Tick,tick,tick, time is running out.

There is no turning back now.  The Visitors Center has sent out the press release, our 10,000 handouts have been ordered, and all of our ingredients are in.  From this point forward it's full speed ahead.


We have found a solution to the cupcake mold issue.  We initially thought our standard cupcake molds would be too big for our special 4th of July cupcakes, but we were delighted to see that they worked just fine.  So with that issue put to bed, we can focus on putting together a production schedule for not only the event, but also the most busy week of the month for the business.  This will not be an easy task considering that we are down two of our longest standing bakers Robert, and Charlie due to their vacation schedules.

There is a quote that the guys have in the shop hanging above the doorway.  It reads "Whatever It Takes."  This is a philosophy that is embraced by the shop as a whole.  It seems as though the more stressful the situation, the more focused and determined the guys in the shop become. 

So here is the plan, please keep in mind this schedule does not include our regular holiday production....

Monday - The tiered cake and all three runs of cupcakes will be baked.

Cupcake run #1 will start mixing around 6am and will be coming out of the oven sometime around 10am.  By then the cake tiers will be going in the oven, and cupcake run #2 will begin mixing.  At around 12pm the last of the tiered cake will come out of the oven and cupcake run #2 will then go in.  During this time, two batches of buttercream icing will be mixed to fill the cakes.  By 2pm, cupcake run #3 will begin.  At 6pm the end of the cupcakes should be coming from the oven to be dumped and cooled. 

Tuesday - The cake will be filled and iced, and all 2500 cupcakes will be decorated.

Nick and John will start the cake filling, while Miguel starts to ice the cake.  A standard 5 tier cake takes about 2 hours to fill and 2 hours to ice.  This process will begin around 11am and finish at 1pm.  Once the cake is iced, John and Nick will start to sketch out the design on the cake.  We are not sure how long this will take but it has to be less than a few hours because the decorating room already has a ton of customer orders for the holiday.  As far as the cupcakes are concerned, it takes two bakers approximately one hour to decorate 200 cupcakes.  The process will begin at 8am and end at 8pm.

Wednesday - Cake and cupcakes to be completed and laid out by 12:00 noon.

We will be arriving at the Visitors Center 8am SHARP!  We have 4 hours to hand decorate 5 tiers, and lay out 2500 cupcakes.  Wish us luck.