How to Find the Perfect Quince Cake
If you want to delight your guests, your Quince cake must not only look fabulous, but taste good as well. To find the perfect cake, you must carefully choose the cake’s style, decoration, and ingredients well in advance.
The cake represents the meaning of a quinceañera in many ways, since guests get together to have a piece of the cake as some sort of closing ceremony. For this reason, it’s very important to make the right decisions when choosing a cake.
To help you find the perfect Quince cake, we asked pastry chef Christine Martinez, who specializes in quinceañeras, weddings, and large events, for some advice. Her cultural heritage as an L.A. native of Mexican-American descent, her culinary experience and knowledge in graphic design as well as gourmet cooking make her the perfect ally in this important task.
“A quinceañera is a wonderful celebration of a young woman. However, the celebration should not only be about showcasing the beautiful young lady she has become, but also about encouragement and building self-esteem to pursue her dreams. This is what I believe a quinceañera celebration is about and why I truly enjoy being a part of this special day in a girl’s life,” says the pastry chef, owner of Sweet Quince Cake (www.sweetquincecake.com). Below is her professional advice:
Keep in mind your likes and interests. You can base your cake’s decoration on the color scheme you have chosen for your Quince. Ask the pastry chef to create a sketch that incorporates all your ideas. You can also search the internet for photos and ideas until you find what you’re looking for.
It must reflect your style and personality. If you love fashion and beauty, then your cake must have a feminine touch. If you love sports, then why not use your favorite sport as a theme? Most importantly, your cake must draw attention and impress your guests not only with its look, but its taste as well.
How to determine the size of the cake. It depends on the number of guests. However, you can use Styrofoam to build additional layers if you want a bigger or taller cake without having to spend more.
Most popular flavors. Chocolate sponge cake with raspberry whipped cream and chocolate icing, chocolate cake with caramel frosting, and vanilla sponge cake with fruit and vanilla whipped cream. The red velvet cake covered with cream cheese and tres leches cakes are also widely requested.
Icing or whipped cream decorations. Icing decorations always look good on a cake because they are smooth and perfect. You can also create shapes like bows and flowers. Whipped cream cakes are also beautiful and delicious.
Prices according to decoration. Prices can vary greatly, but the price for a good quality cake with fresh and natural ingredients should be between $4 and $10 per serving. The price will increase according to the amount of decorations. It is a tedious job, but in the end it will be worth it.
Different styles. There are a million possibilities: classic and elegant, modern and abstract, fun and strange. It all depends on what you like.
Natural ingredients. Cakes that are made with fresh and natural ingredients are definitely more delicious. Many bakeries try to save money by using artificial or processed ingredients, which usually contain saturated fat. The best ingredients are always the basic ones: butter, sugar, flour, and eggs.
This year’s trends. Sculpted cakes are very popular nowadays. You can have any shape created, from a purse, to high heel shoes, to cartoon characters.
Tips for the quinceañera’s mom
• Start planning in advance. Visit several bakeries and ask for cake samples. Also ask for pictures of their previous work.
• Plan your budget wisely. Don’t underestimate the importance of having a good quality cake, since it will be admired by your guests throughout the night and it will be the last thing they have before leaving your party. So, it has to be memorable.
Tips for the quinceañera
Have fun coming up with an idea for your cake. If you want it to stand out and have a special meaning, then spend enough time to plan it’s creation. Your cake should be something to be delighted with, not something to worry about.
5 questions to ask your pastry chef
1. Do you have pictures from previous work? (Don’t accept photos that appear to be downloaded from the internet)
2. Are you willing to create a personalized cake to fit the party’s theme?
3. Do you use fresh or processed ingredients?
4. Do you have cake samples?
5. Are the table decorations and transportation included in the price?
Christine Martinez
323-385-6133
info@sweetquincecake.com
www.sweetquincecake.com
This post is also available in: Spanish
