Little Einsteins cake question

In answer to a question left in the comments section:

Anonymous said...

"columbia mom, where can i find a bakery that will make a little einsteins cake?"

Little Einsteins cakes are not the easiest to find, especially if you are looking for one in the shape of Rocket.  Apparently, a lot of parents share the same problem and many have opted for homemade creations.  My favorite ones call for a round or oval cake for rocket's base, a dome-shaped smaller cake for the top (if you don't have a ball mold, you can use an oven-safe bowl), Twinkies or ice cream cones for engines, and a lollipop for the antenna.  For icing, you can use either fondant or buttercream.

If baking is not an option for you, here are some you might consider:

* Custom bakery -- Upper Crust in Green Meadows can decorate a standard-shaped cake with the Little Einsteins.  For a 1/4 sheet (serves 20) in a standard flavor, it will cost $30.  If you prefer they make one in the shape of rocket (carved out but NOT 3D), it will cost $50.  They will need 3-4 days advanced notice.

* Grocery bakery -- Sam's Club can take any image you give them and put it on a standard cake.  The smallest cake they offer is a 1/2 sheet (serves 40).  It costs $19.87, decoration included.  They will need 24-hour notice.

* Edible icing image -- You can purchase edible icing image off the Internet.  I imagine it is the same type of image made by Sam's Club and the like.  For example, Ecrater has a couple of images available: a full scenery taking up an entire 1/2 sheet cake (link) for $12 and a small central image (link) for $8.99.  You can put these edible sheets on top of any iced cake.

* Cake toppers -- You can purchase a 6-piece figurine set off the online Disney store and use the figurines as cake toppers.  They cost $12.50/set or $20/2 sets.  The official Disney listing does not note the sizes but an eBay listing of the same product says that each figure measures 3-3.5 inches.  You can put these toppers on a colorful cake OR you can have a Little Einsteins-type background transferred to a cake by a grocery bakery.  The advantage of this option is that your little one can keep the toppers after the cake is all gone.

If anyone has other suggestions, please feel free to post a comment!