19 July 2021

Where to buy cheap but good birthday cakes?

| katiecustard
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Hi, got a 21st birthday coming up too soon for my liking and I am trying to find out good recommendations where to get a good cake.

For my sisters a few years ago, we got her a big amazing chocolate mudcake from the woolies in Dickson but pretty sure they have stopped doing it.

READ ALSO The best birthday cakes in Canberra

I am thinking of buying one from Costco because I have heard they do nice cakes. Any other recommendations?

(I love making cakes myself from scratch for family and friends birthdays but I cannot justify spending 200 dollars on a cake! – nor do I want to make my own birthday cake)

If you could tell me any good places or where you buy your friends and families cakes from it would be most appreciated.

I live in Gungahlin but am willing to travel 🙂

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katiecustard12:07 am 20 Jan 12

hey! Just because I am not having a nice cake doesn’t mean I am missing out on much…we are supplying our guests with a venue, nice food and alcohol so I am sorry that I as the birthday girl don’t want an expensive cake!

Jethro said :

katiecustard said :

Thanks all, shame on me but I ordered a slab of the woolies cake…I figured most are going to be drunk by the time cake cutting comes anyway!

This is an egregious misuse and flagrant disregard of the ‘ask RiotACT’ function (not really, I just wanted to use the words egregious and flagrant in a sentence).

Contumacious, I would say. God that felt good.

katiecustard said :

Thanks all, shame on me but I ordered a slab of the woolies cake…I figured most are going to be drunk by the time cake cutting comes anyway!

This is an egregious misuse and flagrant disregard of the ‘ask RiotACT’ function (not really, I just wanted to use the words egregious and flagrant in a sentence).

katiecustard11:09 pm 17 Jan 12

Thanks all, shame on me but I ordered a slab of the woolies cake…I figured most are going to be drunk by the time cake cutting comes anyway!

Hah, our workplace got to that point in the Morning Tea Arms Race last year and then broke through to the other side (which is inhabited by carrot sticks, skinny tzatziki and counting calories) but now we are on our back up the path paved with chocolate-dipped strawberries and complicated cakes. It’s not an isolated phenomenon.

I also recommend Cakelovers in Bonython if you can be bothered to travel that far, or Costco.

TheDancingDjinn7:44 pm 13 Jan 12

schmeah said :

I can’t believe people think Costco and Woolies cakes are 1) food and 2) suitable for a 21st birthday.

Shame on you.

Have you eaten one of thei
r cheese cakes? – oh my lord are they gooood! Granted i have to go halvies with my brother in law as they are ginormous – but none the less fantastic!!. The mud cakes look devine, never had one but they look very good and very very big.

EvanJames said :

@ Rosebud: looks like they are moving into Canberra, which is great news actually.

http://www.queanbeyanage.com.au/news/local/news/general/after-40-years-continental-cakes-decides-to-close/2379511.aspx

I thought they’d just gone broke and left. The council basically closed Crawford St so they could improve it. Asinine decision and they were all shocked when the businesses along it started going bust.

Excellent news for all cake-lovers in Canberra! Queanbeyan Council and the ACT Assembly have a lot in common.

How do you know so much about shops? It’s uncanny, I tell you.

I’m surprised no one has said this yet: you should not have to buy your own birthday cake! Tell your sister to pull her finger out and get cracking on organising you a tasteful 21st birthday party asap! If she protests, remind her of the giant mud cake and emotionally blackmail her until she gives in.

@ Rosebud: looks like they are moving into Canberra, which is great news actually.

http://www.queanbeyanage.com.au/news/local/news/general/after-40-years-continental-cakes-decides-to-close/2379511.aspx

I thought they’d just gone broke and left. The council basically closed Crawford St so they could improve it. Asinine decision and they were all shocked when the businesses along it started going bust.

Just kidding. Honestly, you are better off asking around, friends, co workers. A lot of people out there can make a decent cake for a resonable price. Just because they love making cakes.

HEY! I like cake lovers, I got a birthday cake there that was three levels for 70 bucks. Which is pretty good considering they will do whatever design you want. There is also a cheesecake shop in Erindale. Willing to travel? Sydney has some nice cake places.

I think there is a lady in tharwa who makes really nice cakes.

EvanJames said :

rosebud said :

Continental Cakes in Queanbeyan make delicious grown up cakes with liquors etc as well as more standard ones in house with no pre-made mixes as I understand it. All from scratch with fresh cream. And lovely assortment of European style biscuits and individual cakes too. mmmmm, makes me want to rush over there now!

Well don’t, thanks to the council epic stuffup with Crawford St, they have gone. The fast food guy from the Quean-B is moving into the tenancy shortly.

Awwwww…that’s a shame! Are they going anywhere else?

rosebud said :

Continental Cakes in Queanbeyan make delicious grown up cakes with liquors etc as well as more standard ones in house with no pre-made mixes as I understand it. All from scratch with fresh cream. And lovely assortment of European style biscuits and individual cakes too. mmmmm, makes me want to rush over there now!

Well don’t, thanks to the council epic stuffup with Crawford St, they have gone. The fast food guy from the Quean-B is moving into the tenancy shortly.

schmeah said :

I can’t believe people think Costco and Woolies cakes are 1) food and 2) suitable for a 21st birthday.

Shame on you.

Yeah have to agree. 21st is not the time to be saving a few dollars on the cake.

schmeah said :

I can’t believe people think Costco and Woolies cakes are 1) food and 2) suitable for a 21st birthday.

Shame on you.

Have you tried them?

Myself and everyone else who has tried it in my family and friends find the cakes to taste great, I mean nothing compared to one you bake yourself, but what are you going to do. Plus Costco apple pies taste amazing, probably giving me diabeetus or something, but amazing.

KB1971 said :

schmeah said :

I can’t believe people think Costco and Woolies cakes are 1) food and 2) suitable for a 21st birthday.

Shame on you.

Have you had a Costo cake? They are pretty good IHMO. Woolies are OK (not for 21’st though) but the op said cheap.

I agree. And really taste tiramisu as well, mmmm. Woolies I probably wouldn’t go near for anything more than a work morning tea.

schmeah said :

I can’t believe people think Costco and Woolies cakes are 1) food and 2) suitable for a 21st birthday.

Shame on you.

I am so glad I wasn’t the only one thinking this. My faith in humanity was dwindling.

schmeah said :

I can’t believe people think Costco and Woolies cakes are 1) food and 2) suitable for a 21st birthday.

Shame on you.

Have you had a Costo cake? They are pretty good IHMO. Woolies are OK (not for 21’st though) but the op said cheap.

I can’t believe people think Costco and Woolies cakes are 1) food and 2) suitable for a 21st birthday.

Shame on you.

SolarPowered said :

Don’t go to the place next to Eagle Boys in Gungahlin called Take the Cake. Our neighbour bought a cake from there. They got the words very wrong and when my neighbour complained she got abused.

Not as wrong as some of these gems
http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2012/1/10/the-letter-of-the-flaw.html

SolarPowered12:38 pm 12 Jan 12

Don’t go to the place next to Eagle Boys in Gungahlin called Take the Cake. Our neighbour bought a cake from there. They got the words very wrong and when my neighbour complained she got abused.

Continental Cakes in Queanbeyan make delicious grown up cakes with liquors etc as well as more standard ones in house with no pre-made mixes as I understand it. All from scratch with fresh cream. And lovely assortment of European style biscuits and individual cakes too. mmmmm, makes me want to rush over there now!

OverLord said :

cubicle01 said :

Make sure you try this on a weekend. Someone in our office did this as part of the runaway arms race that our fortnightly morning tea became. We lost half the office to sugar induced stomach aches and migraines for two days.

I thought it was just my office that had an arms race style morning tea going on. Guess I was wrong. Although the Tim Tam Tower (using the afforementioned mortar technique) is still my crowning glory.

I have to remember that term, Arms Race Morning Tea. Up til now I’ve termed them Forced Morning Teas but the apparent competition to cook ever more impressive things is out of control. Can’t see the attraction myself and the ladies who eat this stuff (and spend the next two days picking at the leftovers) are forever on about losing weight and the relative “sinfulness” of various foods. Bloody hell, it’s just food.

OverLord said :

It’s a 21st people, it’s time to get redonkulous.

Buy TWO mudcakes from Costco and put one on top of the other. It will look awesome. Possibly put whipped cream in between them, and some cherries maybe.

And then make up some chocolate icing as ‘mortar’ and stick tim tams all the way around the sides and top of the cakes, in a brickwork pattern. Ooooooh, and alternate the colours with the white tim tams, will look tops.

I want to try this now, damn.

Wow! Seriously, what an excellent idea. You could really go to town on that, end up with something bloody delicious and impressive, without spending silly amounts of money.

cubicle01 said :

OverLord said :

It’s a 21st people, it’s time to get redonkulous.

Buy TWO mudcakes from Costco and put one on top of the other. It will look awesome. Possibly put whipped cream in between them, and some cherries maybe.

And then make up some chocolate icing as ‘mortar’ and stick tim tams all the way around the sides and top of the cakes, in a brickwork pattern. Ooooooh, and alternate the colours with the white tim tams, will look tops.

I want to try this now, damn.

Hi Overlord,

Make sure you try this on a weekend. Someone in our office did this as part of the runaway arms race that our fortnightly morning tea became. We lost half the office to sugar induced stomach aches and migraines for two days.

I thought it was just my office that had an arms race style morning tea going on. Guess I was wrong. Although the Tim Tam Tower (using the afforementioned mortar technique) is still my crowning glory.

I bought an awesome decorated sponge cake from Woollies Gungahlin back in September for a birthday party. There was enough for everyone in the whole restaurant that we went to! Cost was about 30 or 40 bucks I think.

OverLord said :

It’s a 21st people, it’s time to get redonkulous.

Buy TWO mudcakes from Costco and put one on top of the other. It will look awesome. Possibly put whipped cream in between them, and some cherries maybe.

And then make up some chocolate icing as ‘mortar’ and stick tim tams all the way around the sides and top of the cakes, in a brickwork pattern. Ooooooh, and alternate the colours with the white tim tams, will look tops.

I want to try this now, damn.

Hi Overlord,

Make sure you try this on a weekend. Someone in our office did this as part of the runaway arms race that our fortnightly morning tea became. We lost half the office to sugar induced stomach aches and migraines for two days.

Holden Caulfield said :

“I live in Gungahlin but am willing to travel”

Dork said :

Cake lovers in Bonython.

Well played!

I’m wondering if there is one further south we could recommend. Hmmm – apparently the Bake House at Adaminaby is good. 😉

Seriously though, +1 for the Bonython cake place. Located at the Bonython ‘shops’ (all three of them) next to Bonython Primary.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/CakeFace/226180637454762

CakeFace as per above link. Under $100 for a custom themed cake.

It’s a 21st people, it’s time to get redonkulous.

Buy TWO mudcakes from Costco and put one on top of the other. It will look awesome. Possibly put whipped cream in between them, and some cherries maybe.

And then make up some chocolate icing as ‘mortar’ and stick tim tams all the way around the sides and top of the cakes, in a brickwork pattern. Ooooooh, and alternate the colours with the white tim tams, will look tops.

I want to try this now, damn.

Silo Bakery, Kingston? 🙂

Just avoid the mayonnaise………

The Cheescake Shop. They also exist in Belconnen and Woden. I’ve only tried Costco cake once and was only impressed at the amount of sugar and fat for the price, not the taste.

Cheap, aye? Why would you want something Cheap for a 21st birthday? Surely you would want something good at a reasonable price? I make mine myself (orange and poppy seed is on at the moment, and also teacake with coconut and home-grown and made raspberry jam topping). Suggest you try Amore Cakes – they have a stall at the real farmers market at EPIC – open this Saturday. Chocolate gluten-free stuff is to die for and their cakes taste like real cake. Ph. 0415 633 652 or email amorecakes@tempting.com

Felix the Cat10:17 am 12 Jan 12

The Cheesecake Shop
1/ 5 Badham St, Dickson 6257 6110

Pretty sure Woolies have still sell mudcakes, just not giant ones or anything.

Not sure if my last comment posted…
Hi Katie, my sister makes all our family bday cakes. She does a brilliant job. Not a professionally-trained decorator, but her cakes are awesome (she has even done ‘rude’ ones). She could probably do a bespoke theme one for you for less than $100 (prob a lot less, depending on the work going into it). If you’d like, I can send you pics of the gingerbread house she did for our xmas, and a few others (including my sister’s wedding cake).

+ 1 for the Costco cake. I bought a black forest for my wife the other day & is was pretty good. She loved it.

Holden Caulfield10:04 am 12 Jan 12

“I live in Gungahlin but am willing to travel”

Dork said :

Cake lovers in Bonython.

Well played!

Hey Katie, My sister MAKES all the family b’day cakes. She’s not a trained cake-maker, but she does a brilliant job and it would likely be cheaper and better than a store-bought (they are made with love!). She could possibly do you a ‘bespoke’ theme cake (she has even made ‘rude’ ones). If you’d like, I can send you pics of the gingerbread house she did for xmas and some of her other creations.

You could bake one? If not though, def grab one of the Costco Cakes.

Haven’t tried them but the Costco ones look like great value. The previous poster mentioned Cake lovers and I went to them once and they are cetrainly nice but not cheap.

Cake lovers in Bonython.

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