How much is a Hyperrealistic Cake? A Guide by The Diamond Baker
- Natasha Diamond
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
There is nothing more daunting than asking for a quote and finding out you are so far from your budget you cringe and never want to message back. In this guide you will find answers as to why 3d cake makers charge what they do and why they will likely cost more than your average celebration cakes.
But first, I think an important question I need to answer is “what actually is a hyperrealistic illusion cake”
What is a Hyperrealistic Cake?
Now you may be thinking that an illusion cake is a fancy term for a 3d cake I.e something that looks anything other than an actual cake.
You are partially right, an illusion cake is destined to look like something else such as a giant watch, a huge burger or a stack of t-shirts.
An illusion cake however is supposed to look EXACTLY like the item, not just look like it enough that you can say “huh, what a cool cake”
The correct scale, the correct colour and the correct texture.
It’d designed for guests to have a reaction more like “shut up, that is not a cake”
The chances are if you go looking for a hyperrealistic cake maker, you will instead find a former artist who has decided making art that is both beautiful and delicious is far more fun than painting or sculpting with the usual mediums.
Take these cakes. The bag is a cute representation of a baby bag. Full of detail but really obviously a cake.
The cheese board is a combination of both real cheese and cake. The blue cheese and the board are both cakes in disguise!
Who should buy a hyperrealistic illusion cake?
I have spent the last 10 years making wedding cakes and I’m going to start off giving the same advice here.
If you don’t like eating cake, please don’t order one, unless you are buying it for someone else. Nothing makes my heart sink more than someone who tells me they don’t like cake but feel they have to have a cake because it is the birthday, celebration or wedding norm.
No you don’t. Go buy a fabulous croquembouche tower or some cheese.
Thank you please and good day to you!
If you love the idea of having a cake that is not only tasty but is also something that will have your guests remembering it for a long time to come, then an illusion cake could be the answer to your dessert dreams.
Imagine this.
Uncle Bill loves to fish.
He also loves a decent chocolate cake
He goes out and catches river trout frequently. It’s his passion.
You put out a spread of tasty party food with a fish in the centre.
But it’s not a fish. It’s a chocolate cake!
You dim the lights, you start singing happy birthday and you walk over to the table with a candle.
You pop the candle in the fish cake and Bill is furious its not a real fish.
I’m kidding. I would hope he would actually find it very entertaining and magical. But I don’t know Bill, so either way, it’s going to be a laugh.
What your cake maker will need to know to cost your cake
There are a number of factors when it comes to the price of your illusion cake.
. How many people you want to serve. The price will need to accommodate a portion for each person, but more on that later.
. A rough design idea. whether you have a set in stone idea or a theme I.e cars, giving as much detail is key to an accurate quote.
. The flavour. What’s the recipients favourite flavour cake or favourite flavours in general?
. They will need to know when you would like your cake made for. Some cake makers charge more for cakes made on Sundays and bank holidays
. They will need to know where you are having your event and if you would like delivery. If you have picked a 3d sculptural design, I cannot stress how scary that car journey is! Choose delivery!
What’s in your cake?
Has it ever made you wonder what on earth goes into store bought cakes which enables them to be eaten weeks after they have been opened and months after they have been made.
I won’t pretend to know exactly what’s in them, but If a fresh cake with fresh ingredients has a shelf life of a week or less from the point of baking, I dread to think.
As an example and after a bit of research, a supermarket brand chocolate cake contains 31 ingredients. My rich chocolate cake contains 10.
I personally use the best quality ingredients. Organic white chocolate, British dairy, artisan flours, small batch jams and free range eggs.
The cost of ingredients has increased hugely over the past couple of years (even crap ones) and I doubt will come down any time soon.
Portion size is kind of irrelevant!
This is a bit of a strange one, but the portion size can be less of a price factor than you may think.
As an example, say you have 8 guests. You may think this should mean a fairly in expensive cake right as you are not feeding hordes of people.
But it all depends on the design.
Say you are having a realistic Rolex watch cake to feed 8
The watch (made of chocolate) will be sitting on top of a wooden box (the cake) - it takes 11 hours to make + ingredients + planning time + delivery
You order a fossil cake to feed 30
The cake looks like a slab of stone with a fossil peeking out of the rock - it takes 9 hours to make + ingredients + planning time + delivery
Yet they cost the same.
Which leads nicely onto
What elements make a cake more expensive?
This again will differ for each cake designer.
Here are some of the things for me which add on extra £
Extra planning - All cakes take planning, but something sculptural cakes take a LOT of planning. This may involve internal structures, plans that have to be bought online, specialist printing or new techniques.
A lot of painting - Hand painting takes a lot of time and precision. If there is a lot of detailed painting it will be reflected in the price. Things like specialist fonts and logos are the hardest to imitate in edible paint.
Hard edge cakes - Cakes that are based on natural items, such as food have an element of leniency and artistic licence. A full replica of your favourite guitar does not. If it isn’t right, it isn’t right. Which leads me to….
Pet cakes - If you fluff up someone’s beloved pet, you are for sure going to know about it! If you want a generic Guinea pig cake then there is room for a bit of breed fusion. I don’t personally think I could cut into a realistic version of my cat 🫣 Unless she is being a menace, then I think I could!
Delivery - Some cakes can’t be collected. Smaller cakes or cakes that are not too tall are fine, but believe me, you would not want to be trying to get a cake home safely that has supports and structures.
How is the pricing calculated?
Everyone is different, but here is how I cost my cakes -
Ingredients - I only use high quality, local where possible ingredients. For every cake, no matter the flavour.
Time - Baking, filling, icing, stacking, decorating are just some of the things included and the parts you see. This doesn’t include the email communication, ingredient shopping, delivering, consultations, cleaning, keeping up to date with training etc.
Sundries - boards, boxes, edible prints, colours etc
Overheads - Even home bakers have a fair few. Energy, fuel, advertising, insurances, branding etc. obviously this isn’t something that just one order takes on, but a percentage will for every business.
Tax - we all have to pay it and 20% is the norm to be added to a cake order. There is nothing worse than when the tax man come knocking in Jan and you haven’t budgeted enough.
Profit - All businesses have to make a profit and cake artists are no different. Most cake makers add on between 20% & 50% . Some goes back into the business and some is to allow for underquoting for extra unexpected details.
It’s a fair bit when you look at it isn’t it.
So how much does an Illusion cake cost?
I can only really speak about my own pricing here, so I am going to price up some random items as a guide. I really hope it helps to get a gauge on how much time could be involved in a cake design.
A realistic pizza cake on edible wooden board
Feeds 45
£140 - Cakes, ingredients, labour
£30 - Planning, overheads
4 Hrs @ £20ph- Making, assembling, decorating
20% Tax
30% Business & personal profit
Total - £375
A bag cake
Feeds 25
£100 - Cakes, ingredients, labour
£40 - Planning, overheads
7hrs - @ £20ph- Making, assembling, decorating
20% Tax
30% Business & personal profit
Total - £420
A Cornish pasty cake
Feeds 6
£30 - Cake, ingredients, labour
£30 energy, cleaning, sundries etc
2hrs - @ £20ph- Making, assembling, decorating
20% Tax
30% Business & personal profit
Total - £150
I hope this random little guide has helped give a better idea of specialist 3d and illusion cake pricing. There is no denying that these cakes are a spendy investment and certainly not something a bunch of people are able to buy on regular basis.
They do however make for a pretty bloody amazing centrepiece at a party and unlikely something your guests are going to forget any time soon!
If you absolutely have to have an illusion cake at your next event or celebration, i'm your girl and would love to hear from you!
Or if you have read the above and almost passed out from the pricing, how about giving it a go yourself. That sounds mega sarcastic, but genuinely with tutorials, a bit of artisitc flare and determination I really think you can do it. You have got this!
Have a little look at my completely free toolkit guide and see what you may need to get started.
Pop me over a message if you have any questions and lets get your new cake making passion started!
Much love
Tash x
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