Indy Cakes

Cakes for ANY Occasion (and we do mean ANY!!)

2012-01-31T11:22:00.003-05:00

Howdy faithful blog readers. Have you been anxiously awaiting another post? I hope so, and I'm also hoping that this post won't disappoint.

Our saying here at Indy Cakes is that we make "Cakes for any Occasion". Some people have really put that to the test lately.

Don't get me wrong, we love having a unique reason for making cakes, so we decided that this post would be dedicated to not only those cakes which make you wonder "What kind of party is THAT!?", but also a very, very special cake at the very end.

This first cake, is obviously for a Tea Party. Not anything political, but an actual tea party. Not too many people host tea parties nowadays, but it's nice to know that cake is still considered a staple for the occasion!

If you think this next cake is an air conditioner, then you're correct! This lucky cake recipient had just gotten certified as an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) specialist. What better way to celebrate than with a cake that looks like an air conditioner that you don't have to fix!!!

This next cake had our "Most Unique" award up until last week. This particular cake was in celebration of a man being colon cancer free for 5 years. We thought a butt cake was the only appropriate way to mark this particular, if not peculiar, milestone.

Last, but certainly our best, we have the following cake:

Yes, that is a kidney. In cake form. This story brings a tear to my eye every time I tell it. Several years back, a solider was injured, but nothing life threatening. He told his sister (who was also away due to military service) that he was just fine. Well, several years later, she comes home to find out that his condition is worse than he let on and that he would benefit greatly from a kidney transplant. She decided to get tested to see if she was a match, and as you can tell from the photo, she was. She wanted to use the cake as a well to tell her brother that she was going to donate her kidney to him to allow him to life a better life.

I don't think we will ever find a better reason to create a cake, but I welcome the chance to find out.

What the heck is a cake plateau and do I need one??

2011-10-25T10:59:00.007-04:00

A cake plateau (fancy name for 'stand') can be a finishing touch to your cake. These are usually silver or gold stands that holds the cake up off of the table a little bit. This cake is using a square silver cake stand.

Not every cake needs to have a cake stand though. As you can see below, this cake doesn't use a cake stand, but rather takes advantage of the table decorations to highlight the cake.

Now, how do you decide if you NEED a cake stand. Well, one thing to consider is whether or not there are going to be a lot of children at the reception. If so, if might not be a bad idea to raise the cake up just a little bit to keep it away from frosting-hungry fingers.

Another thing to think about is how the linens will look on the cake table. Many venues will scrunch up a linen to dress up the cake table (see the pic below)

Additionally, some couples just want to make their cake look bigger.

And finally, some couples just want to complete their theme. This particular cake stand is especially popular during the fall months. Yep, it is a really tree trunk.

The last thing to consider when determining if you need a cake stand, is who you are going to have return the stand after the wedding. Many couples are on their honeymoon immediately following their wedding, and don't have the ability to return the cake stand right away. This duty usually falls to the Maid of Honor, or one of the parents. Just be sure that the stand gets back on time, as many plateaus are quite costly to replace.

As I said in the beginning, cake plateaus can be an elegant way to display your wedding cake, but they aren't a required part of the cake table.

Yep, it is an EARLY holiday post

2011-10-09T20:18:00.004-04:00

While in the store the other day, I noticed that there are a large amount of Christmas decorations already out for sale. Now, I remember when those decorations didn't come out until after Thanksgiving, but those days are now long gone. In keeping with the times, I'm going to take a moment to share a great idea for the holidays: CAKE BITES!!!!

For those of you that don't know, Cake Bites are delicious little bites of cake covered in chocolate.

These little treats are the perfect present for so many people:

office secret santa

your children's teachers

your teachers (certainly can't hurt your grade!)

mailman

FedEx or UPS person

trash man (just make sure you have it clearly marked!)

family/friends who live far away-yep, we can ship them

someone on your list who has "everything"

Finally, if you are tasked with bringing something to that family gathering, how about a Cake Bite Tree?

The best part is that these trees can double as a table centerpiece!

Finally, Cake Bites are great for the small business owner. A box of Cake Bites are a great way to say Thank You to your clients or customers. We do offer volume discounts for orders over 50- 1 dozen boxes.

Does my cake have a back-side?

2011-09-25T13:07:00.005-04:00

Ok, first let me apologize for having such a long time between posts, but we've been so very busy here at Indy Cakes.

Now that that's out of the way, let's talk some serious cake stuff. Today, I want to address the issue of whether or not your cake has a back-side. No, not a 'honky-tonk-ba-donk-a-donk', but a side that is clearly the front and a side that is clearly the back.

Some cakes, like the one below, are designed to be viewed from any angle.

This is especially important if your cake is going to be placed in the middle of the dance floor, or in a location that would require your guests to walk around the cake.

Other cakes, such as this design:

will very clearly have a front side. Some designs won't have the same look if you attempt to use them on both "sides" of the cake.

Many times, the cake is safely sitting on the side of the room, or in a strategically lit corner. This is usually a good idea as it prevents an accidental injury to the cake (picture your clumsy great-aunt swinging her purse into the cake as she walks past-eek!!).

Positioning the cake against a wall also creates a back-side of the cake. This may also reduce the cost of the cake if, such as on the cake below, a back-side means that not as many flowers need to be made, thereby saving you some $$$.

Finally, we have one more unique thing that we do here at Indy Cakes. Many of our brides opt for real ribbon as the border on their cakes. This works well until the happy couple goes to make their first cut as husband and wife and try to cut through the ribbon. Since that usually doesn't work too well, they have to take the ribbon off just enough to make their first slice, typically resulting in the ribbon starting to come off the entire cake, making the picture not as elegant as it should be. We, however create a secret panel to allow the happy couple to keep the ribbon on the cake for the photo but have just a big enough gap to get a slice of cake. We often place this panel just slightly to the side as most couples try to stand on the side of the cake for the first slice.

Please won't you be our neighbor?

2011-07-30T19:21:00.005-04:00

Ok, if you follow us on Facebook, then you already know that we are all alone in our little strip mall and we need neighbors. The first place up for grabs is a little former pizza place (hence the sign!). It is approximately 1200 square feet, maybe a little more. It already has a kitchen built in the back, with a front counter built in. There is a small lobby/waiting area. This would be great for another pizza place, or even a little deli. If you don't want to use the kitchen, you could always retro-fit the place to suit your needs.

On the other side of us is a former convenience store. At one point, it was a village pantry. This space is BIG and the rent is amazingly reasonable at $1850 per month. Because this was a former convenience store, it already has a walk-in cooler with doors as well as two other smaller reach in coolers. There is a cash wrap area right in the middle of the store and there are already wall shelves and a few portable units. While I don't know if they work or not, there is also a camera system in place.

That's about all I know about the two spaces. I can tell you that our landlord is great and has always been quick to help us with any issues we may have. We are located right off of Epler Ave at the corner of SR135 and there is a TON of traffic.

If you'd like to get more info, and/or schedule a showing, contact Mo Harbert at 317-885-8858.

Did I mention we tend to give our neighbors free cake? :)

How much cake do I need?

2011-07-12T18:06:00.002-04:00

This is a question we get asked a lot, from both wedding and occasion cake customers. The general rule of etiquette (but don't quote me on this) is to have a piece available for each guest. Now, we all know that there is that weird Aunt who is always on a diet and will never touch a piece of cake, or that picky eater who doesn't like the flavor offered, but on the other hand, there are those guests who will have two pieces, or that kid who drops their piece and wants a fresh one, so they tend to balance out.

Another thing to consider when determining how big the cake needs to be is what type of food is being served with the cake. At many birthday parties, there are a few appetizers, but the cake is the main event. This tends to require a little more cake as the pieces tend to be larger. At most weddings, there is a full meal served, with the cake being dessert, which is why the pieces are usually cut a little smaller.

The last thing to consider is the length of the event. If your event has a definite end time, then people are less likely to have more than 1 piece of cake, but if your party guests tend to linger for a few hours, then they are more likely to nosh on an extra serving as time wears on. For a wedding, if you are going to have the cake out on a table while your guests are dancing, you can rest assured that after an hour or two of dancing, guests will start to grab another piece to keep up their energy.

Should you find yourself with a little extra cake leftover, you can relax knowing that the cake tastes just as good as the next day!

Cake Pics!!!

2011-06-20T17:10:00.004-04:00

Since its been a while since I've been able to post (did you know that June is busy for wedding vendors??!), I thought I'd make it up to you by posting a few of our recent cakes, and the stories that go with them. I always like to hear the stories.

This cake made its way to the Harrison Center for the Arts. The room had a very natural feel to it with shades of green and branches decorating the room. While we've done this type of design in the fall with oranges, yellows and reds, I really liked the way it turned out with the different shades of green.

This cake suffered a minor injury just prior to the reception. On one of those unbelievably hot days recently, the air conditioner had broken at the venue. We received a call on our emergency number (we always leave one at the venues) that some of the flowers had fallen. Upon my arrival, I found out why--the room was almost 90 degrees!! Even though they had fixed the air conditioner by that point, having a small room filled with over 100 people makes it very difficult to cool the room down fast enough. Luckily, all of the flowers were replaced prior to the arrival of the happy couple.

This couple asked us to create a battlefield (one worthy of a wedding, mind you) that they would use to place their collection of action figures. I can't wait to see the pictures of the battle in progress!

This was a graduation cake for a football player. His mom wanted to pay tribute to the school he was leaving (the red side) and his new college (the gold side). We thought this would be a fun way to have the best of both worlds.

I wish we could take credit for the super cute cake topper here, but that was all the bride's work. This groom's cake worked out well for a couple of ball players who were getting hitched. Be sure to checkout our Facebook page for more info on their wedding cake the NCAA Hall of Champions!

A plea for help and understanding

2011-05-30T16:30:00.002-04:00

If you've driven around downtown on a Saturday afternoon lately, you've noticed that it is definitely wedding season. We are lucky enough to be a part of these couples' special day and we appreciate the honor. That being said, we are a business and therefore we have certain rules or policies. We have never wanted to write our policies based on the few people who might take advantage of us. We've never liked it when a company treats us that way, so we didn't want to do it to our customers.

One of the policies that we have encountered trouble with lately is our stand rental policy. Many of our clients want to use a cake stand (or cake plateau) to enhance their wedding cake display. We have a variety of stands and are more than happy to allow our clients to use them. While we don't charge a rental fee (as many other places do), we do ask for a security deposit as an incentive to return the stand. We also ask for the stands to be returned by Tuesday after the wedding as many times those same stands are going to be used for the following weekend. When the stand is returned on time, the entire security deposit is returned. Imagine if a stand weren't returned on time.........how long do you think it would take to get a new one in time for a Saturday wedding?

While the vast majority of our clients are wonderful and return the stands on time (or call us to let us know if there are extenuating circumstances), what we have encountered over the past few weeks are folks who were entrusted with the responsibility of returning the stand for the lovely couple, who is undoubtedly on their honeymoon, who don't return the stand on time. When a stand is not returned on time, the deposit is forfeit. These folks have told us, sometimes quite angrily, that they think the deposit should be returned, despite these terms being clearly explained both verbally and in the written contract.

When a stand doesn't make it back on time, we have to spend time researching who was supposed to return the stand, whether or not that stand is needed for the following weekend, and take the time to contact the responsible party to try to locate our stand. Many times, we have to also research our options for replacement as we wait for a return phone call. Additionally, some of our stands are discontinued and are no longer available. All of this work costs more than the amount of the deposit.

All we are asking for is a little understanding from the folks who are entrusted by the bride and groom to return the cake stands to us. If, for some reason, you aren't able to make it to our shop on Tuesday, just give us a call (the number is listed on the bottom of the stand)and keep us updated. We understand that it can be difficult to get all of the post-wedding items taken care of. We simply want to know that our stand is coming back to us. If, for some reason, you don't get us the stand back on time and don't take the time to contact us, please understand that the deposit is forfeit. If the stand never makes it back to us, we do have to charge the bridal couple the full replacement cost of the stand and we'd hate to have to do that.

We definitely don't want to have to change what we consider to be a generous policy, given that the industry standard is to charge a rental fee (which is not returned) as well as a security deposit that might be returned. Please help us keep a policy that has worked well for so many by adhering to the timeframes we've provided. Thank you.

Wow, it has been a while!

2011-05-15T12:37:00.002-04:00

With wedding season in full swing, it has been hard enough to get everything finished, let alone fit in a blog post, so I apologize. There really has been so much going on here, that it is hard to keep up some days.

With so many weddings going on, I thought I'd take a moment and share a few of the quick tips that we share with some of our brides.

If there are going to be small kids in/at the wedding, give them dispoable cameras for the ceremony. This will keep them busy and quiet while giving you a very unique look at your ceremony.

If you are having pictures taken outdoors, invest in a few small handheld fans for you and your bridal party.

Have your maid of honor wrap up a plate of food and a few pieces of cake for you and your new spouse. Chances are that by the end of the evening you will be very hungry and will not have had more than a bite or two of anything.

Wish Upon A Wedding

2011-04-21T14:51:00.003-04:00

We receive many requests for donations from various charities and local events. While we would love to donate to all of them, we do have limited resources and therefore we have to choose carefully. However, when we heard about Wish Upon A Wedding, we knew we had to be a part of this wonderful program. Wish Upon A Wedding is the world's first nonprofit wish granting organization providing weddings and vow renewals for couples facing terminal illness and serious life altering circumstances regardless of sexual orientation.

We offered our services several months ago when the Indianapolis Chapter first began, not knowing for sure how the process worked or if we would ever be called upon to help. Well, about 3 months ago, we got the call.

Indy Cakes is pleased to announce that we were chosen to provide the wedding cake for the first Wedding Wish granted by the Indianapolis chapter of Wish Upon A Wedding.

Janice and Cory are an amazingly sweet couple with a story that will make you appreciate how difficult planning a wedding for them would be without an organization like Wish Upon A Wedding

Be sure to check out the blog post from the Indianapolis chapter of Wish Upon A Wedding for more details regarding their story and their special day.

It is with great pride that we can now display the following badge:

The Groom's Cake

2011-04-05T12:09:00.003-04:00

There might be several of you reading this thinking "what the heck is a groom's cake, and why should he get one just for him!?" Well, let me give you a little history on the evolution of the Groom's cake.

A few decades ago, when your wedding cake was white cake with white frosting and to have anything else was just unheard of, brides still loved chocolate cake. Folks in the south decided that since so many people still liked chocolate cake, there had to be a way to have a chocolate cake at the wedding. It was decided that a small sheet cake that would be decorated with a little bit of the chosen wedding color would be placed on the cake table. Typically, this cake included an inscription congratulating the happy couple. This was the start of the Groom's Cake.

For many years, the Groom's cake was relegated to a small cake decorated according to the bride's wishes. As groom's began to take more interest in planning their receptions, the cakes began to become a little more "manly." Instead of having flowers in the wedding colors, there might have been a fishing scene, or a drawing of golf clubs.

Fast forward to the present and Groom's cakes have taken on a life of their own. Often, the bride will surprise her groom with this special creation. With the popularity of the many cake shows lately, these cakes have become even more creative, ranging from 3D golf bags, to fish, to beer barrels! Many brides love the idea of these unique cakes, but not necessarily at the reception (let's face it, a dead deer head doesn't belong next to filet mignon!). These brides have decided to serve the groom's cake at the rehearsal dinner. This is a more intimate setting and provides a nice "preview" of the how delicious the wedding cake is going to be!

While not every couple opts for a groom's cake, those that do tend to go for something pretty cool. Below are a few of our recent cake designs that would make great groom's cakes!

The Tasting Appt

2011-03-22T11:07:00.003-04:00

Today, I'd like to discuss one of the most beloved and fun parts of the wedding planning process, The Tasting Appointment.

Here at Indy Cakes, our tasting appts typically last an hour. During this hour, we have you sample up to three cake and three filling flavors. Our fillings are in their own separate cups so that you can mix and match your filling and cake flavors to see which combination you like the best. We also provide you with samples of our delicious Marshmallow Fondant so that you can see for yourself what fondant tastes like.

Also during this hour, we also discuss your wedding and how you would like the cake to fit into your reception. With the cake being THE centerpiece of the reception, it is important that it fit with the decor as well as your personality. Most of our cake designs are not simply chosen out of a book, although some brides fall do in love with certain designs and we are happy to work with that. Most of our designs are the result of finding one or several components of different cakes that you love and then we combine them into a unique design that will fit for you!

We also take a few moments to review the contract with you and we allow you to take home the contract to review at your leisure. This is especially helpful if there are parents or others involved in the decision making process that couldn't make it to the appt.

We typically schedule our tasting appts for Sundays as it can be difficult for us to give you our undivided attention during the week. On Sunday we close the shop and ONLY host our tasting appointments so you aren't having to wait while we answer the phone or take care of a client picking up a cake order. We also call you the week of your appointment to confirm with you and remind you of your appt time.

We do ask that if you make an appt with us, and something changes in your plans, such as needing to reschedule or even cancel the appt in the event that you have made other cake arrangements, please call us and let us know. We usually have a wait list for appt times and can always fill an empty appointment time. If we have brides who do not show up for their appt, this is a loss to everyone. We understand that sometimes other arrangements have been made, people get sick, or even that plans may have been put on hold, but please take a moment to keep us in the loop. We would hate to get to a point where we have to start charging for tasting appts because we have too many brides no-call/no-show.

Most of our brides leave their tasting appts with a pretty good picture of what their cake will look like, others need some more time to research. If this is the case, we typically finish the design details via phone or email. You are also welcome to stop by during normal business hours to finalize the design.

I hope that this has been a look into our tasting appt and we look forward to helping you plan your wedding cake!

Who wants to see some cake pics??!!

2011-03-10T14:51:00.002-05:00

I knew you did! Here are just a few of the cakes that our clients asked us to create last week.

This Alice in Wonderland themed cake was the finishing touch for a fabulous bridal shower. Be sure to take note of Alice heading into the bottom tier!

This next cake has been our most popular design so far. This 3 tier version was for an intimate wedding. The couple also chose to treat their guests to Cake Bite wedding favors.

This next cake was designed for a pair twin boys who have defied the odds to become a hot-rodding pair of boys who use their wheelchairs to charm the ladies. With one of the boys sporting a mohawk, we thought that some flames would be fitting for the birthday celebration that marked a new chapter in their lives.

Fondant 101

2011-03-05T10:22:00.004-05:00

Ok class, turn to page 207 in your fondant books. Today, we are going to discuss the pros and cons of fondant as well as clear up some fondant-related myths.

Myth #1: You can't eat fondant.

Actually, fondant is meant to be eaten. While many people will peel off fondant or leave it on their plate, it is quite edible.

Myth #2: Fondant tastes bad.

Yes, there is fondant that tastes bad, which is why we make our own here at Indy Cakes. Our marshmallow fondant has a light delicious flavor that surprises almost everyone who tries it.

Myth #3: Custom bakeries only do fondant cakes.

Most of the cakes we do here at Indy Cakes are frosted in buttercream but then fondant is used for accent pieces, such as dots or stripes. On this cake, the white and light brown is buttercream but the animal print is made from fondant. Also, the giraffe, tree and sign are made from fondant.

We find fondant to be an essential part of the decorating process. We don't necessarily have to cover the entire cake in fondant, but we usually use a little on almost every cake we make. We find that kids especially like our fondant and can't seem to get enough.

In conclusion, there is no need to fear fondant, it can be a tasty way to add some extra WOW to your next cake.

Gone Fishin'

2011-02-25T14:42:00.003-05:00

Even though the weather isn't quite right for fishing, that doesn't stop us here at Indy Cakes!! As you can see, the catch of the day is quite large and he would actually provide 30 servings!!!! This would make not only a great birthday cake (Johnny is a lucky guy, huh?) but it would also be great as a groom's cake.

This cake was really a group effort. Lisa carved him and added his scales, Ashure used her airbrush and dusting magic to give him his amazing color and depth and Jill (yours truly) created a cutting board out of fondant on which our fishy could rest until he was ready to be eaten.

Now, if you've ever ordered an odd shaped cake, you know that sometimes it doesn't always fit in the box..... he's got just a little tail sticking out!

Would you like to order one for the fishing fanatic in your life?

A sweet proposal

2011-02-23T11:21:00.002-05:00

For our avid Facebook followers (and if you don't follow us on Facebook, why not???) you already know that we had a very unique opportunity this past week to help a couple take the next step in their relationship. Allow me to share with you the story:

A few months back, we got a request from a young lady named Heather to make a small birthday cake for her boyfriend. She just wanted a simple cake that looked like a present so that he could have something a little bit special on his birthday. Well, the birthday boy, Delbert, loved the cake, as did Heather. When the time came for Heather's birthday, Delbert wanted to return the favor. He, however, decided to take it one step further.

Delbert asked us to make a cake in the shape of a diamond ring so that he could use the cake to propose to Heather!! We were, of course, very excited to be asked to be a part of such a special moment. We made a HUGE diamond ring, complete with a little sparkle in the diamond. We even made sure to check whether or not the ring should be white gold or yellow gold.

We had to keep this agonizing secret for 2 whole weeks prior to his picking up the cake! Delbert made sure that this would be a total surprise for Heather and we even made sure to use extra tape on the lid so that she couldn't peek. Delbert very graciously gave us a heads up after the party to let us know that she said "Yes!".

We are extremely happy for Delbert and Heather as they embark on their new life together and we were thrilled that we could be a part of such an important memory. Congratulations guys!!!

Bridal Show!!!!

2011-02-09T12:22:00.002-05:00

This Sunday, we will be participating in the Winder Wonderland Bridal Show at The Riverwalk on Sunday February 13th at 12:30pm. There will be cake and Cake Bites to sample as well as a few cute display ideas. We do have a few free tickets that we can give out on a first come first serve basis. Feel free to stop by and pick up one or two and come check it out!

Looking back, and looking forward

2011-02-08T09:33:00.002-05:00

Two years ago today, I officially turned our sign from Closed to Open for the first time. It is an exhilarating feeling to see all of your hard work pay off. Now, there wasn't a rush of customers waiting in line, but we did have the phone starting ringing right away and it seems as though it hasn't stopped since.

Opening our little cake shop took almost 2 years of researching, planning, purchasing and building just to get to flip that sign. We laughed, cried, were laughed at by banks, and told by others that this was a horrible time to open a business, let alone one in the food service industry. However, we knew that the south side of Indy was just dying for a great cake shop to call their own. And we were right. In the past two years, we've helped countless brides, parents, friends, and family members make someones special day a little more yummy. We've made pirate ships, princess castles, tie-dyed disco themed towers, buildings, planes, armadillos and even a bedpan!!! Our customers have given us the opportunity to do so many fun and unique designs that not only challenge us, but keep us busy too.

We are extremely grateful to have been given this opportunity to do something we love and help make someones day just a little bit brighter. We look forward to all of the great new cakes to come and the amazing new opportunities.

Ah, winter

2011-02-03T15:19:00.004-05:00

We, along with the rest of central Indiana, have enjoyed an onslaught of ice over the past few days. Our parking lot is a large ice rink.

We've tried shovels, we've tried ice salt. The wind just whipped the salt right off the ice! Then, when we went to the store to get more salt, the stores were sold out!!! While we love having customers stop by and check out our goodies, please be careful when visiting, as this is what our front step looks like:

Who else feels like ice skating?

Bad Weather Closing

2011-02-01T08:20:00.001-05:00

Indy Cakes will be closed today due to weather/road conditions. We should have regular hours again tomorrow. We will be responding to emails.

A slight adjustment to our hours today

2011-01-27T11:17:00.002-05:00

Just a quick heads up, we will be closing at 4pm today. We apologize for any inconvienence this may have caused. We will resume regular hours tomorrow.

Ready for some cute pics?

2011-01-19T12:30:00.004-05:00

I noticed that it's been a while since I've posted some cake pics!! I'm so sorry about the delay, but never fear, here are a few of our recent creations.

This cake is one of our newest display cakes. Yes, the bottom tier is fondant, not fabric!

The writing on this cake was not nearly as small in person! It says:

A pea in a pod

A bundle to love

Baby Ava

Is a gift from above

This unique setup allows for a very modern twist on the traditional stacked cake. I'd like to credit Colette Peters with the original design idea- we just changed some of the colors.

Everyone has a favorite holiday and for this couple, it was Halloween! Their reception hall was decorated with creepy, cool and scary decorations, so they needed a cake that would make the night complete.

This cake is a great idea when you want something nice and elegant. This cake could be done in a variety of colors and still maintain its beautiful look.

Thanks for checking out our cakes! Be sure to leave us a few comments... we love the feedback.

So many flavors, how to choose?

2011-01-10T14:52:00.002-05:00

One of the most common questions we get asked is: "Which flavor is the best?" I have to admit that this is a hard question to answer. I tend to prefer fruitier flavors (strawberry, lemon, orange), whereas others find delight in the various chocolate flavors we have available.
Once a cake flavor is chosen, we throw another question out there: "What filling would you like?" This is usually met by a stunned silence as many people aren't used to having a filling in their cakes.
This blog post is dedicated to discussing the differences between some of our flavors, as well as which flavor/filling combos are good together.

Cake Flavors:
We have a few different chocolate cake flavors available. Our Chocolate is a rich, milk chocolate flavor, the Devil's Food has more of a brownie-type chocolate flavor, and the German Chocolate is much less sweet than the other chocolate flavors and is also lighter in color. Our Chocolate Mint tastes remarkably similar to the classic Thin Mint cookie. Lastly, our Red Velvet has that deep red color you'd expect, with a mild cocoa flavor.
Our fruit flavors are all mellow, light flavors. Our Blue Raspberry is our newest fruit flavor and tastes just like the slushie that we all know and love.
Our Carrot Cake is complete with raisins and nuts, whereas our Almond cake is nut-free.

Any two of our cake flavors can be marbled together to create a whole new flavor combination. For example, if you wanted to mix Vanilla Cake with Raspberry cake, you get a deliciously light, yet fruity cake. This is different from doing a 1/2 and 1/2 cake. A marbled flavor will have a little of each flavor in each piece of cake, whereas a 1/2 and 1/2 cake will be 1/2 one flavor and 1/2 another flavor. We frequently do cakes that are 1/2 chocolate and 1/2 vanilla when clients want to offer their guests the best of both worlds.

Fillings:
Hands down, our most popular filling is our White Chocolate Mousse. It has a light, airy texture and tastes good in every cake flavor we offer. When paired with Orange Cake, the flavor is similar to a Dreamsicle. Put it with a Strawberry Cake, you get Strawberries 'n Cream. Vanilla Cake with White Chocolate Mousse is the ultimate anti-chocolate statement, yet pairing it with Chocolate Cake provides just the right amount of White Chocolate vs Milk Chocolate. The White Chocolate Mousse is also a great alternative to Cream Cheese icing (which we don't offer due to refrigeration issues). That makes it great in our Carrot Cake as well as our Red Velvet Cake.

We do have other Mousse Flavors, such as Chocolate Mousse, Cookies 'n Cream, Strawberry Mousse and Lemon Mousse. All of these offer an airy texture and light flavor that is just right in many cake flavors. You could pair a Strawberry Cake with Chocolate Mousse, or Lemon Cake with Lemon Mousse for the ultimate lemon experience.

Our pudding flavors are just slightly stronger than our mousse flavors, but are also denser in texture. Most children prefer a pudding filling over a mousse flavor, so these are often used in children's birthday cakes. A unique, yet delicious option is to pair Chocolate Cake with Butterscotch pudding.

Our Creamy Caramel is an extremely rich filling choice that will satisfy your sweet tooth. Amazingly good when paired with our Vanilla Cake, it also provides a creamy layer of delicious-ness when put in our Red Velvet Cake. We can add nuts and/or coconut to the Caramel Filling for an added crunch in our German Chocolate Cake.

The last item I want to touch on are Smash Cakes. These are individual cakes given to the birthday boy or girl on their first birthday. The provides for a cute photo opportunity as well as a chance for the child to indulge in a cake all their own. Many parents have fretted over what flavor to get, as it can be difficult to know what flavor is a 1 year old's favorite! I tend to recommend Chocolate Cake is it makes for a very fun photo once the cake is a mess all over the child's face.

Finally, don't be afraid to try something new and exciting for your next event. Your guests will be excited to have something different to try and this will help make your party that much more special.

We're Back!

2011-01-05T09:37:00.002-05:00

While we enjoyed having the time off to spend with our friends and families, all of us at Indy Cakes are happy to be back in the shop and working on new and exciting cake designs. We have a busy year ahead of us, especially if the phone keeps ringing like it did yesterday! There are a few new display cakes to enjoy for this year, including this adorable black/white/red color combo. Be sure to check out our Facebook page for additional updates.

What's a day off???

2010-12-13T18:39:00.002-05:00

We have had such a great year, but we are definitely ready for some much needed time off. In order to allow our employees and ourselves time to spend the holidays with the friends and families, we will be closed from Sat December 18th until Tuesday Jan 4th. Please know that we will not be able to return phone messages or emails during this time. We are open this week, for regular hours, so please feel free to come by and begin placing your 2011 orders!

Wow, it's been a whole month!!???

2010-12-02T09:26:00.002-05:00

It's amazing how quickly November just flew by. There has been so much going on here at Indy Cakes, it has been hard to take a minute to catch our breath.

We do have a few really fun announcements to make. First, we are please to announce that three of our cakes were recently published in the book 1000 Ideas for Decorating Cupcakes, Cookies and Cakes. We were asked last year (yes, we've been waiting 12 months to make this announcement!) to submit several photos for submission. We are very proud to be a part of this publication.

While this isn't so much an announcement as an interesting fact, we did a little figuring and determined that in the first year of our offering Cake Bites, we sold over 11,000 Cake Bites!!! How many of those did YOU get to enjoy? If you haven't tried them yet, be sure to contact us soon to place your order before the holidays.

Of course, we wanted to save the best announcement for last. While nothing is definite yet, we have been asked by THE FOOD NETWORK to submit an audition video. The most exciting part about this is that they found us, we didn't contact them first!!! Be sure to keep an eye on our Facebook page for more details. We also want to say a big THANK YOU to George from Bouquet and Garter for helping us with the video audition tape!

Ok, so that should just about cover the recent going-ons here at Indy Cakes. We will be taking some time off for the Christmas and New Year's holidays, but I'll post those hours in another post next week.

Meet the Cake Artist part 5

2010-10-30T09:50:00.003-04:00

This next "Caker" is really a "Caker-in-Training". Please meet Caitlin:

Because of her school schedule, Caitlin helps out primarily on weekends. She often assists in the kitchen with Saturday pickups, and helps carry items for Saturday deliveries. She also is the one who cuts the cakes for our cake tastings on Sunday, as well as prepares the fillings. If there is any downtime between deliveries or appointments, she gets some hands on practice in the kitchen with some practice cakes. She is going to make a great cake artist someday. Until then, we are happy that this hard worker has decided she wanted to work with Indy Cakes.

Meet the Cake Artist Part 4

2010-10-24T11:15:00.002-04:00

Today, I'd like to introduce you to Kathy, co-owner of Indy Cakes.

If you've placed an order or sent us an email, you've probably talked with Kathy. If you've stopped by the shop in the afternoon, you've probably talked with Kathy. If you've picked up a cake on Saturday, you've probably talked with Kathy!

Without her, our shop would probably grind to a halt. Not only does she handle the majority of our customer correspondence, but she also handles the office work, bills (we do need lights to decorate!) and other paperwork that keeps our shop going. Lastly, she also holds the closely guarded secret to what makes our buttercream so amazingly delicious.

Meet the Cake Artist Part 3

2010-10-05T11:27:00.006-04:00

Today, I'd like you to meet Nicole.

Nicole came to us as an Intern with the Chef's Academy in need of a few more hours to complete her degree. After signing on, it was apparent that she fit in well with the rest of our team and our next decorated was hired!

Nicole started decorating cakes at the tender age of 8 while in 4-H. While in high school, Nicole decided that she wanted to make cakes for a living and applied (and was accepted) to the Chef's Academy in Indianapolis. She enjoys decorating birthday cakes for kids as they allow her to be cute and creative.

Here are just a few of the cakes that Nicole has helped create:

Our new delivery vehicle

2010-10-01T16:54:00.002-04:00

A while back, we acquired a minivan for deliveries, but we wanted to make sure that everyone knew what we had on board and why we were driving so slowly. We contacted the guys over at 317 Signs and Wraps, and they made it happen. Check out the results:

Pretty cool, huh?

Meet the Cake Artists Part 2

2010-09-22T15:06:00.003-04:00

Today, I'd like you to meet Lisa.

Lisa came to us as in intern with the Chef's Academy. Her cake decorating skills were evident and we quickly decided she would be a great fit for our team.

Lisa originally went to school for architecture, but found that she did not have the passion for buildings that she has for cakes! She enjoys the sculpted cakes as well as making cute kids' cakes, and boy can she make them cute. Just check out a few of her recent cakes:

Meet the Cake Artists!

2010-09-15T12:53:00.005-04:00

Over the next 5 weeks, I will be posting a short bio about the wonderful cake artists that work here at Indy Cakes as well as a few of the cakes that they've created while here.

Today, I'd like you to meet Ashure.

Ashure decided she would take on the task of making her son's first birthday cake and quickly found herself obsessed with cake decorating. She watched as many cake shows as she could (and still does!) and took the cake decorating classes offered at Michael's Craft Stores. It was there that she met me (the owner of Indy Cakes). We struck up a friendship and when Indy Cakes was ready to expand, Ashure was a natural choice to be our first decorator.

Ashure enjoys the creativity and uniqueness of making cakes for occasions and especially enjoys the challenge of making non-cake items out of cake, such as hats, cars and turkeys!

Here are just a few of the cakes that Ashure has helped create during her time here at Indy Cakes:

Last Day To Vote!!

2010-09-10T08:35:00.002-04:00

Ok blog stalkers, today is the last day to vote on the WRTV 6 A-List and we need to make sure that everyone knows that Indy Cakes is the best! If you haven't already, please take a moment to put in a vote for us. If you have already voted, please forward the link to your family and friends to have them vote for us too!

Click here to place your vote. Results should be available in about 1 week.

A change in hours this week

2010-09-07T08:06:00.002-04:00

This week, Sept 6th-Sept 10th, we will be closing our doors at 3:45pm instead of 6pm. This is only temporary and will only last for this week. We hope that this does not cause any inconvenience. Please feel free to call or email us with any questions or concerns.

Thank you for understanding.

Wow, what a busy weekend!

2010-08-19T13:50:00.003-04:00

We had a great time at the Bridal Jubilee Expo. A big thank you to Pipers for providing a great venue, to Indy Wedding Ideas for hosting the show, and a special thank you to Debra from Jameson Creations for pulling it all together.

We try to have a new display for each show we do, so without further ado, here is our newest display cake. It is a fall themed cake complete with scarecrow topper and a TREE TRUNK cake base!!

It's almost here!!!!

2010-08-13T16:55:00.002-04:00

We're very excited that the Bridal Jubilee Expo is almost here!!! Please take a moment to pre-register to ensure that you have a chance at the $5,000 CASH prize! And, just in case there aren't enough exclamation points, we'll have Cake Bites!!!!

We look forward to meeting all of the brides and grooms-to-be. Also, be sure to stop by our booth to register to win a bag full of day-of goodies. You know all of those little things that are so helpful on the day of the wedding, well we put them all together in a cute little Indy Cakes tote bag.

So many updates, so little time.....

2010-08-04T13:45:00.003-04:00

There has been so much going on lately in our little shop, that we've hardly had a chance to breathe, let alone, update our blog! We've been creating some really cute cakes lately, preparing for the Bridal Jubilee Expo, covering a TON of Cake Bites (and trying hard not to eat the extras-job perk!), getting some new cake stands, as well as working on some new display cakes. Whew, I'm tried just writing that!

We also want to take a moment to thank everyone who has already voted for us on the WRTV A-List. If you haven't had a chance to go out and vote yet, please take a moment to make sure the whole city knows that Indy Cakes is the best.

If you aren't familiar with the Bridal Jubilee Expo event, you should definitely check it out. It will be held on the south side of town at Pipers Cafe and Grand Manor. While there is a cost to get in, we do have a few free tickets, so just stop by the shop and ask for one. One ticket admits two people. We will give these away on a first come first serve basis. We will have display cakes, samples as well as Cake Bites! Aside from great cake, there will also be a chance to win $5000 CASH!!! We will also use this event to showcase one of our newest and most unique cake stands yet. Be sure to check us out.

Now, since this has been long, we'll reward you with some cute cake pics:

Because what is on the inside matters to...

Don't you just love the little booties?

Such a cute bridal shower cake...

This cake was for a dear friend's daughter. Both mommy and daughter love horses, so what could be better for a birthday than a pony cake?

We've been nominated again!

2010-07-23T17:24:00.004-04:00

We are very pleased to announce that we've been nominated for the WRTV A-List in the Best Cakes category. We would love it if all of our past customers would take a moment to place a vote for us. (It wouldn't hurt if they asked their friends and family to vote for us too!)

http://wrtv.cityvoter.com/indy-cakes/biz/89609

Also, if you haven't had the pleasure of one of our cakes, please place an order and see what all the fuss is about....then you can vote for us too!

And, since its been a while since we've added a few cake photos, and who doesn't love cake photos, here are a few of our latest creations:

This cake was created for a little guy's first birthday. We even made a fishy smash cake for him to make a mess!

This cake is a slight twist on the traditional white wedding. While it is all white, the sculpting and detailing give it a modern feel. You can see where the couple has already enjoyed their first slice.
Lastly, this cake helped bring the Irish heritage into the wedding. It's always nice to bring elements of your ancestry into your wedding, and it is especially nice when it is the form of a yummy cake!

Bridal Jubilee Expo!

2010-07-03T18:33:00.002-04:00

Indy Cakes is pleased to announce that we will be participating the Bridal Jubilee Expo hosted by Jameson Creations and Piper's Grand Manor on Sunday August 15th. The show opens at 12:30, but there will be a special private screening and brunch that will begin at 11am. We will be participating in the private screening and brunch. We will have cake displays, cake samples and Cake Bites samples! Free cake all around!!!

Please take a moment to register for this fun event and we look forward to seeing you there.http://www.jamesoncreations.com/Bridal-Jubilee-Expo.html

New website photos!!!

2010-06-29T13:10:00.002-04:00

This week, we will be adding some additional photos to our website. We've gotten just a little behind on some of these, so we appreciate everyone bearing with us. We should be adding approximately 3 pages of wedding cakes and 3-4 pages of occasion cakes.

If you'd ordered a cake from us in the past and have a great shot of your little one with a face full of cake (or your new spouse for that matter!!), we'd love to see it! We might even create a page of satisfied customers if we can get enough photos.

DIY vs Professional

2010-06-16T12:32:00.002-04:00

I thought I'd step out of my normal blog posts to address something that has been discussed frequently when planning a wedding: DIY or do-it-yourself items.

First, let me say that I am all for saving money. The problem is, so many DIY projects don't actually save you money, but rather cost you extra money and time (and let's face, your time is valuable!)

While there are many DIY projects out there, I'd like to address the DIY cake. I have outlined below a few things to think about when considering making your own cake :

Have you decorated cakes before? (and been happy with the results) -- If not, I'd strongly suggest sticking with a professional. If you have, check out the next few items.
Do you have recipes that will work?
Do you have room in your home to mix, bake and store the cakes while cooling? Some homes do, most do not. Think about how many cooling racks you will need as well as where you can put them.
Do you have pets or kids that will get into the cakes while they are cooling?
Do you have the proper tools? Most kitchens don't have bowls big enough for all of the icing needed to fill/cover a cake for 150 people. Also, how much will you spend on new cake tools to roll/cut/pipe decorative pieces?
Do you know how to stack a cake? If not, do you have the pillars/stand needed?
Who will help you deliver the cake?
Will the venue allow a cake that doesn't come from a licensed kitchen?
When will you deliver the cake? Keep in mind, many venues have specific times for deliveries and may not be willing to accommodate you dropping off the cake before your hair appointment. Also, you'll need to plan for at least 2 hours for delivery. You will be driving slowly, taking a while getting the cake into the venue and getting set up.
Will you be able to enjoy your wedding without worrying if you did a good enough job on the cake to ensure it stays upright during the day?

The bottom line is that there are some brides (or groom's) who can handle a DIY cake, but for most people, it is best to let someone (like me!) who has done hundreds of cakes do what they do best, make your day special.

Getting ready for 4th of July!

2010-06-12T11:53:00.002-04:00

Here at Indy Cakes, we've always believed that the inside of the cake should taste as good as the outside looks, but what if the inside could LOOK cooler than the outside?!

Well, we've found a way!

We are offering a unique cake option for 4th of July. Behold, the flag on the inside!:

This is what the cake will look like when it is on the plate.

This is the inside of the cake.

This is what the outside will look like. This is an 8 inch round that will provide approximately 20 servings. The cost will be $45.00 for a cake decorated as shown. If different decorations are requested, there may be additional costs.

Tragic Accident

2010-06-06T17:50:00.003-04:00

Indy Cakes would like to take a moment to send our sympathies to the family and friends of James Douglas who was tragically killed this weekend in a car accident just hours before he was to act as a groomsman. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.

CONSTRUCTION!!!!!

2010-05-25T10:04:00.002-04:00

As you know, our shop is closed on Mondays, however that doesn't mean that it is a day off. That is typically the day that we get the shopping done for the week, some prep work, cleaning and occasionally some paperwork. As I approach the shop on Monday morning, what am I greeted by but ROAD CLOSED signs!!!

Yep, the city is working on removing septic systems and connecting the local houses to the city system, so there are a lot of roads here on the south side that are being torn up to provide access to these systems. If you have been by the shop in recent weeks, you have noticed that the lot next door has become a staging area for the heavy equipment being used for this project.

What does this mean to you? Well, luckily it is still pretty easy to get to us. The best way to access us is to use SR 135 and turn west on Epler. Since we are just 1/16th of a mile west of the intersection, there is no actual construction in the way, however you will have to go around the ROAD CLOSED sign.

If you are coming east on Epler from SR37, you will need to turn south on Bluff Road, then make a left onto Edgewood. This will take you back to SR135 where you can head north to Epler and make another left.

If you are trying to get to us and get lost, please just give us a quick call at 840-1562 and we can steer you in the right direction. Luckily, all of the surrounding streets connect in a grid-like pattern, so it is pretty easy to get back to us if you get off track.

We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause anyone and we appreciate your patience while the city finishes this project.

Bridal Show!!

2010-05-15T09:43:00.003-04:00

Next weekend we will be participating in the Bridal Show at the Fountains in Carmel! We will have displays, cake samples, information as well as Cake Bites! Here is a link to directions to the show:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=502+East+Carmel+Drive,+Carmel+IN&om=1

Fun Colors

2010-05-01T17:20:00.003-04:00

This week we had the pleasure of making some very colorful cakes. Some were for baby showers, other birthdays. We also had a wedding cake with hot pink and black incorporated into the color scheme.

This cake was for a couple who are using a monkey theme to decorate the baby's room. What's cuter than a baby monkey hanging from a tree? A baby monkey you cake eat!

This colorful creation has 32 servings, which is the perfect size for a party! Best of all, the gerber daisies are edible.

This wedding cake featured hot pink and black piping. The reception was decorated with hot pink and black as well, so the cake fit right in!

Every princess needs a crown, and this princess got hers in the form of a white chocolate crown on top of her birthday cake. The crown and the slipper both shimmered in the light.

This little ladybug served double duty, both as the top tier the cake and as the smash cake for the birthday girl. The gingham ribbon was handpainted.

Be sure to stay posted as we delivered a Zombie themed wedding cake, however I'd like to get the pics from the photographer before I post.

Cake Flavor Testing!!!

2010-04-21T16:55:00.006-04:00

While working on some cake decorations today, the conversation in the kitchen turned to interesting cake flavors and combinations. The result, we whipped up a few new combos and are eagerly awaiting the results. We tried the following cake flavors:

Raspberry Cake

White chocolate and Raspberry Swirl cake

Strawberry Cake marbled with Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Cake marbled with Raspberry Cake

Raspberry Cake marbled with Chocolate Cake

The cakes are cooling and will be sampled tomorrow with lunch (where else is cake for lunch a job requirement!!! ) We'll keep you posted on the results, however if you are in the area and would like to stop by for a sample, and to provide feedback, feel free to drop in.

Also, if you happen to have any good name ideas for any of the above flavor combos, please let us know.

Did you miss me?

2010-04-14T12:29:00.004-04:00

I knew you did :)

Wow, it feels like its been forever since I last posted. We've definitely been keeping busy. While we did not win the cover contest, we definitely appreciate all of the votes and well wishes received.

We've been spending the majority of the past few weeks getting ready for the tax deadline tomorrow. But that's the boring part of owning your own business, now onto the fun part, CAKES!!

There have been a few really cool cakes being ordered lately, and here is just a few examples:

This cake was very simple, yet elegant wedding cake. The bride decided to surprise the groom with the extra tier!

This birthday girl's daughter wanted her to turn 50 with style, so we used the invitation as inspiration. The butterflies are black with teal sparkles on their wings.

This was for a couple enjoying a small, intimate wedding. The monogram and flowers are a deep purple. The cake was topped with a pair of chocolate covered strawberries upon arrival at its destination.

While this cake just looks fun, the best part was that the birthday girl's BFF designed it! The bottom tier matched the invitations, while the birthday girl's name sparkled in front of the zebra print. How can you not love this cake?!

Our final cake of the post is a more traditional cake for a milestone birthday. To celebrate her 80th year, we made a cake with basketweave sides and a cluster of spring flowers adorning the top of the cake. All of the flowers are made of sugar, so they are completely edible.

Who wants free Cake Bites?

2010-03-29T12:39:00.003-04:00

Well, obviously EVERYONE! Here's how to make it happen:

Follow this link to vote for Indy Cakes to win the cover of the next issue of Indy Wedding Ideas: http://www.indyweddingideas.com/VOTEFORBESTWEDDINGCAKE.html
Send everyone your know to vote for Indy Cakes as well!

Its just that easy!

So, how does this result in free Cake Bites? Well, if we get the cover, then we'll set up two weekends where you can stop by the shop and pick up a bag of 4 free Cake Bites to enjoy! We'll even have a variety of flavors available for purchase if 4 just won't be enough.

The contest ends April 5th, so we'll keep you posted.

(on a more serious note, our thoughts go out to the Cake Girls in Chicago whose studio was destroyed by a fire this morning. If there is anything we can do for you, please just let us know)

Do you make cupcakes?

2010-03-24T16:25:00.005-04:00

YES WE DO!

We can make cupcakes to accompany the main cake at your next event. This can be a great way to make up the extra servings that you need without increasing the cake size. It can also be a great way to accomodate small children at a mostly grown up function. Basic designs start at $15.00 per dozen. We can also make intricately decorated cupcakes. These would be priced based on the individual design.

We can also make mini-cupcakes. These are perfect for a finger food type party or where a full sized cake/cupcake might be too rich. They are also great for office pitch-ins, kids school parties or just having a BBQ!

Call us today to order your cupcakes!

Happy St Patrick's Day

2010-03-17T14:05:00.002-04:00

While we are busy today working on a wonderful wedding cake for this weekend as well as several other occasions, I thought I'd take a moment to wish everyone a little luck of the Irish!

Also, if you have't already, please take a moment to go out and vote for us on the Indy Wedding Ideas cover cake contest! We'd love to be featured as Indy's Elite wedding cake designer! http://www.indyweddingideas.com/VOTEFORBESTWEDDINGCAKE.html

We're in a Contest!!!

2010-03-10T15:39:00.001-05:00

Indy Cakes has entered a contest that would feature our cake on the COVER of the new Indy Wedding Ideas magazine. Please take a moment to follow this link to place your vote: http://www.indyweddingideas.com/VOTEFORBESTWEDDINGCAKE.html

Also, please tell your friends to vote too! We'd love to be featured.

Making the most of your cake

2010-03-09T14:02:00.003-05:00

One of the differences between a custom bakery and a grocery store bakery are the serving sizes. Many people are used to cutting the sheet cakes from the grocery stores. These are usually 2x2x2 squares. The grocery store cakes are typically only a single layer, with no filling.

Our cakes are very different. All of our cakes include two layers of cake and a layer of filling which make our cakes just over 4 inches high. That is a tall cake! Because the cake is so much taller than a grocery store cake, you don't need a 2x2 square. Instead, you should cut a 1x2x4 piece. This not only provides you with a piece that offers the same amount of cake (8 cubic inches), but also provides for a prettier presentation on the cake plate.

Below I have provided a cutting guide. This is representative of an 8 inch round. While the pieces may not look as large as you are used to, keep in mind that they are 4 inches high.

Facebook update

2010-03-08T12:11:00.001-05:00

In our never ending quest to understand Facebook, we are claiming a victory! Our Fan Page is now active and the address is easier than ever www.Facebook.com/IndyCakes Please check us out today and become a fan!

The Taj Mahal Cake!

2010-03-02T17:00:00.005-05:00

A few weeks ago, we had a former bride, Mary Ann, come to us to see if we can help make her dad's birthday party a little more special. You see, her dad was stationed in India while serving in the military. He would tell his children stories about the Taj Mahal and how beautiful it was. Naturally, Mary Ann decided this would be the perfect centerpiece for his birthday celebration!

Now, being a man of a few years, her dad has garnered many friends and family, so Mary Ann was going to need a LOT of cake. Also, since her dad is a huge chocaholic, the entire cake is Chocolate.

And, without further delay, I present the Taj Mahal...in cake form!

Now, just to provide you with a bit of scale for this photo, the board on which the cake sits is 2 feet wide by 3 feet long! It took two people to carry it and we definitely had to rest when all was said and done. The end result was a happy birthday boy, so it was definitely worth it! Happy Birthday Jimmy!

In addition to making a well known landmark, here are a few other cakes that we worked on that week.

Facebook!

2010-03-01T13:28:00.001-05:00

When Indy Cakes first setup our Facebook page, it was set up as a personal page. We have now create a Fan-based page. Please take a moment to become a fan of Indy Cakes on Facebook. We will be making a few more updates and posts in the coming weeks. http://www.facebook.com/search/?ref=search&q=indycakes&init=quick#!/pages/Indy-Cakes/334033731683?ref=search&sid=1492497840.1215341433..1

Stay tuned for pics of some of our wonderful cakes from the past two weeks, including the Taj Mahal!!

Bridal Show this weekend!

2010-02-24T16:39:00.002-05:00

For all of you brides-to-be we will be participating in the Community Life Center Premier Bridal Event this Sunday, Feb 28th from 1pm-4pm. We will have displays, cake samples as well as some of our delicious Cake Bites.

Please visit the Community Life Center website for additional information: http://www.clcindy.com/

We look forward to seeing you there!

2010-02-15T19:08:00.002-05:00

I would like to take some time to post some of the cakes we had the privilege of making this week.

First, Raquel asked us to help make her son's first birthday party special with a carnival themed cake. Even if you have a fear of clowns, you have to admit that these guys are pretty cool. The best part, the clowns are totally edible!
(A very special "Hi!" to Raquel's family in Puerto Rico!)

Next, we have our foray into the Tapered Tiers look. We have had a few requests for these types of cakes lately. Notice how the top of the tier is slightly wider than the bottom. Also, we've been making a lot of baby booties lately. They are just so cute!

Ever wonder what kind of cake your shoe-loving/cake-loving girlfriend would like? How about a cake that looks just like the shoes you got her as a gift? That is what Kyle asked us to do. He brought us the shoes and we made the cake!

For every princess, a castle! This castle is especially cool because the second tier is actually a king sized cupcake that doubles as the smash cake for the little princess.

Speaking of smash cakes, we often make a little cake to coordinate with the main cake. We find that Chocolate cakes tend to make for the best first birthday photos!

We'd also like to make a special request: Any of our customers who would like to have their child's photo displayed on our blog, please email us a photo of them either with their smash cake, or after they've made a mess of themselves. We'd love to have a post with our happiest, youngest customer!

Cake Bites for your Valentine!

2010-02-09T20:06:00.002-05:00

With Valentine's day being this weekend, we thought we would have several varieties of Cake Bites available for pickup on Saturday. A variety box is $10 per dozen and makes a unique Valentine's day gift. While not your ordinary box of chocolates, they are a delicious way to tell that special someone that you care.

Tips for Picking up Tiered Cakes

2010-02-03T14:59:00.004-05:00

Many of our customers want something that the grocery stores just can't offer: Tiered Cakes. Whether two, three, four or even five tiers, they require a little special care when transporting. This post is dedicated to understanding how to transport your tiered cake safely.

First, let me explain a little bit of the construction that goes into a tiered cake. Each tier will have dowels to support the tier above it. These are what prevents the top cake from sinking into the bottom cake. Each tier will also have a board between each cake. This is what keeps the dowels from cutting through the cake above it. The cake as a whole will have one dowel that will go through the entire height of the cake. This dowel helps to keep the cakes from shifting side to side and front to back.

Got all that ? (if not, its OK, I've got it, which is the important part!)

When you pick up your tiered cake, we try to box them in the tallest box we have. Sometimes we are able to use a lid, sometimes the cake is just too tall. The following are the most important points when it comes to actually getting the cake from our shop, to your party:

Vehicle: Try to ensure that the vehicle has a large, flat surface where the cake can sit. SUVs and minivans work best, but most sedans have large enough floorboards on the front passenger side.
NEVER PLACE A CAKE ON A CAR SEAT!!! I know that it seems like you could level the seat with a towel or some books, but it just not meant to hold a cake. The floor is the safest place. If the floor is not an option, the last resort should be for a responsible adult to hold the cake on their lap.
Heater: Direct heater vents away from the cake. Having heat blasted directly at a cake is just not a good idea. Would you aim your hairdryer at a stick of butter? Probably not.
Leave the pets at home. Pets are big fans of cake, and will do just about anything to get it.
Lastly, DRIVE SLOWLY. While this may seem like a given, think about not only your driving speed, but also how roughly you stop, how quickly you take off from a light, and how closely you take a turn. Imagine that there were a full glass of water on your dashboard, drive in such a way that no water spills.

Tiered cakes can be a fun way to turn a special party into a spectacular one. Don't let the worry of transporting it prevent you from trying one out.

Indy Cakes is turning one!!!!

2010-01-26T14:45:00.002-05:00

YEAH!!!!

Our one year anniversary is next weekend, Feb 6th. Hard to believe, the year has gone by so fast. We've been very fortunate and business has been good. We truly have the best customers in Indy.

To show our appreciation, feel free to stop by and pick up a free 4 pack of our Cake Bites. We will have 4 different flavors put together in a bag and ready to enjoy. Feel free to stop and chat for a few moments or look through some of the cakes that we've had the opportunity to create this past year. We will also have a coupon for $5.00 off of your next order.

Also, now is the time to order your cupcakes, cake or Cake Bites for your SuperBowl party. Go Colts!!

Wedding Cake Tastings

2010-01-19T14:20:00.002-05:00

So you've been planning your wedding and the time has come to sample some wedding cakes and decide on a baker. Yeah, free cake! How can that be a bad thing, right?

Well, its not a bad thing. It should be a fun and enjoyable experience. In order to get the most out of your appointments, here are a few tips:

Research: Not just who you want to taste, but what type of designs you like. Look at things like cake shape and structure (stacked or pillars). Do you prefer floral designs, or are stripes more your thing? Make a list of things that you DON'T like. It makes it a lot easier to find something that will suit you.
PRINT!!! If/when you find a cake you like, save the page and print the photo. Bring it with you to your appointment. Even if there are 5 or 6 designs you enjoy, bring them. These pictures will help us have an idea of what kind of cake you'd like. Also, feel free to email us the photos ahead of time.
Limit the number of people you bring. Now I know that your bridesmaid, mom, dad, and sister all want to taste the cake with you (who doesn't like free cake!) but the tasting is only a small part of the appointment. Often, too many opinions make it difficult to determine a design. Choose people who will help you with YOUR opinions, while reserving their own.
Keep us in the loop. If you are running late, just give us a quick call and let us know. Also, if you won't be able to keep your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible. We often have a waiting list for appointments and would be able to pass your appointment time on to another bride.
Best to leave the kids at home, if possible. While almost every kid enjoys cake, they can usually only last long enough to eat the cake, then they are done. It can make it tricky for the couple to pick a cake while trying to keep the kids happy.

Character Cakes

2010-01-12T15:08:00.004-05:00

Every kid has their favorite character, whether its a Ninja Turtle, Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, Tinkerbell, Jimmy Neutron, Spongebob or even Pooh Bear. Inevitably, at birthday time, kids will want their favorite character at the time (because we all know that it changes weekly, if not daily!) on their birthday cake.

While we love to help make a birthday party special, we do have some limitations when it comes to characters.

You see, almost every character that your child loves is a copyrighted work of art. What that means is that the person who created that character holds the exclusive right to make money off of that character. Now, this sounds harsh when we are thinking about beloved childhood friends, but it is true.

What we cannot do is make any of the cakes in the character shaped pans. Next time you are in the store, take a look at the pan. It will say on the top that it is for "Home Use Only". We are also unable to draw the character on the cake for you. This method does not provide for any sort of royalty to the copyright owner. Unfortunately, the penalties for infringing on someone's copyright are pretty steep, tens of thousands of dollars. That is a fine that we simply cannot afford.

However, this doesn't mean that we cannot create a cake that will incorporate your childs favorite princess or superhero. We can use pieces that were specifically designed for cakes (thereby providing the copyright owner with their fair share of $$$). We can also create a cake that fits with the theme, while not infringing on any copyrights. For example, below is a cake we did for a little girl who loves Minnie Mouse. You can see that we incorporated a Minnie Mouse theme, while not making Minnie Mouse. The decorative ornament was added by the customer.

If your child has his/her heart set on a character cake, just give us a call or send us an email and we can provide you with the available options.

Ever heard of a Reveal Cake?

2010-01-05T15:15:00.003-05:00

Probably not. That's OK, I'll tell you all about it!

A Reveal Cake is a fun and interesting way for parents-to-be to share the gender of their lastest addition with family and friends. Basically, we will color the cake batter or filling Pink or Blue depending on the baby's gender.

How will we know the gender you ask? Well, this is where it gets fun. Instead of the ultrasound tech telling the parents, they simply call us at the shop* and let us know the results. We then color the batter or filling accordingly and nobody knows until the cake is cut! The cake is decorated in neutral colors so as to not give it away too soon.

This is a great way for everyone to enjoy the suspense together. It is also a fun way to include family and friends who wouldn't be in the ultrasound room with you.

For the out of town family/friends, we can color our delicious Cake Bites in pink or blue and ship a box to them. Imagine how excited they will be to open the box to not only enjoy a delicious treat, but get some wonderful news at the same time.

Call or email us today to schedule your Reveal Cake.
*Please note that you will need to inform the ultrasound tech that you agree to allow us to receive this piece of medical information, per HIPPA.

CAKE BITES ARE HERE!!!!!

2009-12-31T22:57:00.004-05:00

You've patiently waited while I teased you with things to come..... and now your patience has paid off.

I have been spending the last few months practicing and perfecting our Cake Bites recipe and look. While my waistline isn't appreciative, I'm sure you will be!

As you can see, Cake Bites are delicious little bites of cake that are covered in chocolate. Check out our flavors page for a list of what we have to offer. It seems as though every flavor is a pretty big hit, so I'd suggest a variety box for your first order.

Cake Bites are a great way to announce the gender of a new baby too! All you have to do is ask us to color the chocolate striping blue or pink (or a combo if you are having multiples!).

Cake Bites are also available for shipping to out of town friends and family. Your favorite solider might enjoy some delicious Cake Bites as well. As of now, we are using USPS flat rate shipping to keep costs down. The cost to ship a box of 1 dozen, the shipping cost is $5.00, however we can ship anywhere from 2 dozen up to 6 dozen for $10.00 shipping cost.

Not only is this a delicious treat, but it is also something that you will only find here at Indy Cakes. Call or email us today with your order. We will be open on Tuesday Jan 5th and can have your Cake Bites order ready for pickup that day.

After you've had your first taste, please let me know if it was worth the wait.

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!!

2009-12-28T11:39:00.003-05:00

2010 is almost here, and so is our 1 year anniversary! We are enjoying our time off, but you might notice that there have been a few more pages of cake photos added to the website. We have added 2 more pages of occasion cakes and one more page of wedding cakes.

We are also preparing for the Here Comes the Bride Bridal show at the Crowne Plaza on Jan 31st. We are creating a few more display cakes as well as getting our photos organized.

Next week's post will contain info and pictures of our new product, so stay tuned!! We have offered samples to a few customers, family members and friends, and all are eagerly awaiting more.

Three weeks in a row!

2009-12-21T15:52:00.002-05:00

It's been three weeks now since I decided to post every week, and I'm still going strong.

We are now closed for the remainder of the year, but I promise you I am working hard on several updates and our new product launch.

For those of you looking ahead to planning a wedding in 2010, we will be participating in the Here Comes the Bride bridal show at the Crowne Plaza in Union Station on Sunday January 31st from 12-4. This is the link to the website to allow you to purchase tickets in advance: http://herecomethebridesbridalshow.com/

We will have samples of our cake, several displays, and information to take home. We will also be on hand to answer any questions and set up appointments, if you'd like.

We would also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We are looking forward to helping make all of your family occasions a little more special with a tasty treat from Indy Cakes.

Indy Cakes is making a few updates

2009-12-15T15:22:00.002-05:00

While we will be closed for the last two weeks of the year, rest assured we will be hard at work. We will be making a few updates to the website, fine tuning some of the new items that we will have after the first of the year, re-doing a few of our display cakes, preparing for the upcoming bridal show, and planning our 1 year annivesary celebration! We will not be returning phone messages, but we will be able to review and respond to emails. However, be patient as it may take us a few days to respond.

We would also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Holiday Hours

2009-12-08T15:13:00.002-05:00

We are going to be closed from Dec 19th thru Jan 1st to allow our staff time with their families during the holidays. We will not be accepting cake orders for this time. We will also be using some of this time to make updates to our website and prepare to launch a few new products. Keep checking our blog for more details!

Pre-New Year's resolution

2009-12-02T15:43:00.002-05:00

Ok folks, here it is. My pre-New Year's resolution is to post one new post each week. I am setting aside and hour of time every Wednesday, so hopefully I can keep everyone updated on the goings-on inside of Indy Cakes.

I will try to have a photo or two in each post, but might not be able to on busy weeks (aren't they all busy weeks?)!

We have several new things that we are working on for the next year. Don't worry, I'm sure you will love them.

Also, we will be celebrating our one year anniversary in February (YEAH INDY CAKES!!). We are planning a minor celebration at the shop with some coupons and some freebies!!

Hopefully you will hear from me soon. If not, feel free to email and remind me to post.

2009-10-06T21:44:00.001-04:00

We're still getting used to blogging, so we appreciate your patience. Rest assured, this post is worth the wait.

We were recently asked to help make a memorable 21st birthday cake. The request was for a 3D Ice Dragon. With a picture of the dragon in mind, we set to work. First, we practiced, then we practiced some more, then we bought a new airbrush and practiced a little bit more. We, as well as the birthday gent, were very pleased with the result.

All about the butterflies

2009-08-22T13:45:00.003-04:00

One of the things that we love here at Indy Cakes is getting to try new and exciting techniques. One recent request was to make a wedding cake with butterflies, specifically pastel butterflies. We also try to make as much of the cake edible as possible, so we knew that we didn't want to use plastic or acrylic butterflies from a craft store. After a little practice and research, we were able to make some very realistic butterflies that were not only pretty, but also edible.

What about when my princess grows up?

2009-08-10T14:11:00.004-04:00

Now I know that it hasn't been years since my last post, but let's fast forward to your little princess's sweet 16, shall we? Wait, you mean it seems like only yesterday when you were putting her in tiara's and tutu's and now you're trying to find a discount on her auto insurance? While I can't help you with the auto discounts, I can help you with a cake to make her sweet 16 a success. Whether you are planning a party worthy of the reality show, or just a fun night for her and her friends, we've got something for you.

If she's a fan of the zebra print, we've done several different designs that incorporated these wildly popular prints.

Or maybe she's more of a romantic, girly-girl and wants to have everything flowery and pink. We can do that too.

Lastly, if she's got her heart set on being the star for the evening, why not throw a Hollywood themed party? This cake would be the centerpiece of the night.

2009-07-19T10:45:00.003-04:00

You're little princess....

Anyone with a young daughter, granddaughter or niece will tell you that most little girls, at some point, have visions of being a princess. Many times, these little darlings will want to have a their birthday party to have a princess theme. What princess party would be complete without a princess cake. We have many cakes for many little princesses. Here are just a few:

This little princess wanted her very own unicorn as a birthday present. While the unicorns were on backorder, a unicorn cake was more feasible option. This wonderful unicorn provides for 12 servings.

This little princess got to keep the crown, ring and earrings. This "mini-tier" cake provides for 20 servings.

While this isn't necessarily princess themed, many princesses host tea parties. You certainly can't have a tea party with a tea kettle. This pink and purple kettle has 15 servings and is covered in our delicious marshmallow fondant.

Every princess needs a crown. This pink beauty has 12 servings and can be customized in a variety of colors.

An of course, what princess party would be complete without a castle! This cake features fondant walls that can be cut and served with the cake, or you can peel them away to reveal a buttercream iced cake inside! This particular cake had 20 servings, but we can make them larger to provide additional slices.

Welcome to our blog!!!

2009-07-06T19:57:00.005-04:00

With the launch of our retail storefront in February, we've been VERY busy. To keep everyone updated on the latest and greatest in the cake world (yes, we have our own world!!), we've decided to start a blog. This will allow us to share new techniques, creations, ideas and options available to our customers.
We hope to highlight some of our favorite cake requests as well as what we are working on that is new and exciting in the shop.

Since all blog posts are better with pictures, I'll share with you one of our most unique wedding cakes to date.

This cake was for a couple that had a Dr Seuss themed wedding/reception. Instead of your standard wedding attire, the happy couple were dressed as Thing One and Thing Two from the Cat in The Hat. The entire cake was edible, with the exception of the hand, which was styrofoam. The topper was a Lorax Tree made from gum paste.