Two of the most popular options at Marcia’s MicroBakery — custom cakes and decorated sugar cookies — both make a beautiful impression at any event. But they’re different products that serve different purposes.
If you’re trying to decide which one is right for your occasion, here’s a practical breakdown.
What Are Decorated Sugar Cookies?
Decorated sugar cookies are thick, soft-baked sugar cookies individually decorated with royal icing. The icing sets firm, allowing for detailed designs in multiple colors — custom shapes, patterns, hand-lettering, character designs, and more.
At Marcia’s MicroBakery, sugar cookies are available in custom shapes and themes. Popular requests include:
- Birthday themes (unicorns, dinosaurs, superheroes, florals, sports)
- Baby showers and gender reveals
- Bridal showers and weddings
- Holidays (Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Valentine’s Day)
- School and graduation events
- Corporate branding and logos
Each cookie is individually designed and packaged, making them as much a visual element as a food item.
What Is a Custom Cake?
A custom cake is a single-tier or multi-tier cake made to a specific design — colors, theme, decorating style, and personalization all chosen by you. Custom cakes serve as the centerpiece dessert and are typically served to guests in slices.
Custom cakes are available in a range of flavors, fillings, and frosting styles including buttercream and fondant.
When Decorated Sugar Cookies Are the Better Choice
Sugar cookies are the right call in these situations:
When guests keep the dessert as a favor or gift. Sugar cookies are individually portable and can be individually wrapped, making them ideal as take-home favors. A bag of custom cookies with someone’s name or a wedding date is a thoughtful, edible keepsake.
When you need a dessert that fits a specific theme in detail. The detailed decorating possible with royal icing lets you recreate logos, characters, monograms, florals, or any number of custom designs on an individual cookie level. For a highly themed party (think: a specific cartoon character, a sports team, a company event), cookies can hit those details in a way that’s hard to achieve on a single cake surface.
When you have a large number of guests and need individual servings. Ordering 48 or 72 cookies for a large party is simple — and every guest gets their own.
When you’re combining with other desserts. Sugar cookies work beautifully alongside other sweets on a dessert table. They add visual variety and complement cupcakes, cake pops, or a smaller display cake without duplicating.
When the event doesn’t have a traditional “cake cutting” moment. Showers, open houses, corporate events, and holiday parties often don’t have a cake-cutting ceremony — in those cases, cookies are a simpler and equally impressive option.
When a Custom Cake Is the Better Choice
A custom cake makes more sense in these situations:
When there’s a traditional centerpiece moment. Birthday parties, weddings, and anniversary celebrations often center around the cake — the candles, the cutting, the photos. A custom cake is designed to be that centerpiece.
When you want a tiered, dramatic visual. A multi-tier cake creates a visual impact that a tray of cookies can’t replicate. For a wedding or milestone birthday, the cake is often a statement piece.
When you’re serving a seated group. For a dinner party or seated reception where dessert will be plated and served, a cake is more practical than individual cookies.
When personalization is a priority for one focal point. A cake dedicated to one person or occasion — with their name, age, favorite colors, and a personalized design — makes a strong impression as the centerpiece of the celebration.
When you want guests to have a shared dessert moment. Cake slicing and serving is a communal experience. If that moment matters for your event, a cake is the right choice.
When to Order Both
The combination of a custom cake and decorated sugar cookies has become increasingly popular — and for good reason.
A common approach: order a smaller custom display cake for the cutting ceremony and photos, plus a batch of decorated cookies for guests to take home as favors. This gives you the visual centerpiece of a custom cake and the practicality and personalization of individual cookies.
This works especially well for:
- Weddings and bridal showers
- First birthday parties (smash cake + cookie favors for guests)
- Baby showers
- Corporate events where you want branded sweets
Pricing Comparison
Custom cakes at Marcia’s MicroBakery start at $60 for a small single-tier cake.
Decorated sugar cookies are priced per cookie or per dozen depending on design complexity. Custom shaped and decorated cookies typically range from $3.50 to $6.00 per cookie, with quantity minimums for custom orders.
For a party of 24 guests, a $90 custom cake or a $96 to $144 order of custom cookies (at $4 to $6 per cookie) are both reasonable options — the right choice depends on how you want the dessert to function at your event.
How to Order
Both custom cakes and decorated sugar cookies are available at Marcia’s MicroBakery in Beachwood, NJ. Orders are taken on a first-come, first-served basis — booking at least 2 to 3 weeks in advance is strongly recommended. Holiday and peak season dates fill up quickly.
Reach out through the contact form on this website to share your event details and get a quote.
Marcia’s MicroBakery has been serving Ocean County families for over 17 years. Every cake and cookie is made from scratch, with care, just for your occasion.
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