Tasty Treats: Sample Wedding Cakes Before You Buy

Wedding cake samples are a great way to try different flavours and designs before deciding on the perfect cake for your big day. Many bakeries offer sample boxes with a variety of cake options to choose from, and some even allow you to customise your box with your preferred flavours. These sample boxes typically include a selection of cakes, mousses, and frostings, giving you a good idea of what to expect from the bakery. Some bakeries also offer gluten-free, vegan, and other dietary options to cater to a range of dietary restrictions. With prices starting at around $30, these sample boxes are a convenient and affordable way to find your dream wedding cake.

Local bakeries offering sample boxes

If you're looking to sample a variety of wedding cakes before placing an order, there are a few local bakeries that offer sample boxes. Here are some options to consider:

Elegant Temptations Bakery, Miami, Florida: They offer a sample box with 10 different cake flavors, including Vanilla Rum, Chocolate, and Espresso cakes, as well as unique options like Red Marble Cake with White Chocolate Chip Cheesecake filling. The sample box is available for pickup or local delivery during weekdays.

Sweet & Shiny: Their wedding cake tasting box includes a mix of 6 slices of popular cakes, 4 standard flavor cupcakes, and 2 wedding favor sugar cookies. You can expect flavors like Chai Spice with Salted Caramel, Vanilla Cake with Lemon Curd and Raspberry Preserves, and Classic Chocolate with Chocolate Ganache. However, this option is for porch pick-up only.

Papa Haydn: For $30, you can order their sample box to try their most popular wedding cake flavors. The box includes a variety of options such as Vanilla Cake with Vanilla Bean Custard, Almond Cake with Almond Custard, and Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese. You can pick up your order at their Sellwood location and enjoy the tasting in the comfort of your home.

Bean Counter Bakery: While they don't provide many details on their website, Bean Counter Bakery offers a range of wedding cake samples, including standard and specialty options. Their specialty samples include unique flavors like Funfetti, Pumpkin, and Spice. They also cater to dietary needs with gluten-free and vegan options.

Too Sweet Cakes: For $42, you can select four different cake options to sample. They offer a variety of flavors, and their website indicates that they can accommodate dietary restrictions, with options like gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan cakes available.

Online retailers with delivery options

There are several online retailers that offer wedding cake samples with delivery options. Here are some options to consider:

Freedom Bakery

Freedom Bakery offers an in-home wedding cake tasting plate that can be delivered to your location. Their tasting plate includes 12 standard flavours, such as Mango Coconut Mousse with White Cake, Raspberry Preserve and Italian Lemon Mousse with White Cake, and Red Velvet with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Mousse. They also offer dessert bar samples that can be picked up from their Watsonville location. It is recommended to review their delivery area before placing an order.

Wild Flour Bakery

Wild Flour Bakery offers a sample box that includes 8 cake flavours and 8 fillings, allowing you to create your own custom flavour combinations. The sample box costs $20 and should be ordered at least one week in advance. You can also add additional cakes or fillings for a small fee. Wild Flour Bakery provides the option to pick up your sample box or have it delivered to your home for a convenient and relaxed cake-tasting experience.

Cake Bloom

Cake Bloom offers an 8-Slice Seasonal Sampler that is perfect for special occasions like birthdays and dinner parties. While they offer local pick-up and delivery in Charlottesville, it is recommended to pre-order to guarantee a full variety of flavours. You can also upgrade your sampler with a luxury gift box for an enhanced tasting experience.

Silver Rose Bakery

Silver Rose Bakery offers a Wedding Cake Tasting Kit with delivery available in Phoenix. They also have a range of dessert tasting kits, such as the Pastry Flight and Double Pastry Flight, which can be a great option for couples looking for a variety of sweet treats to sample.

Luke's Custom Cakes

Luke's Custom Cakes offers a Wedding Cake Sampler that includes their five most popular wedding cake flavours. The sampler includes White Wedding (vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream), Strawberry, Lemon, Chocolate, and Red Velvet. While the exact delivery options are not specified, you can contact them to inquire about delivery possibilities.

In-store tasting appointments

Many bakeries offer in-store tasting appointments for wedding cakes. These appointments are typically by reservation only and may be restricted to specific days and times. For example, All Things Cake offers complimentary cake tasting and design consultations by appointment only from Tuesday to Saturday between 10 am and 3 pm.

Tasting appointments are usually for those who need cakes to serve a minimum number of people. For instance, All Things Cake requires that you need a cake to serve 50 or more people to book a tasting appointment.

There may also be restrictions on the number of people who can attend the tasting appointment. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some bakeries may still have restrictions in place, such as limiting the number of people per tasting appointment to two.

To schedule a tasting appointment, you may need to fill out a form, call, or book online. Some bakeries may require a tasting fee, which can range from $35 to $42 for two people, with additional costs for extra attendees.

When booking an in-store tasting appointment, it is essential to keep the bakery's precautions and requirements in mind. For example, you may need to provide a wedding date and venue or give advanced notice, typically around 48 to 120 hours.

Cake shops with vegan options

There are a number of cake shops that offer vegan options for wedding cake samples. Here are some options:

Bean Counter Bakery

Bean Counter Bakery offers a range of specialty wedding cake samples, including vegan options. Their vegan wedding cake samples include flavours such as Funfetti, Pumpkin, Spice, Carrot, and Red Velvet. They also offer gluten-free and vegan combinations.

Papa Haydn

Papa Haydn offers a sample cake box that allows you to try their most popular wedding cake flavours. While they do not explicitly mention vegan options, their website indicates that orders can be customised, so it is worth contacting them to inquire about vegan alternatives.

Whole Foods

Whole Foods offers a variety of vegan cakes, including signature cookies, cream cakes, and pound cakes. They also offer vegan carrot cakes and doughnuts. Single slices of these cakes are available in the bakery grab-and-go section.

Better Bites Bakery

Better Bites Bakery offers a range of vegan cakes, including the Amoré Cake, a double-layer, deep chocolate cake with whipped chocolate buttercream and chocolate ganache. Their treats can also be frozen, making them a convenient option for future celebrations.

Patty's Cakes

Patty's Cakes offers a selection of vegan cupcakes, which can be a great option for wedding cake samples. Their vegan cupcake flavours include Chocolate with Chocolate Fudge, Chocolate with Oreo Mousse, S'mores, and Chocolate Strawberry Cream, among others.

Online Delivery Services

Online delivery services, such as Instacart, provide a convenient way to order vegan cakes and desserts from various brands. Instacart offers same-day delivery or pickup options from local and national retailers, making it a flexible choice for those seeking vegan wedding cake samples.

Wedding cake specialists

Flavour and Dietary Requirements

Some bakeries offer sample boxes or cake tastings so you can choose your favourite flavours before committing to a large order. This is a great way to ensure that you and your guests will enjoy the cake. Many bakeries also offer gluten-free, vegan, and eggless options to accommodate dietary restrictions.

Design

Size and Number of Tiers

The number of guests you'll be serving will determine the size and number of tiers of your cake. Wedding cake specialists can help you decide on the appropriate size and configuration to ensure there's enough cake for everyone.

Delivery and Setup

Some wedding cake specialists offer delivery and setup services, ensuring that your cake arrives safely and is presented beautifully at your venue. This can be especially important for large or delicate cakes.

Timing and Booking

It's important to plan ahead and book your wedding cake specialist in advance. Many bakeries require a minimum of 6-8 weeks' notice for wedding cake orders. Be sure to inquire about their booking process and allow enough time for design consultations, tastings, and finalising the details.

• Porto's Bakery: Located in Glendale, their team of cake specialists create unique and beautiful tiered cakes. They combine imported chocolates, liqueurs, and fresh fruits with proven recipes to create moist and flavorful cakes.
• Cake Diamonds: Based in Leicester, UK, they specialise in eggless and sponge cakes. They offer a wide range of designs, including stacked and hanging cakes, and deliver throughout the UK.
• Bean Counter Bakery: They offer standard and specialty wedding cake samples, including gluten-free and vegan options, so you can taste their flavours before deciding.
• Papa Haydn: They offer a sample box with their most popular wedding and celebration cake flavours, which you can pick up and taste in the comfort of your home.

Frequently asked questions