Cake Controversy

I feel the hashtags you use depend on your personality, your (cake) style, and what you want to achieve with them – if you are tagging for SEO then using something like “cakeporn” or “foodporn” will get you further on Google than just “cake”.
As for using a box mix or scratch recipe – thats up to the baker. For me, pulling a perfect scratch cake out of the oven gives me a sense of achievement but the box cakes available now have come a long way.

Angel the SEO point seems to ring true with that particular tag.

Naomi
I would never, ever use the word “porn”. I I find it a disgusting word, and the meaning attached to it. Just as one of your followers stated.
As for Box vs Scratch….a argument that will never be solved. As you mentioned, a hotly debated subject. I do scratch as I don’t like the preservatives and additives in the Box mix. I feel scratch has a better texture, and I like to use organic sugar, not the high fruticose that’s in the Box mix. My son is fructose intolerant. I grew up with a baking from scratch Mom. If I use Box mix, it’s a organic one and I always doctor it. I watch for organic Box mix on sale, and keep a couple on hand in a pinch. Many decorators grew up in homes with either Box mix, or grocery store cakes, so using a Box mix isn’t out of the ordinary for them. There use to that type of cake. As for “cheating”, you make a good point about fondant/gumpaste….making vs buying….another debate!!!

Oh gosh June I keep putting my foot in it! I don’t want another debate can of worms LOL!!

And yes I had never really thought about the term foodporn until she mentioned it and I will probably never use it again regardless of it’s mainstream foodie use. But I won’t be telling others they should not use it neither. :)

I am a hobbyist and don’t sell cakes either, but I prefer scratch recipes. You are right, though… most places where I was employed to work, did use premixes.
As to your hashtag words… personally I do not find them offensive, but I guess the world wide web reaches many countries, different cultures with differing standards and beliefs.
In addition if a person was a victim of abuse, they may have heightened sensitivities.

As Angel said, your free to use whatever you choose, it’s up to the individual baker. Depends on where you live, your customers, etc. And you have opened a can of worms Naomi, Ha Ha. Subject has never stopped circulating. Many cake groups on FB this subject is forbidden. If you start a conversation, it’s removed, and your warned. If you pursue, your removed permanently from the group. Some decorators are very, let’s say “passionate” about the subject to the point it can become extremely contentious, sometimes ugly. Many nasty remarks being made. SOooo, many groups just ban the subject/debate altogether.

Hi Naomi, there’s a can of worms you’ve opened right there! (Only kidding 😁) but I suppose what we would say quite innocently can take on a whole different meaning on the Internet. I am always taking photos of food and, in conversation, would use the words ‘cakeporn’ and ‘foodporn’ but I would be reticent to hashtag it on an Internet post. Google searches bring up the most disturbing images when you use innocent language never mind throwing the term ‘porn’ into the mix. For example, I typed in the word ‘Olaf’ when researching the character for a cake last year and a couple of images which popped up in the search for a children’s character were beyond X rated!!! In the context of the Internet then a less innocent word is fraught with danger. We know what we mean but unfortunately the WWW can’t make the differentiation and that’s why I’d steer clear of hashtagging it.
On the subject of scratch vs boxed, well, I’ve been baking since I was 12 years old. Decorating cakes was a complete afterthought for me which I just happen to do convincingly enough to get away with but the cake itself has always been most important to me. If you hate baking but love decorating I don’t see any problem with using a boxed mix but I would never dream of using one. I hope my cakes taste much better than they look but, truth be told, some people don’t care and would prefer a visual treat to a culinary one. Go with your own instincts. xx
Lizzie

I have no opinion on the scratch vs box cakes. It’s up to the baker. I know lots of people who use doctored cake mixes with great success.

As for the “porn” I wouldn’t use the word. I have to agree with the poster on your site. Something that starts innocently can have huge moral and ethical consequences down the line. I would avoid it.

Instagram have been letting users of the hashtag #cakePORN #COCKtail etc that they’re going to be clamping down on it, a friend who does a lot of food photography told me yesterday. Personally I’m not offended although probably wouldn’t think to use it myself either.

Scratch vs box…sigh! Never to be resolved my friend! Ha. I would say it depends how it’s presented to the customer. I would actually feel I was cheating in that I promote myself as a quality custom cake maker…and to me that means scratch. If however cakers are up front about the use of them then fair play. It’s frustrating as a small business owner to be constantly undercut – perhaps mixes are part of that equation?!…

Part of me is more tolerant and part of my less so as I get older! Haha!

LOL June I will be sure never to bring it up again and please I am not asking anyone on CD what they think of box or sctratch just reflecting that I never realised it was such a controversial issue!

And yes I did on board what the follower said about out desensitising of words and I am more mindful of it.