What goes into a cake?

After a busy and crazy weekend of cakes, a concert, and running to and fro church/shopping, etc. - we are unwinding this morning. I am also busy working on a BMW cake that I'll have pictures of when it is finished.

So some people gasp at the price of custom made cakes - "it's just a cake" is something we bakers hear often. But is it just a cake? What goes into a cake?

Well, of course recipes differ but it's pretty standard to have ingredients like milk, eggs, flour sugar, heavy cream and butter- have you checked out prices on these items lately? Add to that things like electricity that bakes your cakes, pans and tools to create your cake, dishwasher (soap and more electricity) to clean the mess and my kitchen getting dirty in place of yours.
Then you have to have your cake on something to be able to take it home- and a box to carry it home in.
Wow! It's really a lot that goes into making a cake! When you add in all the hours- after the cost of my supplies- most times, I end up making less then $2 an hour!
Although, of course I did not begin doing this to"make it big"- but because I absolutely enjoy the process of creating a cake. It is a creative outlet that I need, and lastly, it is so satisfying to help be a part of someone's event and to see the sheer excitement on their face when they see a cake made extra- special-just-for-them (With loads of time and love!)
Or... you could just stop by your local store and get a cake from them- although more often then not you do end up getting what you pay for! (See photo of actual cake someone ordered from Walmart)