January 5, 2009

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Pastry pro Buddy Valastro of Carlo’s City Hall Bake Shop in Hoboken (201-659-3671; carlosbakery.com) shares his sweet secrets to making the perfect cake.

“It’s not just a cake, there’s an entire ceremony for it, so it’s got to taste as good as it looks,” he says. This philosophy could be why his family business has been so successful for more than 40 years.

So what should a bride look for in a cake? “The freshest ingredients combined with a great design,” Valastro says. “You get what you pay for, and all the mixes should be from scratch. When it’s fresh, it’s expensive.” As for design, it can take up to two days to make sugar flowers and up to six hours to assemble and decorate the average cake. His prices vary from $4 to $20 per slice.

And if you think you can’t afford a gorgeous customized cake, think again. Valastro says that by losing just one tier on a cake, you can save up to $600. The trick is to have your baker make a separate sheet cake that stays in the back until the cutting. Because the cake is usually brought to the kitchen to serve, your guests will never know the difference. Another great tip Valastro suggests is to work with your baker on choosing fillings that taste good at room temperature, since your cake sits out on display for many hours. Some of his recommendations include devil’s food with chocolate mousse and ganache with fresh raspberries, or a delicious black-and-white cake with hazelnut cream.

Lastly, Valastro suggests you get inspired. Look at magazines and books, and then share those ideas with your baker to guarantee that cake you’ve always dreamed of.

Tag Topics: Gina LaMorte

Latest Comments

cake boss

hi buddy
l enjoy your show too, lam from tanzania in africa,pls buddy did you tell for how long did you learn to decorate a cake? and have you consider to visit to african at our country tanzania ,thanks great your familly and god bless you buddy.

Posted by mbayani December 02, 2011 05:04:44
cake

I live in gulfport mississippi and orginally from new orleans. I watch your show all the time at work. They are fabulious cake u and ur staff be making. My question to u Mr. Buddy is , when are you going too open up a bakery down here in the south..... Also when are u shipping too the south.........

thanks,
carol

Posted by carol dummars July 06, 2011 10:11:34
cake

I live in gulfport mississippi and orginally from new orleans. I watch your show all the time at work. They are fabulious cake u and ur staff be making. My question to u Mr. Buddy is , when are you going too open up a bakery down here in the south..... Also when are u shipping too the south.........

thanks,
carol

Posted by carol dummars July 06, 2011 10:11:33
cake boss:next great baker

right now im watching your show right now as im writing; these women their team work is suck pamela and corina they have issue. but the show is great they let me laugh alot. i was trying to find your location but still dont find. any time i plan to have wedding anniversary party i would love for u bake my cake. i'm jamaican live in the nj state and i never eat a american wedding cake. so i plan to have for my anniversary. God bless you, your families and your great business. nuff lov

Posted by sandra ridley December 27, 2010 21:41:02