Bento cakes, made for the small moments

We love a big celebration cake. But some of our favourite orders are the small ones, the bento cakes that go out on ordinary Tuesdays for reasons that never make it onto a calendar.

What a bento cake actually is

A bento cake is a little cake, roughly the size of the lunchbox it takes its name from, decorated on top and packed in its own box. Small enough to carry in one hand, big enough to put a candle in, and just the right size for a message.

The moments people order them for

• A monthsary. The message is the whole point, and a bento cake is mostly message.
• Passing the board exam. Or the driving test, or the first day at a new job.
• An apology. We have piped some very sincere sorries onto these.
• A birthday for one. Somebody living away from family deserves a cake with candles, even if only one person is singing.
• Just because it is Friday. Genuinely one of the most common reasons.

The best bento cake we made this year said four words. The person who ordered it rewrote them six times before sending.

Keeping the design simple

On a small top surface, less really is more. A soft colour, a neat border, and short lettering will always look more elegant than a crowded design shrunk down to fit. Our favourites tend to be one colour of buttercream, a little piping around the edge, and a message with room to breathe.

If you want something more elaborate, the bento set is a nice compromise. The cake stays simple and pretty, and the two cupcakes beside it carry the pearls, petals and gold.

Writing the message

Short is better, both for the piping and for the reading. Around five or six words sits beautifully. If you have something longer to say, we can put the short version on the cake and write the rest on a card to go in the box.