August and September are quietly one of the busiest stretches of the year for celebration cakes in East London. Results envelopes get opened, university ceremonies fill up the diary, and suddenly a family needs something on the table by the afternoon. At Cake Trays we bake graduation and results day cakes to order for families across Romford, Ilford, Barking, Leytonstone, Stratford and the rest of East London, so this guide covers what to order, what size to pick, and how far ahead to plan.
Why a cake is the easy win on results day
Results day is unpredictable by nature. You do not know what the morning will bring, so most parents want something that works either way: a cake that says well done for getting through it, not just well done for the grade. That is why the most popular designs we bake in August are simple and warm rather than heavily themed. A buttercream cake with a name piped on it, a mortarboard topper and a short message covers a top grade, a place confirmed through clearing, or a resit plan settled over tea.
A level results land in the middle of August, with GCSE results the week after, and university graduation ceremonies run from summer right through to November. That gives a long window, but the two results days themselves are a genuine rush. If you know the date, ordering ahead is the single best thing you can do.
Shop results day cakes → Personalise the name, subject or message, sizes from a school tray at £17.99 up to a full celebration cake, with local East London delivery from £4.99.
Graduation cake designs that actually work
The design that photographs best is usually the plainest one. Our most requested graduation cake is a cream buttercream round with vintage piping, black satin bows, a mortarboard and a small scroll, with the name and course piped on the front. It suits a university ceremony, a sixth form leavers party or a family dinner at home.
Other combinations that land well:
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Name and grade. A short line such as First Class Honours or Off to Uni, piped in a contrasting colour.
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University colours. Buttercream matched to the institution, with gold or black spheres and a floral cluster.
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Number cakes. Popular where graduation doubles as an eighteenth or twenty first birthday in the same week.
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Subject touches. A stethoscope, a set of scales or a paintbrush piped on top for a course specific finish.
Sponge choice is yours: vanilla, chocolate, red velvet, lemon, pistachio or Biscoff. Chocolate and Biscoff are the safest bets for a mixed age crowd. If you want something less formal, browse the birthday cakes range, since almost any design there can be reworded for a graduation.
Feeding a bigger crowd without overspending
Graduation parties tend to be larger than birthdays because two families often turn up at once. If you are catering for a room rather than a table, a tray is better value than a tall round cake. Our cake bake trays are built for exactly this: easy to portion, easy to transport, and priced from £17.99 for a school tray.
A common approach is one decorated celebration cake for the photos plus a tray or two in the background for actual eating. If the budget is tight, the cakes under £40 range covers the smaller end without looking like a compromise.
Halal cakes for East London families
Every cake we bake is halal, which matters when a graduation party pulls in grandparents, cousins and family friends who all need to be able to eat the same cake. You do not need to ask, check or explain: the whole range is covered. There is more detail on our halal cakes page if you want to pass it on to guests.
Delivery across East London
We deliver across Romford, Ilford, Barking, Dagenham, East Ham, Stratford, Walthamstow, Leyton, Woodford, Chigwell, Manor Park, Forest Gate, Goodmayes and Seven Kings, with collection available from RM8 2SR. Standard delivery is £4.99.
If you are around E11, our Leytonstone cake delivery page has the local detail, and it is a short run from us across to Leyton, Stratford and Forest Gate. For everywhere else, the East London cake delivery page lists the full area. Delivery slots vary by date and by how busy the kitchen is, so pop your postcode in at checkout to see what is available for the day you need. Results week fills up quickly, so book the slot as soon as you have the date.
How to order
Order online and add your personalisation at checkout, including the name, the message and the sponge flavour. If your design needs a conversation first, call us on 0208 597 5629 or message us on WhatsApp, and you can see recent bakes on Instagram at @caketrays4eastlondon. Sending one to someone else is straightforward too, and our send a cake as a gift page explains how that works.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should I order a results day cake?
As early as you can. Results days are fixed dates and the whole area orders at once, so the earlier you book, the more choice of slot you have. If you are ordering for a university ceremony in September or later, a week or two ahead is usually comfortable.
Can you write the grade or university on the cake?
Yes. Names, grades, course titles and short messages can all be piped on. Add the wording you want at checkout and keep it short so it stays readable on the cake.
What if the results are not what we hoped for?
Most people choose neutral wording such as Congratulations or Well Done rather than a specific grade, which keeps the cake right whatever the envelope says. If you would rather decide on the day, a design with no wording at all still works.
Are your graduation cakes halal?
Yes. Every cake we bake is halal, across the entire range, so there is nothing separate to order.
How much cake do I need for a graduation party?
For a table of six to eight, a single celebration cake is plenty. For a room of twenty or more, a decorated cake plus one or two trays works better and costs less than sizing up a single cake.
Written by the Cake Trays Team, halal bakers delivering fresh celebration cakes across East London. Order online at caketrays.co.uk.
