How many days in advance do I need to place my cake order?
It really depends on what kind of cake you are ordering~
Standard cake: 3 – 7 days notice (sometimes less, please call to check)
Full sheet: one week
Shaped cake: 2 weeks minimum (sometimes more, especially in the summer months)
Wedding cake: 1 week if picking up (small weddings), 3 – 12 months if delivery is required.

Do you have cakes for immediate pick-up?
Yes, we do. We always have 6” and 8” round predecorated cakes on hand with our most popular flavor and filling combinations.  An inscription can be added upon pick-up, if you choose. If you would like us us to hold a cake for you, we require prepayment.
Our standard ready-made cakes are:
white cake ~ strawberry mousse filling ~ real buttercream icing
chocolate cake ~ chocolate mousse filling ~ real buttercream icing
red velvet cake ~ white chocolate mousse filling ~ real buttercream icing
yellow cake ~ fresh strawberry filling ~ whip cream icing (weekends only)
atomic cake ~ whipped cream icing (weekends only)
seasonal specialty cakes

What else do you have that’s ready for pickup?
We have a wide selection of miniature pastries, cupcakes, and cookies. If you need a large amount of any of these items (2 dozen or more), then we recommend calling ahead to see if we can accommodate you.

What types of payment do you accept?
We take all major credit cards (Visa,  Mastercard, Discover, and American Express), debit cards, and cash. We will only accept personal checks if your scheduled pickup or delivery is 28 days or more in advance, otherwise, we do not accept personal checks.

Do you require a deposit on cake orders?
A deposit of ½ of the total purchase price is required on any order totaling $50.00 or more.  Deposits may be made with credit cards over the phone, or in person in our store.

Do you deliver?
We deliver wedding cakes and large orders, but because we do not keep a delivery person on staff (our delivery people are our cake decorators) we cannot accommodate small orders. We do charge for delivery. Local deliveries (within 5 miles) are $20.00. Pricing for delivery depends on the distance from the bakery.

Do you offer gluten (flour) free products?
We do have a flourless chocolate cake and coconut macaroons for those that have gluten sensitivity. Ours is NOT a gluten-free facility, however.

Can you make allergy-free products?
We make our products in a large facility where flour, nuts, and other allergens are present.  Even with the highest degree of care, we cannot guarantee that any of our products will be allergy-free. Sorry!

Will you make vegan or special recipes on request?
Sorry, but we can’t really accommodate batch sizes that are that small. We recommend contacting a bakery that specializes in vegan cakes, like Whole Foods.

How do I transport a large or tiered cake?
Any time you pick up a cake from us, it is always a good idea to have a large flat area in your vehicle dedicated for transporting the cake. We are always happy to carry your cake out to your car if requested. Putting cakes on people’s laps or on the seat of your car is never recommended.  The floor of your car is often the best place for putting a cake. For full sheet or tiered cakes, you should make arrangements to pick up your cake in an SUV or van.

What do I do if the buttercream icing cracks on my cake?
Our buttercream is delicious, but it can also be a little persnickety. Every once in a while, larger cakes iced in buttercream will crack (particularly if they have ½ and ½ fillings, or are split cake flavors).  Usually these are just hairline cracks, and there is an easy fix. Place a folded paper napkin or paper towel underneath the corner of the cake. Prop up the corner until the crack disappears. As the cake comes to room temperature, the crack should disappear entirely.

Can you draw my child’s favorite character on a cake?
We do have lots of different figurines and edible images that we can use that feature trademarked characters, but federal copyright laws prohibit us from replicating a licensed character in icing, or in the form of a shaped cake. Our sales staff would be more than happy to discuss all of the options for using your child’s favorite character on their cake.

What kind of refrigeration do I need for your products?
All of our cakes are refrigerated prior to pick-up or delivery. Cakes iced in buttercream that have a mousse filling may be left at room temperature for several hours. If your cake is to be served the next day, you will need to refrigerate your cake overnight. Fresh fruit fillings and perishable fillings should be refrigerated up until the cake is served. Cakes with perishable fillings could be out for an hour-and-a-half, but any leftovers should be refrigerated immediately. In general, pastries should always be refrigerated; cookies do not require refrigeration.

What is your cancellation policy?
Things happen; we understand that and will work with you as best we can. If you ever need to cancel a party cake, we require 24 hours advance notice from the time of your scheduled pickup. Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice will be responsible for the entire purchase price of the order.

Do you ship your cakes?
Unfortunately, we do not ship our cakes.  If you live outside of the Chicago area, we recommend visiting the Retail Bakers of America website to search for a baker in your area.