How to order a homemade cake in the Orlando area

How far ahead to order

The minimum is 24 hours. Minimum isn't ideal, though: a few days of margin is what secures the date you actually want, especially on weekends and the day before a holiday.

Larger orders — several items for a gathering, or a weekend with people staying over — usually need more time. Ask before you count on a date.

Pickup or delivery

• Pickup: in Ocoee, FL 34761, at no cost. The exact address is sent to you once the order is confirmed.
• Delivery: up to 25 driving miles from there, for $5-$10. Free over $60 within 15 miles, and over $80 beyond that.

Check the map before you choose. Pickup is in Ocoee, west of Orlando — people on the other side of town sometimes book pickup assuming it's close by, and it isn't.

How many people does a cake serve?

It's the most common question, and the honest answer is: it depends on how big you cut the slices. The menu doesn't publish a slice count, because that number would be made up.

The better move is to say how many people you're expecting and ask what fits. The right size changes a lot depending on whether the cake is the only dessert on the table or one sweet among several.

Ordering for a full table

A bigger order is the same order with more units: more cakes and more jars of what's already on the menu. Say how many people you're serving, and order with more margin than you would for an ordinary afternoon.

Mixing items usually works better than going all-in on one flavor. One cake to slice, with a few sweet jars next to it, gives the table variety without leaving a whole cake behind at the end.

What to put in your first message

• What you want, using the item name as it appears on the menu.
• The date and the time window.
• Pickup or delivery — and the address, if it's delivery.
• How many people you're serving, if it's a larger order.
• Any ingredient questions, before the order is set.

With all of that in the first message, confirmation comes back fast and without back-and-forth.