By Begoña Sunderland, holder of the Diplôme de Pâtisserie from Le Cordon Bleu · The Cake Shop, San Antonio
| Short answerAt The Cake Shop in San Antonio, a custom cake is built around four things: the type of celebration, the number of guests, the flavor combinations you want, and any dietary needs such as vegan or gluten-free. Each tier or section can be baked in a different flavor. The result is one cohesive centerpiece that works for every guest at the table. |
Planning a celebration means planning for real people. Your aunt only eats chocolate, your best friend is vegan, and your guest list just grew by thirty. A one-size-fits-all cake can’t handle that. A thoughtfully designed custom cake can.
Our cakes are designed and baked from scratch by a team led by a Le Cordon Bleu–trained pastry chef, using real butter, fresh eggs, and high-quality flour. Here’s how we plan a cake that fits your celebration, feeds your guests, and pleases everyone.
Step 1: Start With the Type of Celebration
The occasion shapes everything, from how the cake looks to how it’s served.
- Weddings usually call for tiered cakes that serve as the reception’s centerpiece. Slices are cut smaller and taller because wedding cake is served alongside a full meal. Designs range from timeless elegance to modern, artistic styles that reflect your story as a couple.
- Birthdays and themed parties often use larger, party-style slices. Themes can be as personal as the guest of honor, whether there is a color preference, a hobby, a sports team, or a cartoon-inspired color palette.
- Graduations, baby showers, and quinceañeras often mix a showpiece cake with cupcakes or smaller desserts so guests can grab something while they mingle.
- Corporate events benefit from easy-to-serve formats, such as sheet cakes, cupcake displays, or individual desserts that can be branded with company colors.
During your consultation, we ask about the reason for the party, the personality of the person being celebrated, and what inspires you. That conversation becomes the design.
Step 2: Size the Cake to Your Guest Count
The number of guests determines how many tiers you need and how large each one should be. Two factors matter most: tier diameter and slice style.
Event-style slices (common at weddings) are roughly 1”x2”, and 4” tall.
Party-style slices (common at birthdays) are larger, about 2”x 2” by 4”, so the same cake serves fewer people.
Here’s a general guide to event-style servings for round tiers:
|
Tier size |
Approximate event-style servings |
|
6-inch round |
12 |
| 8-inch round |
24 |
| 10-inch round |
38 |
| 12-inch round |
56 |
| 14-inch round |
78 |
What if your guest list is larger than your dream design?
You don’t have to choose between the design you love and feeding everyone. Two portioning techniques solve this:
- Kitchen cakes. A smaller display cake is placed on the reception table, while simple iced sheet cakes are sliced out of sight. Guests get the same flavors, and you get the look you want at a lower cost per slice.
- Mini desserts. Cupcakes or a variety of different desserts surround the main cake to add servings and variety without adding tiers. But also, give you more than just cake as an option.
Step 3: Combine Multiple Flavors in One Cake
One of the biggest advantages of a tiered cake is that every tier can have a different flavor. Instead of picking one flavor for the whole crowd, you can offer a tasting experience.
Popular multi-flavor combinations
- A crowd-pleaser wedding cake might pair a Classic flavor base tier (the largest, for guests who prefer something classic), a Specialty flavor middle tier and top tier for the couple.
- A San Antonio fiesta cake could combine Mexican Chocolate, and a Dulce de Leche–filled Butter tier.
- A birthday for adults might feature Whiskey, German Chocolate, and Pistachio.
- A birthday for kids could be a chocolate oreo cake or funfetti with a strawberry filling.
| Pro tip |
Put the most universally loved flavor in the largest tier, since it feeds the most people. Save adventurous flavors for smaller tiers.
Step 4: Serve “Special Dietary Cake” and Classic Cake at the Same Celebration
More celebrations today include guests with dietary needs.
We offer vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free cake options, along with vegan and sugar-free icing. All dietary options are available in vanilla and chocolate, for a different flavor be sure to ask what is available.
How we keep special dietary option portions separate
- A dedicated special tier. The special cake is baked, filled, and iced separately, then built on its own cake board. It can sit as one tier of the main design, finished to match the rest of the cake.
- A separate display level. For extra separation, the special tier or a matching special mini cake is placed on its own level of a multi-tier stand. Guests and servers can see at a glance which portion is which, we can use styrofoam, acrylic, pillar separators.
- Clear labeling. We recommend small, design-matched signs on each level (for example, “Vegan Chocolate” or “Gluten-Free Vanilla”) so servers slice from the right cake.
The special dietary option is decorated to coordinate with the main cake, so nobody feels like they’re getting the “other” dessert.
Important: If a guest has a severe food allergy, please tell us during your consultation so we can discuss your options in detail.
Step 5: Use Multi-Level Displays to Tie It All Together
Multi-level displays let one celebration hold several flavors, dietary options, and portion sizes while still looking like a single design.
- Tiered cake stands hold separate cakes at different heights, which is ideal when the vegan or gluten-free cake should not touch the main cake.
- Floating or separated tiers use spacers, pillars, or flowers between tiers to create visual breaks between flavors.
- Dessert tables place the main cake at the center, with cupcakes, pastries, and mini cakes on risers around it, grouped by flavor or dietary need.
- Cupcake towers work well for kids’ parties, corporate events, and casual gatherings, since each cupcake is its own portion and flavors can be arranged in sections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can each tier of a wedding cake be a different flavor?
Yes. At The Cake Shop, each tier of a tiered cake can be a different flavor with its own filling. Many couples choose a classic flavor for the largest tier and a specialty flavor for the top tier.
How many tiers do I need for 100 guests?
For about 100 guests with event-style slices, a three-tier cake (6, 8 (4 layer), and 12 inches) to serve 100, or a four-tier cake (6, 8, 10, and 12 inches) to serve 118, is typical. We confirm the exact configuration during your consultation, to accommodate the closest amount of servings we can offer height or width.
Can I have vegan and regular cake at the same party?
Yes. We make the vegan portion separately on its own board and can display it as its own tier or on a separate level of a multi-tier stand, decorated to match your main cake.
What is a kitchen cake?
A kitchen cake is a sheet cake in the same flavors as your display cake, sliced behind the scenes to serve extra guests. It lets you keep a smaller showpiece design while feeding a larger crowd. For a kitchen cake we recommend a 2 layer cake with filling so it doesn’t look like you were cheap.
Do you deliver custom cakes outside San Antonio?
We serve San Antonio and the surrounding metro area, including Boerne, New Braunfels, and San Marcos. Contact us to confirm delivery for your venue.
How far in advance should I order a custom cake?
We recommend ordering as early as possible, since we can book up weeks ahead. Please note that we cannot accept changes to size, flavor, or design during the week your order is due.
Let’s Design Your Celebration Cake
Whether you’re planning a wedding for 200, a birthday with vegan guests, or a corporate event with three flavor requests, we’ll help you portion, pair, and display a cake that works for everyone.
Visit The Cake Shop at 11255 Huebner Rd, Ste.110, San Antonio, TX 78230, or call us to schedule your custom cake consultation. Every cake tells a story. Let’s make yours a little sweeter.
Book a tasting or start a custom cake consultation at The Cake Shop →
Begoña Sunderland is the owner of The Cake Shop in San Antonio and holds the Diplôme de Pâtisserie from Le Cordon Bleu. Every cake at The Cake Shop is made from scratch, using classical French technique and ingredients chosen to match the standard of the craft.