FAQs
General FAQ
Where are you located?
We’re located in Valrico, about 25 minutes east of downtown Tampa. Once your order is placed, you’ll receive the address for pick-up in an email confirming your order.
Where are your products made?
Our products are made in a cottage food operation (home kitchen) that is not subject to Florida’s food safety regulations. We keep our kitchen clean, free of pets, and take all necessary food safety precautions.
With over a decade in food service, including kitchen management, we’re intimately familiar with food safety regulations and concerns and take all necessary precautions out of respect for your health and safety, as well as the integrity of our service and offerings.
What is a cottage food operation?
A cottage food operation produces products in a facility not subject for Florida food safety regulations. Cottage food operations do not require a license or permit from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and are not inspected by any state government entity.
For more information, visit: https://www.fdacs.gov/Business-Services/Food-Establishments/Cottage-Foods
How far in advance do I need to place an order?
All orders MUST be placed and paid for online a minimum of 3 days in advance (including the day you order).
Do you deliver?
Sorry, there is no delivery option at this time. Although, we’d like to offer delivery in the future and will announce across all platforms when we are able to provide this service. If delivery is something you’re interested in, please let us know. Your feedback greatly influences our operations.
Do you ship?
Not at the moment. Hopefully, we’ll be able to offer some shippable products soon. Stay tuned!
What pick-up days and times do you offer?
We offer pick-up times on:
Wednesdays 10am-4pm
Thursdays 10am-4pm
Fridays 10am-4pm
Saturdays 10am-1pm
At checkout, you’ll be asked to specify the day you plan to pick up AND will be asked to choose a 1 hour pick-up window. Please be sure to pick up during the specified time window. Unless there are previously and mutually agreed upon pick-ups arranged outside of normal pick-up hours, we cannot guarantee we’ll be available to get your goodies to you. And that would be real, real sad.
Why am I unable to choose the pick-up day I was hoping for?
We currently offer pick-up days and times on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. When you place your order, you’ll be asked to choose your desired pick-up day and time slot. If your desired pick-up day or time slot isn’t available, it could be for a few different reasons.
> It might be too late to place an order. We require that orders be placed at least 3 days in advance.
> We might be closed. Sometimes we need a day off, but we always schedule our time off in advance for your planning purposes.
> We might be all booked up. We can only handle so much volume at once and highly recommend you place your order in as far advance as possible. We can take regular orders through our online shop up to 3 months in advance. For custom orders and large special events, the more notice the better.
And with all that said, you are always welcome to contact us with your requests. Feel free to email us at heythere@botanybakeshop.com. If we can make it happen, we surely will! Your feedback helps us to structure our operations to best suit the needs of our customers at all times.
Where else can I find your products?
We do not currently have any local stockists. The only way to currently get our goodies is via pre-order online and for local pick-up only.
Whoopsie! Can I cancel my order?
Things happen! Gee, don’t we know! Our cancellation policy is as follows:
We’re happy to accept cancellations placed at minimum (3) days before the pick-up day (not including the pick-up day) for a full refund.
Cancellations after the 3-day period will not be refunded. Instead store credit will be given to go towards a future purchase.
To cancel your order, just send us an email at heythere@botanybakeshop.com.
Do you make wedding cakes?
Our cakes are perfect for special occasions that might need to meet a wide variety of dietary preferences or restrictions, like weddings!
We strive to make cakes that can be enjoyed by everyone. In fact, while many guests typically opt to pass on the wedding cake, that’s not usually the case with ours.
The details:
We offer custom desserts beyond our everyday menu and are happy to consult with you to make your dessert dreams come true.
We can generally customize decor to meet your aesthetic needs, including florals and edible decor. However, many flowers (especially if wanting fresh flowers) may need to be obtained from your florist as they’ll have access to a much larger variety than we currently do. We’re happy to add the flowers to your cake. Alternatively, arrange to have your florist add the flowers to your cake on the day of.
We also cannot guarantee exact color matches, as we don’t use artificial colorants or dyes in our cakes.
We are currently unable to deliver. All cakes and other confections will need to be picked up from our kitchen
Please keep in mind that we are a very small operation and may need as many as 3-4 weeks advanced notice. The more notice, the better.
Product FAQ
What is the best way to store my cake?
Unsliced, our cakes and cupcakes will stay fresh & moist for 3-5 days. We recommend storing your cakes and cupcakes in the refrigerator and then removing them about 30 minutes prior to serving.
The cake and frosting will be the fluffiest at room temperature. For the best experience, we do not recommend serving cakes or cupcakes cold.
Once your cake is sliced, cover the exposed part of the cake with plastic wrap or cut the remaining cake into slices and store in an airtight container in the fridge. The less the cake is exposed to air, the longer it will stay moist and fresh.
**Please know that buttercream cakes will become unstable if left out at room temperature for too long, especially in this Florida heat and humidity. When they become unstable, they’re challenging to slice and the possibility of slips, slides, tilts, and even collapses increases. Never keep your cakes in the sun or heat. Refrigeration until ~30 minutes prior to serving is best!
What is the best way to store my iced shortbread cookies?
It’s best to store your cookies in an airtight glass container at room temperature out of direct sunlight. If stored properly, your cookies can stay fresh for up to 3 weeks. Alternatively, freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Remove from freezer ~15 minutes before enjoying.
What Customers Are Saying
Sass is creative, educated, genuine & professional. She’s a true gem to work with. Her dessert profiles & flavor combinations are unique & undeniably delicious… they’re one of a kind to say at the least. They’ll make your taste buds explode with excitement! Sass has a beautiful gift.
Our wedding cake was made by Sass & it was beyond anything we could have dreamt of. Everyone at the wedding mentioned it being the best cake they’d ever had. Hands down, the best cake ever! We’ve had the pleasure of trying a bunch of desserts made by Sass & they’re one of a kind. She uses unique ingredients & flavor combinations that are so delicious & the presentation is always so beautiful & whimsical. She’s a true artist.
Sam & Gordy Dana
Learn More About the Botanicals in Our Sweet Treats!
Let’s Connect
Location
(~25 mins east of downtown Tampa)
Contact
heythere@botanybakeshop.com
Pick-Up Days & Times
Wednesday 10am – 4pm
Thursday 10am – 4pm
Friday 10am – 4pm
Saturday 10am – 1pm
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