Cake, Mithai and Other Dessert
Top South Asian Wedding Cake & Dessert Vendors in Texas - Dallas, Houston, Austin
Cakes and dessert add sweetness to your special day and are the perfect end to your evening. Whether is a three-tier wedding cake with paisleys, a jalebi and kulfi live station, or a donut station, the customizable nature of desserts means there’s plenty of room to get creative and have your desserts stand out. Scroll down to find curated cake and dessert vendors for your Desi wedding.
FAQ
Do I need to have cake at my Desi wedding?
Though wedding cake is not a mandatory portion of Desi weddings, the act of cutting a cake is a common symbol of celebration. Wedding cakes are famously known to be tiered and intricate works of art that also taste delicious! Often, couples like the photo opportunity and end up getting a cak
What should we think about before approaching bakeries?
- Icing: What type of icing do you prefer? From buttercream to ganache, there are so many options to choose from. Do you have any dietary concerns for you or your guests (ex: eggless, dairy-free, etc.)?
- Number of actual [or faux] tiers: How many guests do you expect to attend your wedding? Do you want leftovers to save for later? Do you want a wide or narrow cake? Wedding cakes for larger groups tend to be taller (if tiered). If your desi wedding will be large-scale, your desi wedding cake may need more tiers. For a grand look for photos, you may want to have a faux-tier wedding cake.
- Design: Are there specific designs you had in mind for your desi wedding cake (ex: henna and floral Indian wedding cake, white and gold Indian wedding cake, white and red desi wedding cake)? Popular Indian wedding cake patterns consist of henna, florals, and glitter. Intricate designs tend to take more time to create, so it’s important to keep that in mind! Can the bakery take care of your requests? Do they have images or examples of their past work?
- Taste Testing: Do you want the opportunity to taste-test different wedding cakes prior to making your selection? This is a good idea to ensure you’re happy with your selection. Does the bakery offer taste-testing? Is there an added charge for this? Do you want any unique desi wedding cake flavors such as pistachio or ras malai? Does this bakery offer such flavors?
- Dietary Restrictions: If you or your guests have dietary restrictions, make sure to ask your baker to see if they can accommodate these requirements. From eggless cake to vegan wedding cake and gluten-free wedding cake, most bakeries will let you know upfront on which requests they can entertain.
What elements increase the cost of wedding cakes?
- Multiple tiers: Taller tiers can increase the cost of your wedding cake, as they take more time to create. If you’re having a large wedding, you may need more tiers on your cake. Be sure to check with your baker for the cost of adding tiers.
- Edible flowers: The most commonly used flowers on wedding cakes are edible sugar flowers. Since these need to be hand-made, they are the costliest when it comes to floral cake decorations. Other options (inedible) are silk or real flowers. One thing to keep in mind is that silk flowers are not quite suitable for outdoor weddings, as they can wilt in heat.
- Ornate designs: Ornate wedding cake designs take longer to create and add on to costs as well. These require skill and precision, so to make sure you’re getting the best quality designs, take a look at your cake designer’s previous work.
How much should cake at a Desi wedding cost?
Is there a budget you have for your wedding cake? The average wedding cake in the U.S. costs about $350, but for cakes that are design-heavy (ex: most modern Indian wedding cakes), costs can be from $700 to upwards of $1,000. Be sure to check with your bakery on costs and potential discounts that can be offered. Some bakeries will offer incentives or price reductions when you order larger quantities of wedding cake. Prices are often based on number of slices or people, so cake can go from $3-$7+ per slice of cake.
How do you freeze and defrost a wedding cake?
- Freezing: To freeze a wedding cake, it’s important to remove things which hinder the freezing process (sugar flowers, extra decorations, etc). Place the cake in the freezer until the icing hardens. Next, remove the cake from the freezer and wrap it in several layers of plastic wrap. To avoid freezer burn, it’s best to steer away from aluminum foil.
- Defrosting: To defrost a wedding cake, take the frozen cake from the freezer and allow it to defrost in the fridge for 24-48 hours. Before serving, allow your cake 2-4 hours to reach room temperature!
What are questions we should ask when vetting dessert chefs or bakeries?
- Pricing of cake vs add ons: What is the cost of the base model of each cake? Most dessert chefs or bakeries have starting prices which differ based on cake size and ingredients of the cake. How much does it cost to add tiers (actual or faux) to the cake? What add ons does the dessert chef or bakery offer?
- Signature style: Can the dessert chef or bakery accommodate special theme requests or design requests? Are there added costs for special design requests? Do you have a wedding cake theme in mind?
- Vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free flavors if needed: Does the dessert chef or bakery accommodate for special dietary concerns? Will you be having a separate cake at your wedding for those with dietary concerns? Are there any allergies you need to look out for? Can the bakery make your desserts allergy-safe?
- Various Dessert Creations: Do you want other/extra desserts at your event, besides cake? For example, do you want special desi wedding cake pops or cookies? These would make great wedding favors for guests! Does this dessert chef or bakery offer those items custom-made?
- Delivery process: How does this company deliver your wedding cake? Is there a cost for wedding cake transport? Do you need to pick it up, or can they drop it off to your event? If it’s being dropped off, do you have to appoint someone to bring it in, or does the dessert / bakery company take care of this?
- Final cost including transportation: Including transportation, what will the final costs of your cake be? Is this cost predetermined or subject to change? Some bakeries will calculate transportation costs upon arrival at your venue for delivery.
How far in advance should we book our dessert?
- Time of year: What time of year is your wedding? Is your wedding during peak-season (late summer to early fall) or off-season months? Typically, orders for cakes during wedding peak-season need to be put way in advance, typically up to 6 months in advance. This may be different depending on the design and size of your cake.
- Time to create your cake: How much time does the dessert chef or bakery need to prepare your dessert? This factors into how far in advance you should make your bookings.
Apart from the cake or dessert, what else should we think about?
- Cake topper: Is there a cake topper design you had in mind? Do you want a new and custom desi wedding cake topper, or a more traditional one?
- Design around my cake table: What do you envision for your cake setup? Do you want design features such as candles or floral accents? Do you want a tablecloth under your cake? Do you want several desserts on the table or just the cake?
- Cake cutting knife: Most commonly used cake cutting knives are chef’s knives or serrated knives, along with a pastry server. What color and material do you want your knives to be made of?
What do I need to know about mithai for weddings?
- Types: Certain mithai need to be stored at specific temperatures (ex: warm jalebi, warm gulab jamun, cold rasmalai). What kinds of mithai do you plan to have at your wedding? Many caterers offer heating/cooling vessels to use for various mithai. Do you want leftover mithai? What variety do you want in mithai spread? Some couples choose to use their mithai spreads as artistic elements in their wedding (more in the “Decor” section below).
- Dietary Restrictions: Are there any dietary or allergy concerns for you or your guests? Many mithai options go heavy on dairy and nut products.
- Decor: Do you want a specially decorated mithai table? MIthai spreads can be an added “wow” factor at your wedding! A wide variety of mithai options available allows you to customize your dessert table and make it unique. Some caterers will offer tables and tableware to set up your mithai table, so be sure to check with your mithai caterer.
- Cost: Mithai are usually sold by the pound. The price of a box of mithai ranges from $10-$20. Larger weddings need more mithai, so it’s important to keep a head count of your guests when choosing mithai options.
- Delivery: Does your mithai order need to be picked up personally, or does the mithai catering company deliver? If they deliver, do they set up at your venue, or just drop it off? What time during the setup for your event do you want the mithai to arrive? How will it be set up / stored until it’s ready to be put out for guests?
What should I think about when ordering novelty desserts for my Desi wedding?
- Types: There are so many novelty dessert options available! Think cake pops, mini desserts, gola trucks, etc.
- Time: How long does it take for these desserts to be made? How far in advance should your orders be placed? Remember to keep in mind the time of year your wedding takes place (peak season or off season).
- Delivery: Do your dessert orders need to be picked up personally or do the dessert companies deliver? If they deliver, do they set up at your venue, or just drop it off? What time during the setup for your event do you want the desserts to arrive? How will they be set up / stored until it’s ready to be put out for guests?
Who are the top South Asian sweet vendors in Texas?
Scroll up or click here to browse mithai options curated by The Desi Bride.