Frequently Asked Questions

1) How far in advance do cakes need to be ordered?
2) What is the longevity of your coconut cake?
3) What sort of giftwrapping do you offer?
4) Can I pick a cake up and deliver it myself?
5) Do you accept credit cards?
6) Who's Joan?

How far in advance do cakes need to be ordered?
Usually a minimum of 3 business days. For busy times like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day it is best to order early to ensure your delivery.
CakesByJoan ships all over the United States via UPS Two Day Air, Monday through Wednesday. If you prefer, we can also ship UPS Overnight Monday through Thursday. At the present time, we cannot accept same day orders.

What is the longevity of your coconut cake?
We can ship 1 or 2 days prior to your event. Sealed and wrapped, our cake is still wonderfully fresh for over a week.

What sort of giftwrapping do you offer?
We have standard giftwrapping: cellophane, tulle ribbon with wired ribbon accents and giftcard. We also offer seasonal giftwrapping for Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's & Father's Day and other holidays.

Can I pick a cake up and deliver it myself?
We deliver locally from Scotts Valley to Aptos. However, please call Joan to arrange something that is convenient for you. 831.421 9988

Do you accept credit cards?
CakesByJoan accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express and the Discover card. We accept checks in the local Santa Cruz area. We do not accept CODs.

Who's Joan?
Joan Colonna is a resident of Santa Cruz, California, a graduate from the California Culinary Academy, Italian by heritage, and a lover of fine food. She is famous amongst friends and family alike for wonderful dinner parties and, of course, the famous coconut cake. About her coconut cake she says:

"This tender coconut cake is the result of baking, testing and tasting dozens of recipes that I've gathered over the years. Growing up, I spent hours in the kitchen with my mom, who instilled in me a great love and appreciation for food. Now I live in a sweet house by the beach in Santa Cruz, California with my son Mitchell. Not long after I moved here, I took out all the recipes I had collected for coconut cake and started trying them out to find the perfect cake.

I think I've hit on it. I've made this cake hundreds of times. And yet I continue to be amazed by the silky texture of the batter as it's poured into the pans, the sweet aroma while it bakes, and the sheer beauty of the finished product: high and snowy white. I never tire of hearing people from the South, who know how a coconut cake should taste, tell me, "This tastes exactly like my Mama used to make." That's what cooking is. It's touching people in a special way, bringing back wonderful memories.

That's what I hope this cake does for you, or for someone special in your life. Whether it's for a birthday, a holiday, a new baby, a new home, or for no special reason at all, I hope this cake can make your day a little sweeter. Enjoy!" Joan Colonna