Cake: can you tell the difference between grocery cake and specialty bakery cake

Yes, unless it's one of the rare grocery stores that makes a delicious cake, you can absolutely tell. As someone mentioned above, it tastes chemically.

I would just ask the bakery you go with to make you a sheet cake. If you're set on a grocery store, do you live near Wegmans? I don't know if this is still true, but they used to do sheet cakes of their ultimate cakes. The ultimate vanilla or the ultimate chocolate. I think one of those would be ok, but I don't know if it would actually be any cheaper than having your bakery make you a sheet cake.

ETA: the wegmans ultimate cakes actually taste good, unlike their regular cakes that they sell as sheet cakes. I wouldn't go with them unless you can get the ultimate cake.

Publix cake, yes! There's a difference to me. I LOVE cake and IMHO Publix cake>specialty bakery

ETA: venue gave us two bakeries to choose from. I've never really had any other cake besides Publix, unless homemade. Every party, shower, etc. has always been Publix. (I've had Costco and sams a few times in the past, and thought their cake was pretty good) When I went for my first tasting at one of the bakeries, I felt like I could taste chemicals .. I don't know how to explain it, but it was GROSS. The chocolate cake had no flavor when I bit into it, but had a very odd after taste that tasted nothing like chocolate. We went with bakery #2 because of the much better experience and I can hold their cake up to a Publix cake standard.

People at work always get Costco cakes for events, birthdays, etc. and they are actually quite delicious.

As far as other store bought cakes...I thought I hated buttercream until I tasted our baker's. He explained that most grocery store cakes don't actually use butter, but instead use shortening which makes for that sickly sweet and gritty texture. I would say that's the biggest difference I would notice between a bakery and grocery cake.

I actually found the prices at an actual bakery were better than the grocery store.

Publix was certainly my choice here in Nashville! No doubt about it. We'e doing cupcakes of different flavors, but I literally couldn't tell the difference in our store-bought choice and the cake that was served for our venue's open house, besides price! Our cupcakes for 100 guests are gonna be less than $80, so that's a huge thing for us. Pinching the budget without cutting corners or sacrificing flavor! I love it.

This may be UO but I love Publix cakes! I've been to 2 bridal expos and tried 6+ cake vendors and only 1 interested me enough to do a tasting. I really want to use a bakery because it's probably the only time I'll use one... but I gotta find one I like!

Oh and for anyone on a budget, Sams club does 3 tier wedding cakes for $65

I'm in the minority. I don't really like Publix cake. Their buttercream is weird and the cake itself isn't all that great. I'd go with the bakery cake

I can definitely tell the difference. When I get dessert for us (we're both trying to lose weight, so it's rare), I would rather drive 20 minutes out of my way and spend 2x more to pick up good cake/cupcakes/whatever from one of the local bakeries than get cake from the grocery store.

Yes. There is a difference, and it is obvious.

Publix really does have great cakes.... Honestly i dont care where the cake comes from as long as it tastes good.... i am not one for a lot of fillings and whatnot.... just give me vanilla, chocolate, carrot, or red velvet cake and I'm good!

@FutureMrsE I'm pretty sure that is popular opinion.

I believe a lot of the contrarian types who proclaim their disdain of cake never have had the joy of a bakery cake pass their lips. Grocery store cakes taste overprocessed, have preservatives and such mixed into them so they can last on the shelf, and buttercream made with shelf-stable shortening. Using Crisco instead of butter in the frosting results in a greasy mouthfeel and nasty aftertaste.

Go with a bakery cake.

I don't think it matters. My mom is a great baker and she is baking and decorating our wedding cake!

I may or may not notice. But either way, as long as it's good I could care less.

I've worked at several gourmet bakeries for 6+ years, yes, the fancy ones with fancy wedding cakes that are very expensive. I can tell you, as much as I love gourmet wedding cakes, there are some grocery cakes out there that I think taste better. I don't think the guests will care too much about where the cake is from as long as its good, I know I don't