Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Cake Decorator
A Cake Decorator is a professional who specializes in the art of transforming plain cakes into visually stunning and appetizing creations. They possess a keen eye for detail and artistic flair, allowing them to create beautiful designs using various techniques, tools, and ingredients. Cake Decorators work in bakeries, pastry shops, and other food establishments, and they play a vital role in enhancing the overall appearance and appeal of cakes for special occasions. In this blog post, we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Cake Decorators.
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Main Responsibilities of a Cake Decorator
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Cake Decorator:
Adapt
Adapt designs to suit various themes and occasions.
Adhere to
Adhere to all company policies and standard operating procedures.
Adhere to, and implement all applicable company standards.
Adhere to health and safety regulations while handling food.
Adhere to product processing specifications while working on a variety of decorated cake skus.
Adjust
Adjust drafts or thermostatic controls to regulate oven temperature.
Adjust production sheets to maintain sufficient product.
Answer
Answer fan questions about product ingredients and preparation.
Answer phones and pages promptly and courteously.
Apply
Apply frosting and icing to cakes using different techniques.
Assist in
Assist in other department functions.
Assist with production of all mandatory bakery products (i.e. parfaits, bars, cupcakes).
Assist with the production of all mandatory bakery products (i.e. parfaits, bars, cupcakes, etc.).
Attend
Attend workshops and seminars to enhance skills and knowledge.
Bake
Bake and assemble cakes, tarts, cookies, meringues, macarons, and a variety of other pastries.
Bake and prepare breads from frozen, fresh pastries, cakes, and assorted desserts.
Carve
Carve and layer cakes for custom designs.
Change
Change approach or method to best fit the situation.
Check
Check production schedule to determine variety and quantity of goods to bake.
Check temperatures of product, cases, and coolers according to standards.
Clean
Clean and sanitize prep room and coolers as appropriate.
Collaborate with
Collaborate with clients to understand their specific cake design requests.
Collaborate with other bakery staff to ensure timely cake production.
Collaborate with other professionals in the baking and confectionery industry.
Color
Color and airbrush cakes to achieve desired effects.
Communicate
Communicate and develop interpersonal skills for providing customer service.
Communicate positively with fans and co-workers constantly during shifts.
Communicate with office staff regarding custom orders.
Complete
Complete daily cake and cupcake orders and ensure back up stock as required.
Complete inscriptions on cakes as required.
Complete paperwork accurately and maintain proper records.
Complete production and spoilage records.
Complete tasks correctly and on time.
Complete tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
Complete work assignments and priorities by using policies, data, and resources.
Complete work in timely manner.
Contribute to
Contribute to building a positive team spirit.
Create
Create and maintain a positive, safe, clean, and inviting environment for fans and team members.
Create an outstanding customer experience through exceptional service.
Create appealing designs on all specialty bakery goods.
Create decorative elements such as flowers, ribbons, and bows.
Decorate
Decorate all cakes, tarts, pastries, and special order items.
Demonstrate
Demonstrate creativity and innovation in cake design concepts.
Demonstrate successful performance in their current position before being considered for promotion.
Design
Design and create unique cake decorations.
Embrace
Embrace the Customer 1st strategy and encourage associates to deliver excellent customer service.
Ensure
Ensure accuracy of signs and pricing.
Ensure all cake products meet the Dairy Queen standards of quality and excellence.
Ensure cakes are baked and cooled properly before decorating.
Ensure customer needs are met in a timely fashion.
Ensure proper levels of bread, bakery and pastry items are prepared based on the store's needs.
Ensure proper, safe and efficient performance of duties.
Ensure proper temperatures in cases and coolers are maintained and temperature logs are maintained.
Ensure quality and presentation standards are met.
Ensure quality, presentation and consistency within all products.
Ensure that all appropriate Fresh Foods products are properly refrigerated.
Ensure that the quality of products meets established standards.
Ensure the department has the highest quality of product available for the customer.
Establish
Establish and maintain a safe and clean environment that encourages our customers to return.
Establish a working and shopping environment of trust, respect, and integrity.
Estimate
Estimate the time and resources required for cake decoration projects.
Execute
Execute sampling best practices.
Experiment
Experiment with new decorating tools and materials.
Follow
Follow all bakery department food safety and sanitation policies and procedures.
Follow all food safety requirements as outlined through best practice.
Follow all safety regulations and help keep the store free of dangerous situations.
Follow and adhere to health and safety regulations and guidelines.
Follow department procedures for preparing, storing, rotating, and stocking of product.
Follow equipment control guidelines.
Follow Food, Health and Workplace Safety standards.
Follow Harris Teeter sanitation standards and procedures.
Follow proper perishable inventory procedures to ensure an accurate recording of inventory.
Follow through on customer requests.
Follow through with any special requests or recommendations from management.
Frost
Frost all cakes for same day and next day orders.
Frost and decorate cakes and baked goods.
Give
Give and welcomes feedback.
Greet
Greet and deal with customers requests with a smile.
Greet customers in a polite and friendly manner.
Handle
Handle and prepare Bakery products.
Handle customer inquiries and provide excellent customer service.
Increase
Increase store sales by actively promoting products.
Inform
Inform customers of bakery specials.
Inform management at least 2 hours before shift begins when going to be late or absent from work.
Initiate
Initiate interaction with customers on the sales floor and sales counter.
Inspect
Inspect kitchen and food service areas.
Keep
Keep frosting area clean and sanitized including tables, microwave and tool bins.
Keep track of inventory and order necessary cake decorating supplies.
Keep up to line speeds and production standards.
Keep work area clean and presentable.
Label
Label, stock and inventory department merchandise.
Learn
Learn and adapt to current technology needs.
Learn to use register, scales, scanners and debit / credit terminals.
Locate
Locate and identify damaged, recalled or expired items and process according to best practice.
Maintain
Maintain a clean and organized work area.
Maintain a clean and safe work environment, adhering to safety and sanitation policies.
Maintain a clean and safe working environment as per company requirements.
Maintain a clean and well organized work area.
Maintain all production modules in the Datapax system.
Maintain and re-fill retail pastry counter with fresh pastries and cakes throughout the day.
Maintain a portfolio of past cake decoration work.
Maintain a positive and professional approach with coworkers and customers.
Maintain cleanliness of work stations and all equipment and storage areas.
Maintain equipment in accordance with WFM cleanliness and safety standards.
Maintain highest quality and appearance of items sent from kitchen.
Maintain high quality production standards.
Maintain product quality by date checks and product rotation.
Make
Make eye contact with and smile at every customer.
Make frosting when amount goes below par level.
Manage
Manage multiple cake decoration projects simultaneously.
Meet
Meet deadlines and deliver cakes on time.
Monitor
Monitor and record temperature-sensitive food items as outlined through best practice.
Monitor own work to ensure quality.
Monitor product quality for freshness and ensures proper product rotation.
Observe
Observe and maintain product quality and food safety standards.
Obtain
Obtain or prepares food items requested by customers at counter.
Order
Order and receive stock in accordance with company inventory control procedures as required.
Package
Package and present finished cakes in an attractive manner.
Participate in
Participate in professional development.
Participate in the training of junior staff.
Perform
Perform administrative duties as required.
Perform all functions relating to preparation, counter service, and stocking of product.
Perform baking, cooling, wrapping, and labeling of products.
Perform decorator duties on a production assembly line for cakes.
Perform essential job functions throughout scheduled hours.
Perform opening, mid, and closing duties as assigned.
Perform production planning and forecasting for special events and holidays.
Perform special order requests.
Plan
Plan for eligible employees.
Plan the bakery productions.
Prepare
Prepare and decorate all types of cakes.
Prepare bakery items per customer requests using proper bakery equipment.
Prepare buttercream, curds, and fillings from scratch.
Prepare, display, and offer daily samples according to standards.
Prepare, package, weigh, and price bakery products for sale.
Prepare, weight, price, date, wrap, and package products according to standards.
Present
Present ideas and information in a respectful manner.
Price
Price cake decorations based on complexity and materials used.
Process
Process customer Bakery orders.
Process department shrink.
Produce
Produce in-house products to daily par levels, as specified on the production sheets.
Produce items to specifications on production cards and follow specific department routines.
Produce quality breads and pastries.
Promote
Promote trust and respect among associates.
Provide
Provide customer service to meet customer needs.
Provide customers information needed to meet their taste and meal requirements.
Provide customers with friendly and professional service.
Provide exceptional customer service even in difficult or emotional customer situations.
Provide exceptional service to our customers.
Provide guidance and training to junior cake decorators.
Provide outstanding customer service, in person and on the phone.
Provide service and a shopping experience that meets the needs of the guest.
Reach
Reach with hands and arms.
Read
Read UPC codes, product labels, shelf signage, and posted company policies / procedures.
Receive
Receive and store ingredients.
Recommend
Recommend bakery items to customers to ensure they get the products they want and need.
Record
Record accidents and safety hazards in the designated log.
Reflect
Reflect an appropriate business image to customers and visitors.
Remove
Remove baked goods from oven and place goods on cooling rack.
Repair
Repair and touch up any imperfections on cakes.
Report
Report product ordering / shipping discrepancies to the department manager.
Resolve
Resolve any issues or complaints related to cake decorations.
Resolve guest questions quickly on the spot.
Respond to
Respond appropriately to questions.
Respond back to people on 'hold' in a timely manner.
Respond promptly to customer needs.
Respond to requests for service and assistance.
Review
Review sell by dates and take appropriate action.
Rotate
Rotate date and label products.
Sculpt
Sculpt and shape edible figures and objects.
Select
Select appropriate cake flavors, fillings, and frostings.
Serve
Serve customers and take payments using the cash register and card machine.
Set-up
Set-up and fill bakery showcases.
Set-up and organize the pastry and cake counters / displays.
Solicit
Solicit customer feedback to improve service.
Stay current with
Stay current with present, future, seasonal and special ads.
Stay updated with the latest cake decorating trends and techniques.
Stock
Stock and execute proper rotation of products.
Stock, merchandise and create displays.
Support
Support and assist your fellow associates without complaint.
Support and explains reasoning for decisions.
Take
Take responsibility for own actions.
Track
Track inventory of frosting material.
Train
Train production personnel to the highest standards in industry.
Train staff in preparation, cooking and handling of food.
Treat
Treat others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position.
Understand
Understand how operational procedures impact shortage and profitability.
Understand, operate, and maintain baking equipment.
Understand the store's layout and be able to locate products when requested by customer.
Uphold
Uphold and maintain the execution of the Food & Beverage Standards.
Use
Use equipment and materials properly.
Work
Work in accordance with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and WCB regulations.
Work in an efficient manner.
Work in a safe and responsible manner.
Work in walk-in coolers and freezers and around hot ovens and fryers.
Work with bakery ingredients including various flours, spices, nuts, flavorings and oils.
Work with less supervision at a fast speed.
Write
Write and pipe messages or greetings on cakes.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Cake Decorator:
Cake sculpting and carving techniques.
Proficiency in working with different types of icing and frosting.
Knowledge of color theory and food coloring techniques.
Airbrushing skills for creating intricate designs.
Proficiency in using piping bags and nozzles for decorative detailing.
Familiarity with edible materials such as gum paste and fondant.
Understanding of cake baking and cooling processes.
Expertise in working with various cake decorating tools and equipment.
Knowledge of different cake flavors, fillings, and frostings.
Ability to use stencils and templates for precise designs.
Hand-eye coordination for intricate detailing.
Understanding of food safety and hygiene practices.
Ability to troubleshoot and fix cake decoration issues.
Knowledge of basic cake structure and stability.
Proficiency in using specialty tools like cake levelers and turntables.
Understanding of different decorating techniques like royal icing and buttercream.
Knowledge of basic pastry and confectionery techniques.
Familiarity with specialized equipment such as sugar craft guns.
Ability to work efficiently under time constraints.
Understanding of portion sizes and cake serving guidelines.
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Cake Decorator:
Creativity and artistic ability.
Attention to detail and precision.
Excellent hand dexterity and fine motor skills.
Strong communication skills for client consultations.
Patience and perseverance when working on intricate designs.
Time management and ability to meet deadlines.
Flexibility and adaptability to different design requests.
Strong problem-solving skills for troubleshooting issues.
Ability to work well in a team environment.
Customer service skills and ability to handle client feedback.
Conclusion
The role of a Cake Decorator requires a diverse set of responsibilities, technical skills, and personal qualities. From designing and creating unique cake decorations to collaborating with clients and managing multiple projects, Cake Decorators bring creativity, precision, and attention to detail to their craft. With the right combination of technical expertise and soft skills, these professionals have the ability to transform cakes into exquisite masterpieces that not only taste delicious but also visually captivate and delight.
