Baker Guidelines

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• Volunteer Expectations
• Orientation Slides
• Allergy Baking Reference Guide

• Cake Size and Quantity Minimum Requirements
  

  Dessert Type	Minimum Size and Quantity
  Cake*	8" or 9" round and at least 2 layers tall  OR 9 x 13" and at least 2 layers tall or 2" high before frosting
  Cupcakes, cookies, bars, brownies	2 dozen, unless otherwise specified

  * Specialty shaped cakes are allowed but must provide an equal amount of cake
• Bake in your home kitchen
• Only provide baked goods that do not require refrigeration: no whipped cream, custard, ice cream, tres leches, cream cheese, etc.
• All items should be packaged and delivered on a cake board and in a cake box with a Cake4Kids cake box sticker or Cake4Kids logo affixed to the top
• For cupcakes only, you may use cupcake inserts in a cake box or plastic cupcake clamshells instead
* Review the Packaging Guidelines for detailed examples and tips

• Carefully review allergy restrictions listed on the request and follow the Cake4Kids Allergy Baking Reference Guide (PDF) and “Safe Food Handling, Storage, and Preparation” instructions in the Volunteer Expectations (PDF), both available for download in the Document Library
• Nut/Coconut-Free vs Does Not Contain Nuts
• Nut/Coconut-Free means the youth has a nut allergy – follow guidelines for allergy baking
• Does Not Contain Nuts is a precaution – simply do not add nuts or coconut to the baked goods

• Write the celebratory message exactly as directed in “Message to write on treats” on the cake request
* Sometimes the request is actually for no message, in which case you should not write anything on the treats (denoted as “No message” or “None”)
• Celebratory message must be written directly on the treats or on banners or toppers that can be inserted directly into the treats
  * For cakes ONLY, message may be written on the cake board
• Do NOT put the child’s age on the cake – agencies often receive the wrong information
• Do not use store-bought gel icing or piping gel – it spreads and bleeds color
• Use edible or food-safe decorations whenever possible. If using banners or toys as decorations, separate them from sweets using a barrier layer for food safety. Barrier layers can be created using:
• Fondant
• Candy melts (dip the bottom of the toy in candy melts or make squares or discs for toy to sit on)
• Edible paper such as rice paper and sugar paper
• Toothpicks, skewers, treat sticks
• Straws
* Do NOT use parchment paper, wax paper, or plastic wrap as a barrier layer due to the risk that youth may not see those and accidentally ingest them. Exception: For doll cakes ONLY, you may wrap the doll with plastic wrap to prevent it from touching the cake or frosting