demonstrating my baking versatility. But remember—I genuinely enjoy making and eating all of these flavors, which makes selling them so much easier and more authentic.
Sell With Authentic Passion
Let's talk about something that's often overlooked in our industry: clients don't just buy cake—they buy the feeling behind it.
When someone invests $8-12 per slice, they're purchasing more than flour, sugar, and butter. They're investing in the experience, the memories, and the reactions their cake will create. This is exactly why your genuine excitement about your flavors matters so much.
Think about your own shopping experiences. Don't you gravitate toward businesses where the owner or salesperson genuinely loves what they're selling? The same principle applies to your cake consultations. When you're truly passionate about a lemon cake with blackberry filling or your decadent chocolate creation, that enthusiasm becomes contagious.
Your clients can tell the difference between rehearsed sales talk and authentic passion. When you describe flavors you truly love with natural excitement in your voice and a sparkle in your eye, you're creating a connection that makes clients trust you with their special occasion. This genuine approach will set you apart from competitors who might be offering similar flavors but without that personal touch of enthusiasm.
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Time for a Flavor Audit
If you're reading this and realizing you've been offering flavors you're not personally excited about, it's time for a menu refresh! Here's a quick exercise:
List all the flavors you currently offer
Rate each one from 1-10 based purely on your personal enthusiasm
Consider eliminating or replacing anything below a 7
Make sure your final selection offers good variety across flavor profiles
Life is too short to sell cake flavors that don't make your own heart sing! When you truly love everything on your menu, consultations become more fun, your passion becomes infectious, and sales happen more naturally.
Ready for a Menu Refresh?
Now that you understand the importance of selecting flavors you genuinely love, it's time to put this knowledge into practice! Start by taking an honest look at your current menu. Are there flavors you've been offering just because you think you "should," even though they don't excite you? It might be time to replace them with options that genuinely make you light up when you talk about them.
Remember, the key elements for your perfect flavor menu are simple: choose flavors you personally adore, ensure you're offering variety for different taste preferences, highlight options that showcase your unique skills, and select combinations that naturally inspire you to share your passion when discussing them with clients.
When you align your menu with your personal passion, selling becomes less about convincing clients and more about sharing your authentic enthusiasm. That's when your cake consultations transform from simple tastings into memorable experiences that lead to bookings!
Remember, your authentic enthusiasm is one of your most powerful business assets. When you genuinely love your flavors, clients will too—and they'll be happy to pay premium prices for that passion and expertise.
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All about Charging for Cake Tastings
Should You Charge for Cake Tastings? What I've Learned Growing My Cake Business
One question I get asked constantly by emerging cake artists is whether they should offer free tastings or charge clients for consultations.
It's a genuine business dilemma that can significantly impact your bottom line and clientele. In today's post, I'm pulling back the curtain on my personal journey through this decision, sharing the mistakes I made, the lessons I learned, and how evolving my tasting policy transformed my luxury cake business.
Trust me, my approach today looks completely different than when I started—and for good reason!
My Early Approach: Following the Crowd
When I first started my cake business, like many new cake designers, I looked around at what others in my area were doing. I researched what cake designers and companies throughout the Denver metropolitan area were charging (or not charging) for tastings. Based on what I observed, I initially decided not to charge for cake tastings.
This was my standard practice for the majority of my time running Aspen Charm. It seemed like a good way to attract clients and remove barriers to booking. After all, who wouldn't want a free cake tasting, right?
The Turning Point: Valuing My Time
As I continued to grow my business, I began learning from other successful cake designers. One crucial lesson stood out: the importance of respecting my own time and attracting clients who valued it as well.
This realization led to a significant shift in my business model. I implemented a cake consultation fee for cake consultations, which included:
A variety of cake samples
A custom luxury cake design consultation
My expertise and undivided attention
This wasn't just about covering the cost of ingredients (which, honestly, aren't that expensive). It was about placing appropriate value on my time, expertise, and the experience I was creating.
The Benefits of Charging for Cake Tastings
Once I made this change, I noticed several positive outcomes:
1. Attracting Serious Clients
The consultation fee helped filter out clients who were "just browsing" or meeting with multiple cake designers without serious intent. I noticed an immediate shift in the quality of consultations I was having. Gone were the days of spending hours with couples who were simply gathering ideas or price-shopping across a dozen bakeries.
I started meeting exclusively with people who demonstrated genuine interest and commitment. These were clients who:
Had already fallen in love with my designs after discovering my portfolio on Instagram or my website
Had specifically set aside part of their wedding budget for a statement cake
Were serious about booking their wedding cake rather than just exploring options
Valued quality, artistry, and craftsmanship over finding the cheapest option
Were ready to invest in a luxury cake experience as an important element of their celebration
Came to meetings prepared with questions, inspiration images, and a clear vision
Respected my expertise and were eager to collaborate rather than dictate
Understood that exceptional quality comes with a proportionate investment
What I discovered was that these serious clients were not just easier to work with—they were also more appreciative of the artistry involved in creating custom cakes. They weren't trying to haggle over prices or requesting designs that didn't align with my aesthetic. They came to me specifically for my unique style and trusted my guidance throughout the process.
2. Eliminating Wasted Time
I vividly remember hosting a cake consolation with a fake couple who thought it would be fun to try out free cake for a wedding that was not going to happen. Why would someone do that? Because they don’t value their time.
People have lots of time to waste, don’t let them waste yours.
We've all been there – spending hours preparing for a consultation only to have the potential client ghost you or choose another baker. By charging for consultations, even when clients didn't book with me, I still felt my time was respected and compensated.
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.
3. Positioning My Brand as Luxury
The consultation fee positioned my business in the luxury market. It communicated that working with me was an elevated experience worth investing in. This subtle psychological shift transformed how clients perceived my entire brand, allowing me to command higher prices for my cakes without pushback or hesitation. I often remind fellow cake artists that in the luxury space, affordability isn't a selling point—exclusivity and exceptional quality are what clients truly desire.
4. Better Conversion Rates
Interestingly, my booking rate actually improved. Clients who were willing to pay for a consultation were already halfway to choosing me as their cake designer. The financial commitment created a psychological investment in the process, making them more likely to follow through with a booking. I found that about 85% of clients who paid for a consultation ended up placing an order, compared to only about 40% when tastings were free.
This dramatic improvement meant I could schedule fewer consultations overall while still maintaining or even increasing my total bookings, allowing me to focus more energy on creating exceptional cakes rather than endless meetings.
Should You Charge for Your Cake Tastings?
Based on my experience, I absolutely believe you should be charging for cake tastings in your cake business. Here's why:
It's becoming standard practice among successful cake designers
It prevents wasted time and resources
It attracts more serious, committed clients
It positions your business as professional and valuable
Remember, you're not just charging for cake samples – you're charging for your expertise, creativity, and time. These are valuable assets that deserve compensation.
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Feel Ready to Charge for your Cake Tastings?
Charging for cake tastings might feel uncomfortable at first, especially if you're worried about turning away potential clients. However, in my experience, it's a powerful way to attract serious clients who value your work and are ready to commit.
Remember, you're running a business, not a charity. Your time, expertise, and creativity are valuable – price them accordingly!
Do you already pay for cake tastings? If so, how much do you charge?
If not, do you feel comfortable charging for your cake tastings after reading this post?
Comment down below because I’d love to know!
