Birthday & Celebration Cakes in Berkhamsted - Beautiful, Organic and Sustainably Made
I BERKHAMSTED I TRING I HEMEL HEMPSTEAD I AYLESBURY I CHESHAM I WATFORD I
I work closely together with you the client to create a cake that is bespoke, and tailor made just for you. Using only the best quality ingredients to create a delicious scrumptious tasting cake, decorated in a style to reflect your celebration. Be it preference of colour, a theme, flowers, a hobby or favorite characters, each cake reflects your preferences, perfect for making any special event the most memorable.
Whether you are celebrating an engagement, wedding, birthday, christening, baby shower, anniversary or just want to brighten up someone's day or say thank you, there is a cake for every occasion - luxury cakes made sustainably.
Ella, Berkhamsted
“A beautiful cake that was enjoyed by everyone, as it was totally delicious."
Becca, Northchurch
"My birthday cake was a work of art that tasted as good as it looked! There wasn't a single slice left...it was stunning!"
Birthday & Celebration Cakes Berkhamsted - Sustainably Made & Beautifully Designed
Celebrate consciously with custom cakes that are as kind to the planet as they are delicous!
Flavour Menu
Moist sponge bases paired with rich, fruity and indulgent fillings together with light Swiss meringue buttercream
Indulgent Chocolate
Deep & moist chocolate sponge filled with rich chocolate ganache made with organic Montezuma chocolate and covered in indulgent chocolate Swiss Meringue buttercream.
Carrot and Walnut
Delicately spiced carrot sponge made with cinnamon, ginger and walnuts, with a hint of orange, filled with tangy cream cheese frosting and covered in a delicious cream cheese buttercream.
Chocolate and Espresso
Moist chocolate sponge layered with rich espresso buttercream and smooth chocolate ganache covered in espresso Swiss meringue buttercream.
Coconut and Raspberry
Moist coconut sponge cake layered with tangy raspberry coulis and smooth lemon cream, covered in vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream.
Mocha Caramel Dream
A rich chocolate sponge layered with a smooth coffee-infused dark chocolate ganache and indulgent salted caramel, finished with a silky mocha Swiss meringue buttercream
Coffee and Hazelnut
Light brown sugar sponge made with freshly brewed espresso coffee and organic hazelnuts, filled with smooth mascarpone cream and covered in mocha Swiss meringue buttercream.
Vanilla and Strawberry
Classic vanilla sponge made with organic Madagascan vanilla beans, filled with fruity strawberry coulis, smooth lemon cream and covered in vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream.
Zesty Lemon
Organic lemon sponge layered with smooth lemon cream and zesty lemon curd, covered in silky lemon Swiss meringue buttercream.
Chocolate & Cherry
Rich chocolate sponge filled with alternate layers of rich chocolate ganache and smooth mascarpone with cherry coulis, covered in chocolate Swiss meringue buttercream.
Salted Caramel Indulgence
A soft, golden salted caramel sponge, filled with smooth salted caramel buttercream and a decadent centre of my homemade gooey salted caramel, covered with a generous layer of salted caramel butttercream.
Vegan, Dairy and Gluten Free
All my cakes can be provided vegan, gluten free and dairy free.
Please note I take every measure to carefully avoid cross contamination. However, all my cakes are baked in a home kitchen and therefore there may be traces of allergens present. If you suffer from coeliac disease, allergies etc then I would advise you to source your cakes from a fully gluten-free/dairy-free business.
Birthday Cake & Celebration Cake Inspiration
Birthday Cake & Celebration Cake Pricing
Each cake is bespoke, every element tailor made and created with your specific requests in mind and therefore pricing is different for each cake. The pricing of your cake depends on the size, flavour, fillings & choice of decoration of your cake.
My prices start at £100 for a 5-inch, 4 layer cake.
To give you an idea of what you can expect I have included some examples below.
Coconut Sponge & Raspberry Coulis
6-inch, 4 layer
Vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream, lemon cream & raspberry coulis. Decorated with edible pressed flowers and gold leaf.
£115.
Flower Bunting Lemon Cake
6-inch, 4 layer
Lemon Swiss meringue buttercream, lemon cream & lemon curd. Covered in Vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream. Adorned with fresh edible flowers.
£115.
Coffee & Walnut Sponge
5-inch, 4 layer
Mocha Swiss meringue buttercream & mascarpone cream. Decorated in buttercream, caramalised hazelnuts & chocolate ganache.
£100.
Jungle & Waterfall Chocolate Birthday Cake
6-inch & 4-inch Cake
Chocolate sponge layered with chocolate ganache and covered in vanilla buttercream. Decorated with fondant figures. £160.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Q. What is a sustainable cake designer?
A: A sustainable cake designer creates delicious, beautiful cakes while minimizing environmental impact by using organic, locally sourced ingredients, reducing food waste, and using eco-friendly packaging.
Q. Do sustainable cakes taste the same as regular cakes?
A: Sustainable cakes are made with high-quality, fresh, and natural ingredients, ensuring they taste just as delicious—if not better—than conventional cakes
Cake Size and Portions
Q. What size cake do I need?
A: The size of the cake required depends on the occasion and number of servings required. You might want large slices for a birthday party, cake to serve as dessert or small 'canape' style bites. I typically provide four-layer cakes, meaning in most instances, slices are cut in half horizontally to provide more servings per cake.
Check out my blog 'What Cake Size Do I Need?' or feel free to ask, and I can recommend the best size for your event!
4-inch cakes are only available as part of a tiered cake and are not sold individually
Orders, Deposits & Cancellations
Q. How far in advance should I place an order?
A. Order should be placed at least two weeks in advance for birthday cakes and four weeks in advance for wedding cakes.
Q. Do you require a deposit?
A. Yes. A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your booking. The remaining balance is due three weeks before collection or delivery.
For cake orders with less than 3 weeks notice, the full cost of the cake is payable at the time of the booking
Q. What is your refund policy?
A. If there is a problem with your order you must return it as proof. Contact me within 12 hours of delivery, please note I will only deal with the client who placed the order. The cake must be returned within 24 hours. Please be mindful that taste and texture is very personal so there is no guarantee of refunds.
Q. What is your cancellation policy?
A. The deposit is non-refundable – this covers my time spent replying to emails, shopping for ingredients, doing online research for the design, drawing sketches, etc, all undertaken prior to the actual baking and decorating of the cake, not forgetting orders that may have been turned down to save the date for the client.
Cancellations with less than 28 days notice are subject to full payment.
Delivery & Storage
Q. Do you offer delivery?
A. Yes! I provide local delivery. I recommend delivery for any cakes larger than 2 tiers as they are more structurally fragile due their height . I can deliver within a 10-mile radius of Northchurch, Berkhamsted, charged at 75p per mile for the return journey. Sunday or bank holiday deliveries are subject to a surcharge. This covers Northchurch, Tring, Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead, Aylesbury and the local surrounding villages. If you need delivery exceeding this mileage, I am happy to have a chat.
Collection time will be agreed prior to collection. A lateness charge will be payable.
Q. How should I store my cake?
A. Cakes should be kept in a cool, dry place. I will provide information on the care of your cake when confirming your order.
Pricing & Payment
Q. Are sustainable cakes more expensive?
A. While sustainable ingredients can sometimes cost more, I strive to offer a fair pricing while maintaining ethical and high quality sourcing.
Q. How much will my cake cost?
A. As each cake is tailor made to client’s requirements the cost of each cake differs depending on final design and intricacy of the work involved. Once I have discussed your requirements I will provide a quote to you. If you have a budget in mind, I'm happy to suggest options that work within it.
My minimum spend is:
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Birthday cakes: from £95
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Wedding cakes: from £225
Q. What payment methods do you accept?
A. Payment is by bank transfer. I will provide bank details on your booking form.
Cake Decoration & Customisation
Q. What type of decorations do you offer?
A. I offer a range of decorations, including buttercream designs, chocolate ganache, caramelised nuts, candied citrus fruit, edible gold, minimal fondant accents (generally models), and edible flowers. The flowers I use are food-safe and organic. They are edible although on some flowers, such as Calendular, the central part of the flower can be abit tough! If you'd like to learn more about edible flowers, check out my blog on edible flower cakes.
More Birthday Cake & Celebration Cake Inspiration!
Cake Concerns
Q. "Sustainable cakes are too expensive"
A. I completely understand that pricing is an important factor! I sourced from local, smaller producers who focus on high-quality ingredients and whose sustainable ethics are aligned to mine. These suppliers don't benefit from the same economies of scale as large commerical brands, which can make ingredients more expensive - but it also means you're supporting ethical, small-scale farming and fresher, more natural products.
Additionally, I make everything from scratch, without preservatives or pre-made products, ensuring that every cake is freshly baked with real ingredients. This extra care and craftmanship contribute to both the cost and the superior quality of the final cake.
If you have a specific budget in mind, I'd be happy to suggest cake sizes or designs that work within it that still look and taste amazing!
Q. "I need a last-minute cake, but you require advance booking"
A. I totally understand that sometimes you need a cake at short notice! We aren't all super organised! Because I focus on sustainability, I carefully source my ingredients in advance and avoid excess waste, which is one of the reasons I require pre-orders. However, I may be able to offer a simplified design with the ingredients I have to hand - let me know what you need, and I'll see what's possible!
Q. "Why do I have to pay a 50% deposit?"
A. The deposit secures your booking, and allows me to purchase the ingredients specific to your cake. Since my cakes are custom-made, I start preparations well in advance, the deposit covers this covers my time spent replying to emails, shopping for ingredients, doing online research for the design, drawing sketches, etc, all undertaken prior to the actual baking and decorating of the cake, not forgetting orders that may have been turned down to save the date for the client.
Q. "Can I get a 4-inch cake on its own?"
A. My 4-inch cakes are only available as part of a tiered cake. If you are looking for a cake for a small celebrations then I would recommend my cupcakes or a 5-inch cake.
Q. "Why is my packaging different from traditional cake boxes?"
A. I use compostable, biodegradable, or recyclable packaging to reduce waste and minimise environmental impact. Traditionally cake boxes often contain plastic or non-recyclable materials, shiny stickers and ribbons that contribute to pollution. My packaging choices align with my mission to create delicious cakes while being kind to the environment.
If you need specific packaging for an event, I'd be happy to discuss eco-friendly customisable options.
Q. "Do you offer fondant cakes?"
A. Yes, I do offer fondant cakes, but I try to keep fondant use to the minimum. Wherever possible, I prefer using buttercream for the main cake and only incorporate fondant for decorative elements. This help maintain a more natural, less processed finish while still allowing for intricate designs.
Additionally, the fondant I use is specifically sourced to be palm oil-free, as palm oil is commonly found in fondant and has significant environmental impact. This ensure that even when I use fondant, it aligns with my commitment to sustainability.
Q. "Are the flowers on the cake actually edible?"
A. Yes! The edible flowers I use are carefully selected and sourced to be food-safe. Many flowers are naturally edible and add a beautiful element to your cake. If you'd like to learn more about which flowers are safe to eat and how they're used in cake decorating, check out my blog here.
About Me
Hi, I am Marie-Clare, founder of Cakes by Marie-Clare. I am passionate about baking and designing cakes in a sustainable ethical manner. I LOVE growing edible flowers & creating stunning floral decorations that are as delicious as they are beautiful! Find out more about my story....
How to Order
Get in Touch
1
Contact me with the date of your event and a little information about the kind of cake you're looking for.
Details & Quote
2
I will get back to you with any extra questions I have, then provide a personalised quote.
Confirm & Book
3
If you'd like to go ahead, I'll confirm all the details. Once your deposit is paid, your order is booked!
Enjoy Your Cake!
4
Time to collect your cake or have it delivered - let the celebrations begin!
Lucy, Berkhamsted
"We always return to Marie-Clare for our celebration cakes, she really takes the time to discuss what we want and turns it into the most amazing delicious cake"