Picking the flavour is the most fun part of ordering a cake, and also the part that causes the most debate. One cousin wants chocolate, the birthday girl wants strawberry and somebody is sure that nobody likes carrot. This short guide will help you choose a cake flavour that suits the people, the occasion and the day, without a family vote that runs for a week.
You do not need to be a baker to get this right. You only need to answer a few plain questions, and then match your answers to the flavours on our cake shop.
How to choose a cake flavour for your guests
Start with the people, not the cake. Think about who will be eating it and what they already enjoy. A children’s party leans towards sweet, familiar flavours such as vanilla, chocolate or something with sprinkles. An office celebration or a family lunch is a good moment for a slightly more grown-up taste such as lemon, coffee or a fruit cake.
Two quick checks will save you from most mistakes:
- Think of the pickiest guest. If you know one person who dislikes nuts, citrus or anything too sweet, avoid that flavour and pick one that nobody will push away.
- Count the kinds of eaters. A crowd that loves rich desserts will happily eat chocolate fudge. A crowd with many older guests or small children usually prefers something lighter.
Match the flavour to the occasion
Birthdays are the easiest: choose the birthday person’s favourite and you are done. Weddings and anniversaries call for a flavour that feels special but still pleases a large group, which is why a soft, moist sponge with a gentle filling tends to work better than something very bold. Baby showers and graduations suit fresh, fruity flavours, such as our strawberry cake or fresh fruit cake.
If you are also deciding on size, see how much cake you need to convert guests into kilograms. For a birthday, read our checklist on ordering a birthday cake in Nairobi too, which covers dates, delivery and payment.
Choose a cake flavour that suits the day and the venue
Where the cake will sit matters as much as how it tastes. A party in the garden at midday is hard on any cake with fresh cream, so a sturdier sponge with buttercream is the calmer option for a warm afternoon. An evening party indoors gives you more freedom. Whatever you pick, plan a cool, shaded spot for the cake and keep it out of direct sun.
Think about how the cake will be cut, too. A cake with several layers and a soft filling looks wonderful when the first slice comes out, and a firm, even crumb is easier to serve to thirty people. If you are unsure, the advice on keeping a cake fresh explains how different cakes behave after the first slice.
Classic flavours and what they taste like
If you are not sure what a flavour is like, here is a plain summary of the favourites people ask us about most:
- Vanilla. Soft, mellow and friendly to everyone. A classic vanilla cake is a safe base for colourful decorations, characters and themed designs.
- Chocolate. The crowd pleaser. A rich chocolate fudge cake suits birthdays and any gathering where you want people to go back for seconds.
- Caramel. Sweet, buttery and comforting, and a good choice when you want a cake that feels indulgent. See our caramel cake.
- Lemon. Bright and tangy, and the best answer for guests who find most cakes too sweet. Try the zesty lemon cake.
- Carrot. Moist, gently spiced and a little less sweet, which makes it a favourite for adult gatherings. We bake a classic carrot cake.
- Red velvet. A soft, fine crumb with a light cocoa taste, usually paired with a creamy white frosting. The red velvet cake grew from earlier cocoa cakes in the United States, and today it is a favourite for weddings and anniversaries. Ours is the red velvet cake.
Remember that a cake is more than its sponge. The filling and the frosting change the taste just as much, so a plain sponge can feel fresh with a fruit filling and indulgent with a rich cream. When two flavours are hard to choose between, pair the one you love with a lighter filling and you will often get the best of both.
Dietary needs and allergies
Before you settle on a flavour, find out whether anyone at the party has an allergy or eats a restricted diet. We bake sugar free cakes and wheat free cakes, so a guest who avoids sugar or wheat can still have a slice. Mention any allergy to the baker when you order, and request a full list of what goes into the cake rather than guessing.
Can’t decide? Choose a cake flavour with these shortcuts
If your guests cannot agree, a multi flavoured cake joins two or three tastes in a single cake, so the chocolate lover and the lemon fan both go home happy. Another good approach is to order one main cake in the flavour the host loves, then add a small second cake or cupcakes in something lighter.
Here is a last rule of thumb. When you truly cannot decide, choose a cake flavour that the guest of honour would pick for themselves, and decorate it in a way that says something about them. People remember the person and the moment far longer than the exact flavour.
Order your cake from Royal Delites in Nairobi
Ready to order? Visit the cake shop, pick a cake and a size, and check out online. Find us in Nairobi beside Nyayo Stadium; the Google Maps listing shows the way. For fresh ideas, look for us on Facebook and Instagram.
Photos by Regina Ferraz and SHVETS production, via Pexels.
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Royal Delites
