Custom Cupcakes in Berkhamsted -
Sustainable, Organic and Beautifully Designed
I BERKHAMSTED I TRING I HEMEL HEMPSTEAD I AYLESBURY I CHESHAM I WATFORD I
A great alternative to a cake, cupcakes are ideal for a smaller gathering or if your budget won’t stretch to a large cake. Perfect for sharing among friends and family or taking onto the dancefloor I offer cupcakes in a variety of flavours and decorated in a variety of styles, to suit your preference.
Whether you want a box of 12 or 100 cupcakes, my cupcakes are freshly baked to order with organic, locally sourced ingredients. They can be decorated in pressed edible flowers, fresh fruit, sprinkles or simple fondant decoration.
See below for pricing
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 cupcake for every occasion - luxury cakes made sustainably.
Ana, Northchurch
“Your lemon curd cupcakes were divine,
I couldn't stop at one!"
Claire, Dunstable
"The coffee cupcakes were so pretty,
I loved the attention to detail."
Berkhamsted Birthday Cupcakes -
Sustainably Baked & Naturally Beautiful
Perfect for any occasion, my sustainably baked, organic cupcakes are ideal for birthdays, celebrations, or simply sharing with loved ones.
Flavour Menu
Cupcakes can be topped with fresh fruit, edible flowers, sprinkles, or simple fondant designs for a beautiful finishing touch
Raspberry & Vanilla
Vanilla Cupcakes with fruity raspberry jam and smooth raspberry Swiss meringue buttercream
Indulgent Chocolate
Chocolate Cupcakes with velvety chocolate ganache and smooth chocolate Swiss meringue buttercream
Salted Caramel
Soft salted caramel sponge, topped with smooth salted caramel buttercream and drizzled with my homemade gooey salted caramel.
Coffee & Hazelnut
Light brown sugar sponge made with freshly brewed espresso coffee and organic hazelnuts, with smooth coffee Swiss meringue buttercream.
Almond & Cherry
Almond cupcakes with sweet cherry coulis and delicious vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream
Spiced Carrot
Lightly spiced carrot cupcakes with a hint of orange, with tangy cream cheese buttercream
Zesty Lemon
Organic lemon cupcakes topped with smooth lemon Swiss meringue buttercream, and zesty lemon curd.
Coconut & Raspberry
Moist coconut sponge cake smooth raspberry Swiss meringue buttercream.
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.
Pricing
Prices start at £45 for a box of 12 cupcakes
For more bespoke or intricate designs, such as personalised decorations or premium ingredients, prices may vary depending on the complexity and size of your order. Please get in touch for a tailored quote to suit your specific needs.
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
Cupcake Sizes and Portions
Q. How many cupcakes do I need for my event?
A: Obviously it depends how hungry your guests are and potentially how many children there are as they tend to eat more than one cupcake! However here's a rough guide:
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Small gathering (6-8 people): 12 cupcakes
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Medium event (15-20 people): 24 cupcakes
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Large event (30+ people): 36+ cupcakes
Ordering & Pricing
Q. What is your minimum order for cupcakes?
A. My cupcakes are made fresh to order, the minimum order is a box of 12.
Q. How much do your cupcakes cost?
A. Prices start at £45 for a box of 12. Prices vary based on design, flavour and customisation.
Flavours & Customisation
Q. Can I mix and match flavours in my order?
A. I offer one flavour per box of 12 to ensure efficency and keep my pricing at a fair level.
Q. Do you offer themed cupcake designs??
A. Yes! I can create customised designs, including hand-piped buttercream decorations, minimal fondant toppers, edible flowers & fresh fruits.
Q. Do you use edible flowers on cupcakes too?
A. Yes! I can add fresh, pressed or crystalised edible flowers to cupcakes for a beautiful, natural design. You can learn more about edible flowers here in my blog.
Dietary & Sustainability Questions
Q. Do you offer vegan or gluten-free cupcakes?
A. Yes! Vegan and gluten-free options are available, but please note that my kitchen handles allergens so I cannot guarantee 100% allergen-free products.
Q. Is your packaging eco-friendly?
A. Absolutely! I use compostable cupcake holders (this is why they are a natural unbleached beige colour) and recyclable cupcake boxes to minimise environmental impact.
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 cupcakes.
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 cupcake orders with less than 3 weeks notice, the full cost of the order 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 cupcakes 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 cupcakes, 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 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 cupcakes?
A. Cakes should be kept in a cool, dry place. I will provide information on the care of your cupcakes when confirming your order.
Payment
Q. What payment methods do you accept?
A. Payment is by bank transfer. I will provide bank details on your booking form.
CupCake Concerns
Q. "Sustainable cupcakes 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 cupcake is freshly baked with real ingredients. This extra care and craftmanship contribute to both the cost and the superior quality of the final cupcakes.
If you have a specific budget in mind, I'd be happy to suggest cupcake designs that work within it that still look and taste amazing!
Q. "I need a last-minute order of cupcakes, but you require advance booking"
A. I totally understand that sometimes you need to order cupcakes 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 cupcakes. Since my cupcakes are custom-made, I start preparations well in advance, the deposit 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 cupcakes, not forgetting orders that may have been turned down to save the date for the client.
Q. "Can I get a box of 6 cupcakes?"
A. My cupcakes are only available in boxes of 12 as it is not economical to make smaller batches of cupcakes. A minimum order ensures that I can source ingredients efficiently and maintain fair pricing. If you don't get through them all at once, you can freeze them for a treat another day!
Q. "Why is my packaging different from traditional cupcake boxes?"
A. I use compostable, biodegradable, or recyclable packaging to reduce waste and minimise environmental impact. Traditionally cupcake 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 cupcakes?"
A. Yes, I do offer fondant cupcakes, but I try to keep fondant use to the minimum. Wherever possible, I prefer using buttercream for the decoration 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 cupcakes 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 cupcakes. 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.
Q. "Why can't I order one cupcake in each flavour?"
A. Because each batch is made from scratch, I require a minimum of 12 cupcakes per flavour to ensure efficiency and quality.
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 cakes 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 Cupcakes!
4
Time to collect your cupcakes or have them delivered - let the celebrations begin!
Jennifer, Berkhamsted
"Beautiful cake...perfect flavour and texture!"
Duncan, Berkhamsted
"Beautiful cakes covered in edible flowers...they looked so incredible and tasted amazing!"