Have a wedding cake people will notice

Please introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Rikki! I am a 22-year-old, part-time Wedding & Celebration Cake baker located just outside of Portland, OR. I got my start by using the social networking app, Snapguide, nearly 5 years ago. Through that platform, I earned a top award for the Brit & Co 'Do It Yourself Wedding Contest’, which helped launch my career in wedding cakes. I’ve been in the wedding industry ever since I made my first wedding cake for my sister’s wedding in the Summer of 2014. I love to bake and sell wedding cakes and desserts. I pride myself on creating several of my own recipes and sharing tips and tricks with other aspiring bakers along the way through my Instagram account (@littlesistersweets) and blog! I am a baker who uniquely focuses first and foremost on taste. We’ve all had that slice of a perfectly decorated wedding cake that just didn’t measure up. I never want my brides to be satisfied with the look of their cake, but disappointed by the taste.

How did you become a baker?

Choosing your cake is one of the most joyful things about a wedding and I love how much grooms get involved!

I baked my first batch of chocolate chip cookies when I was 10 years old, for some reason, the recipe was like magic and the cookies were incredible! It was just the confidence boost a first-time baker needed to continue exploring the kitchen. Throughout my childhood I tried a new recipe nearly every other day, I took Wilton cake decorating classes and loved to experiment. In 2014 I attended the San Francisco Baking Institute wedding wake course and fell in love with baking wedding cakes.

My favorite thing about my role in the wedding business is when I get to meet with new brides & grooms for cake tastings. Choosing your cake is one of the most joyful things about a wedding and I love how much grooms get involved!

What are the most common questions that couples ask you at the first introductory appointment?

Couples always ask about price & flavor options. Ultimately they want to know if their dream cake will fit in their budget. I never leave my brides hanging too long. Yes, I need to know how many guests they’ll be serving, what style and flavor they are looking for, but I always try to give them an estimate right away. It saves us both time!

What is your favorite wedding cake design?

I love making wedding cupcakes as well! They are so fun to decorate and they make it easy for brides to offer multiple different flavors for their guests.

I love to make buttercream cakes with fresh flowers. It’s my go-to look! I am a big supporter of “cake that looks like cake”. You won’t see my bakery use fondant or make cars out of cakes; I am much more classic. I love making wedding cupcakes as well! They are so fun to decorate and they make it easy for brides to offer multiple different flavors for their guests.

Do you have any tips for brides that want to create their own wedding cake?

For the brides that want to create your own cake (which is totally me by the way!), my recommendation is this. Choose something simple (don’t try to go all out with fondant flowers and 5 tiers if you’re not a professional), and practice, practice, practice. Making a wedding cake is much more time consuming than you may realize, so create a situation in which you can practice (make someone else’s wedding cake before your wedding!) and watch exactly how long it takes you! Remember that cake (when prepped correctly) can be frozen so consider doing some work in advance and making yourself less stressed on wedding week!

How to save money on a wedding cake?

• A great way to save money on your cake is to avoid several tiered cakes. Instead, ask your baker to make a cutting cake, and supplement with cupcakes or sheet cake!
• I also highly recommend picking up your own cake (or having a lucky family member take care of it). Wedding cake delivery fees can be an extra cost you don’t originally consider. If you’re not having a five-tier cake that needs to be assembled on site by a professional, picking up your cake can be a great way to save money!

What are some creative cake flavors?

My top flavor of 2018 (and quickly becoming my top flavor in 2019) is champagne cake! Brides are absolutely loving this trend. I make my champagne cake with actual champagne (or prosecco) so my brides get the added benefit of choosing their own level of sweetness. I also recently had a bride choose orange cranberry as their cake flavor and it was wonderful!

How big should a wedding cake be?

Choosing the right wedding cake size is one of the most common concepts that confuse brides.

Choosing the right wedding cake size is one of the most common concepts that confuse brides. What we don’t remember is that wedding cake slices are very small (1”x 2”). A typical 3 tier cake (10”, 8”, 6” rounds) serves just 75 guests. It is important to remember as well, that larger rounds provide exponentially more servings. I am always sure to thoroughly explain sizing to all my brides and grooms, making sure we provide enough dessert for all their guests. Although, fun fact, studies show that only about 80% of guests actually eat the cake at a wedding!

What was the most difficult request you have handled?

I am creating a 100% sugar-free cake for a wedding this summer! I don’t typically take on sugar-free cakes, however, the bride and groom for this wedding have been the sweetest, nicest couple to work with. I tested out my sugar-free recipes (mocha and vanilla) in our cake tasting and they were a hit! I am looking forward to creating a 3 tier sugar-free cake for them with airbrushed gold decor and fresh flowers!

Was there ever a time you had to improvise?

Just recently I was working on a small, (but rather tall) cake for an event and in my attempt to move it to the fridge to seal the crumb coat of frosting, I accidentally dropped the entire cake on the ground. I remember watching it slide as I lost my balance and then not knowing what to do as I stood there looking at all my hard work, on the floor. I quickly returned to my mixer and remade the cake as fast as I could. It was a great learning lesson... and don’t worry the cake turned out beautifully in the end!