FAQ

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions that come our way. If you don't see one that helps, please message us and we'll try to help soon!

GENERAL

  • We're a permitted home bakery located in Livermore, California, operating under cottage food laws. All our baked goods are made in our residential kitchen, approved by the Alameda County Department of Environmental Health (Class A CFO Permit #PT0326883).

    Exact pick-up location is shared after your order is confirmed and paid in full. Please only show up during your pick-up window. Otherwise, your treats will not be ready.

  • All of our treats are available to be picked up in Livermore. You may place an order inquiry for one of our cakes, our floral cupcakes. or place an order inquiry for our brownies. TIn order to place an order, an inquiry form must be completed. Orders will not be taken or accepted over an email or social media DM.

    Once you place an inquiry, we will get back to you within 24-48 hours. Once we have finalized your order, we will send you an invoice and order confirmation details.

  • Delivery is only available on weekends for tiered cakes or for orders over $200.00. Delivery starts at $45.00.

    Delivery must be requested while placing an inquiry.

    Delivery is available based on availability and location.

  • If you have already placed an order and you are unable to pick-up your order in the time slot, please contact info@squaresbakes.com ASAP to arrange a different pick-up time. Please use the email you placed the order with and include your full name. The sooner you reach out to us, the easier it will be for us to arrange a time to get your treats to you. We understand plans may change and strive to resolve these issues to the best of our ability.

    Please only show up during your agreed upon pick-up window. We allow a 15 minute grace period after your scheduled window. If you will not be able to make your pick-up window or the grace period, please contact us via email (info@squaresbakes.com) to reschedule your pick-up. Otherwise, your order will not be ready.

  • We are not an allergen-free bakery. Our home kitchen handles ingredients such as wheat, egg, milk, tree nuts, peanuts, and soy, which may pose a risk for individuals with food allergies.

    Even though some of our products may not contain all of these allergens, since we do not bake in an allergen-free kitchen, we cannot guarantee that they are entirely free from allergens due to the possibility of cross-contamination. Therefore, we recommend that individuals with severe allergies avoid consuming our products.

    To learn more, please read our bakery's allergen disclaimer to ensure a safe and delightful experience.

    If you have any specific questions regarding the ingredients used in our products, please contact us at info@squaresbakes.com. Although we may provide you with ingredient and allergen information, if you or your recipient has a severe allergy, please know that while we do our best to prevent cross-contamination, we are not an allergy-free bakery.

  • We currently do not offer vegan or gluten-free items.

  • Due to the custom-made & perishable nature of our products, we are unable to provide refunds or exchanges on any of our items.

    If you are unhappy with your order, please contact info@squaresbakes.com ASAP with your order details. We genuinely want to make things right for you and will do our best to ensure your satisfaction.

    Customers who cancel their orders at least 1 week (7 days) prior to their pick-up or delivery date will receive their payment refunded, minus payment processing fees or any expenses for any special ingredients or items purchased or made specifically for your order. If issued, the refund will be credited to your original payment method. Please remember it can take some time for your bank or credit card company to process and post the refund too. If possible, we will provide an estimate of how long the refund will take to occur.

    Cancellations made with 3-7 days notice before pick-up may be eligible for a partial refund or credit, unless we are able to accommodate rescheduling your pick-up to a later date, based on Squares availability. If we have not started production on your order, we may offer a credit towards a future purchase or a partial refund, on a case by case basis and up to the discretion of Squares.

    If cancellations are made within 3 days of pick-up, the full payment is non-refundable, as order preparation may be underway. We can try to reschedule for a different day the week of the scheduled pick-up if possible.

    If you would like to read our full refund and cancellation policy, please read our Terms and Conditions.

OUR TREAT CARE

  • The day before pick-up, you will receive an email with the pick-up address. Please only show up during your pick-up window. Otherwise, your treats will not be ready. If you need to change your pick-up time, contact info@squaresbakes.com ASAP so we can make arrangements.

    When carrying the box, hold the box from the bottom, not the sides. Please make sure you have a flat surface in your car to transport your treats, preferably in the passenger footwells of your car to reduce the chances of them moving. Avoid putting it on any area with a slant; we do not recommend someone holding the cake. Please do not place them on top of a seat, as this can cause them to fall and damage the products. Keep the box flat during transport and avoid braking quickly or making sharp turns.

    Avoid placing the box near heat sources during transit and storage; this may melt the product. Do not leave your treats in the car for longer than it takes for you to get home. Heat will affect the treats and can cause them to melt, especially with our cakes and cupcakes.

    If you will be traveling somewhere else with your cake or cupcakes after you take them home, we recommend keeping them refrigerated in the meantime so they will be nice & firm for travel. Please read our cupcake and cake care to see how to store them in the fridge.

    Damages caused during any transport are the customer’s responsibility. Once our treats are picked up, delivered, or shipped, we can not be held liable for any damage incurred during transportation, handling or storage on your end. Customers are provided with product care instructions (either in the form of a care card or listed on the inside or back of the box) as well as being listed below and in the Terms and Conditions.

  • Enjoy your baked goods as soon as possible, preferably within 1-3 days of receival for optimal freshness.

    To keep up to 1 week, store at room temperature in an airtight container or their sealed packaging.

    To keep up to 3 months, store in the freezer in an airtight container or in their sealed packaging. Thaw at room temp for 1-2 hours for best texture & flavor.

    Avoid storing your unsealed brownies or blondies in the fridge, as it can cause them to dry out & lose their moist & fudgy texture.

  • Keep cupcakes at a cool room temperature. It is recommended to consume within 1-3 days of receival.

    Keep away from direct sunlight, moisture, & heat at all times to avoid buttercream melting.

    If it is hot or humid in your house, then you may store them in the fridge or freezer. It is recommended to freeze over refrigerate if keeping for over 2 days because refrigeration can dry cupcakes out. If refrigerated or frozen, we recommend wrapping the box in cling film to keep the box airtight & cupcakes moist. You also may place them in an airtight container. We do not recommend refrigerating for over 5 days or freezing for over 1 week for best taste & quality.

    If refrigerated or frozen, bring back to room temperature for about 1 hour before eating.

  • Cake transport instructions can be read above and will be provided to you the day before pick-up.

    Please make sure you have a clean & level space available in your fridge to store your cake if not serving within the next few hours Your cake box size depends on the size of the cake, and will be provided to you the day before pick-up or delivery so you have adequate time to prepare.

    Keep away from direct sunlight, moisture, & heat when not inside the fridge.

    Take cake out of fridge about 1-2 hours before serving. Serve at room temperature for optimal cake & buttercream texture.

    Store leftover cake in the fridge in an airtight container and cover the cut portion of the cake with plastic wrap to prevent drying out.

CUSTOM CAKES & CUPCAKES

  • We book on a month-to-month basis — order forms for new months will open on the first of the previous month. We are open for pick-ups Wednesday through Saturday.

    For our cakes & cupcakes, it is recommended to order at least 2 weeks in advance. A minimum of one week’s notice is required for custom cakes & cupcakes.

    We will try to accommodate any order placed closer to your event date, but there is no guarantee. Orders placed within less than a week of pick-up or paid for within less than a week of pick-up will be assessed a $25.00-$50.00 rush fee.

  • After submitting your inquiry, we will contact you within 24 - 48 hours via email to confirm your order, provide a quote, and to send an invoice.

    Please note that submitting an inquiry form and communication does not guarantee a reservation. Full payments must be made within 48 hours of receiving your quote to confirm your order date. Orders are not confirmed or scheduled for production until payment has been received in full.

    If we have not received payment from you within 48 hours, we will assume you no longer require the order and requested date. This means that your requested date will be made available again and will be booked by the first to pay for confirmation.

  • Each custom order is priced individually based on the size of the cake, cake flavor & fillings, design details, and level of intricacy. Once we review your inquiry, we’ll provide a final quote tailored to your order.

    To view out starting prices, please view our custom cake inquiry page.

  • Our buttercream cakes should be stored in the refrigerator securely covered in their cake box. Uncut cakes in their box will last 3-5 days in the fridge. Once a cake is cut, ensure that any leftovers are fully covered with plastic wrap in the fridge, so the cake does not dry out.

    Keep the cake away from direct sunlight, moisture, and heat when not inside the fridge. Never put a buttercream cake in the sun, or outdoors in hot weather.

    Customers will receive cake care information before pick-up as well.

  • Since our buttercream is made with real butter, all cakes should be served at room temperature. To bring a cake to room temperature, bring the cake out of the refrigerator 1-2 hours before serving for optimal cake and buttercream texture. If it is warmer in the room, it will take less time to soften and in cooler rooms, it will take more time to soften.

Still have a question? Please contact us so we can assist you!