Rule # 1 – Don’t Freak Out

So let’s say that you have felt inspired lately to experiment in the kitchen, and you have decided to bake and decorate your own cake from scratch. Perhaps you think it a worthy goal, and not terribly lofty or complicated. Maybe you even tell a few people that you are going to bake a cake. Maybe you even promise to share your cake at dinner or to bring your creation to the next dinner party or potluck. Whatever the case may be, don’t panic. In fact, when it comes to baking and decorating your first cake, it is best not to “give” your cake away to other people your very first time. That is, the first time you bake and decorate your own cake, do it for yourself. Don’t bake and decorate your first cake for a big special occasion, because this will automatically put on the pressure to produce a fabulous and perfect result.

Rule # 2 – Remember That There Is No Such Thing as the Perfect Cake

As you begin to make your entrance into the fabulous world of baking and cake decorating, you may begin to wonder why your first efforts are not perfect. The plain truth is that there is no such thing as a perfect cake. The very nature of baking precludes you from being able to produce the perfect baking result. Each cake you bake and decorate will be slightly off, slightly irregular, because that is the nature of baking, and that is what makes it so exciting and interesting and challenging to amateur and professional chefs alike. Even the most experienced pastry chefs understand that mistakes and irregularities will happen, and they know how to cover their tracks.

Rule # 3 – Take Baby Steps Toward Your Confectionary Creation

One of the most important things you can do when you are baking and decorating your first cake is to start small. That is, don’t choose to make your first cake an elaborate affair. You might be setting yourself up for disappointment if you are trying to create something too elaborate for your first attempt. Start small with little decorative touches and experiments. For instance, start by using ingredients that you have never thought of before, such as decorating with nuts and dried fruits and even edible flower petals. Keep it fun and light at first.

Rule # 4 – Look Through Books and Magazines But Don’t Become Intimidated

It can be a lot of fun to look through books and magazines to get ideas for your foray into baking and cake decorating, but don’t let it intimidate you. These days, baking and cake decorating has gone well beyond the usual butter cream variety. If you are interested in getting more involved in baking and cake decoration, there are many fine selections out there that can give motivated about this endeavor and that can provide you with many ideas about how to go about decorating.

Rule # 5 – Invest In Your Cake Marketing!

Most people spend tons of money on cake supplies and learning how to be a decorator. Very few invest in cake marketing and learning the skills needed to sell cakes. One of the best resources around for cake marketing is the Mega 8 CD by Sell Cakes Like Crazy. You can check out the CD by Clicking Here.

We are in the golden age of cake TV.

With shows like Ace of Cakes, Wedding Cake Wars, Amazing Wedding Cakes, Cake Boss, and Ultimate Cake Off, there has never been this much flour and sugar coming out of your screen.

I can’t possibly watch them all, but I want your opinion. If I was to start watching one of these shows on a regular basis, which one should it be?

Here are a few responses we received from our subscribers.

I, personally, prefer Ace of Cakes and Cake Boss because I want to learn from other bakers. These two shows tend to do a bit more explaining of how they’re making these show pieces happening, whereas the Cake Wars and Cake Off shows spend more time discussing timelines and whether the decorators will make deadlines (drama).

That’s my 5 cents worth on the subject.

-sissy

My favorite cake show is Cake Boss. The play between the family members is true to life for those of us making cakes on a small scale. I totally relate when I’m having my kids (19 & 20) help me out in a pinch!

- Stacey

We want to take this a little farther by asking you to complete the survey below. You’ll get immediate results, plus we’ll report back to this blog when all the data is collected.

Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments.

Many aspiring pastry chefs are confused by the difference between cake baking and cake decorating. Are these two clearly delineated professions that work separately, or is the line between the two professions quite blurry? Here is a brief overview of the two different professions, including how they come together and what keeps the two distinct entities.

Cake Baking and Cake Decorating Defined – What is the Big Difference?

Is there a big difference between the title of cake baker and cake decorator? That is, do you have to choose one over the other, or is it generally accepted that if you bake cakes, that you can also decorate them? In general, there is a professional delineation made between the two. A cake baker is one who is professionally trained to create and bake cakes. Most professional cake bakers create cakes for special occasions such as wedding cakes, corporate events, or for mass consumption, as cakes that are sold at grocery stores. A cake baker can own his or her own bakery, or may work for a bakery as a cake baker. Some cake bakers that are also bakery owners produce cakes exclusively for sale at their own bakery, while others bake for various bakeries.

Do Cake Bakers Also Work as Cake Decorators?

It is very common, in fact, for cake bakers to also work as cake decorators. However, this does not always have to be the case. Some bakers enjoy the process of baking, but do not express interest in the decorating aspect of cake design. Bakery owners who bake all their own cakes but who do not consider themselves cake decorators will hire professional cake decorators to take care of this aspect of the final cake design. However, it is not uncommon at all for cake bakers to also decorate their own cakes.

What About the Cake Decorator?

Cake decorators are a bit more specialized than bakers. That is, an individual who has been trained as a cake decorator is less likely to have experience as a cake baker. However, the two are clearly not mutually exclusive—a cake baker can work as a cake decorator, and vice versa.

Training and Education for Becoming a Cake Baker or Cake Decorator

Perhaps you are wondering what kind of formal education and training is necessary in order to become either a cake baker or cake decorator, or both, Technically, no formal education or training is necessary in order to be considered a professional cake decorator or cake baker. However, formal training and education in both these skills and arts is highly recommended. It can be very difficult to acquire a good position as either a cake baker or a cake decorator without some degree of professional experience and formal training. The best way to be able to secure professional experience is to receive formal training in baking and decoration.
You can learn cake decorating by taking classes at your local hobby and craft stores. You can also take classes at a local technical college or university.

To learn how to sell your cakes, you can get 8 cake business courses for one low price designed to help you build your customer base by clicking here.

The Slow Food Movement Comes to America

The slow food movement began to take root in Europe many years ago, as the fast pace of modern life began to attack many people where it hurt the most: at the dinner table. This movement focuses on shifting away from food as fuel to food as something to be truly enjoyed. The slow food movement, in part, may be able to explain the resurgence of what for awhile appeared to be a lost art: the sugar craft that is otherwise known as cake decoration.

Sugarcraft, Pastry Art, Cake Design – Call it What You Will

The growing popularity of cake decoration can be seen merely in the growing amount of adjectives that there are for it: pastry art, sugar craft, etc, all are a symptom of a larger phenomenon: the return of cake decorating. Cake decorating has always been a popular hobby among those gourmands who cannot resist a silken or shimmering dessert, but it did go through a rather prolonged period where interest in cake decoration waned. But now, after a long sleep, cake decoration has returned with a vengeance. Many people, both women and men, have expressed a desire in cooking and baking, and no where is this more evident than in cake design and decoration.

Cake Decorating - The Ultimate in Edible Art

Why has cake decorating become such a popular hobby as of late? The main argument appears to be that cake decorating has surged in popularity because, of all the edible arts, it is the one that is closest to what we think of traditional art. After all, professional cake decorators have to know a lot about design, decorative work, elaborate script work, color and even sculpture. Cake decorating, one can argue, involves all of the senses: touch, sense, smell and sight. Some would argue that there is no lovelier food than a beautifully decorated cake.

The Challenge of the Well-Decorated Cake

Another major aspect of the appeal of cake decorating appears to be that it is not easy. That is, many people are drawn to cake decoration because they understand that it will be a challenge to them. Much as a person might be inclined to sign up to run a marathon in order to challenge themselves, another person might be inclined to sign up for a cake decorating class in order to challenge themselves in the kitchen. In this sense, the well-decorated cake is much like the holy grail of the kitchen—it is something for all passionate chefs and pastry artists to strive for.

Eating Your Mistakes Away

If cake decorating is something that you have always wanted to try, but have never dared to try, now is the time. There are many cake decorating classes being offered at local community colleges throughout the country, and there are many thriving culinary academies that allow you to study for a certificate or diploma in the pastry arts, and more specifically, cake decorating. If you are interested in cake decorating, remember that the magical cake does not appear all on its own—someone must take the time to put it together, sugar crystal by sugar crystal. Why can’t this person be you?

To learn how you can get more cake customers, try 11 of the top cake business courses for one low price by clicking here.

Why do you think we have a cake craze?

Post your thoughts in the comments.

The Intimidation Factor – Why So Many Find Cake Decorating Intimidating

Why do so many people find cake decorating intimidating? Take one look at a confectionary masterpiece and it becomes clear why cake decorating can seem like one of those impossibly difficult skills. And it is true: cake decorating is no, as they say, piece of cake. But if you find yourself drawn to this impossibly beautiful sugar art, then there is no reason why you should not give it a go. In fact, remember that cake decoration is a step-by-step endeavor. As long as you take it slow and have some fun, there is no reason why you cannot put together a beautiful and stunning dessert.

The Truth – All Confectionary Efforts Do Not Go Unnoticed

Even if you think that your every attempt at cake decorating is a disaster, there is a good chance that this is quite an exaggeration. In fact, the truth is that no one will probably notice the flaws in your confectionary design expect for you. No one will notice that the cake is slightly uneven, that the borders are wobbly, or that the writing is not perfection. These are things that are almost always only detected by their creator. So next time you put together a culinary treat for friends and families, watch their faces as they delight in your creation. The only one noticing the flaw in the design will be you.

Just Remember: Cake Decorators Get to Eat Their Mistakes

What is one of the greatest things about being a novice cake decorator? Is it the joy of learning the essentials of cake design? Is it smearing on that first spoonful of icing on your first cake? No, the best part is eating your way through your mistakes. Of course, hopefully you will not encounter too many mistakes on your way to creating a beautiful dessert, but it certainly bears keeping that attitude at the forefront of your mind as you work. Always remember that you can eat your mistakes. A disaster in the kitchen is really not much of a disaster.

Getting the Proper Tools to Become a Cake Decorating Master

In order to have the best cake decorating experience, and the most fun in the kitchen, you will want to get together all the proper tools for cake decoration. The best tools to get together for cake decoration will include flat and offset spatulas, which you will be using for icing your cake. You will want a cake leveler. If you are new to cake decorating, you may not be that familiar with a cake leveler. A cake leveler is a metal frame with a thin piece of wire that is stretched between two opposite posts. The cake leveler is used to lice neatly the layers of the cake. A cake leveler is also used to slice off the dome of the rounded top of the cake. Other important cake decorating tools that you will want to keep in your arsenal include metal decorating tips, pastry bags, novelty tips and a plastic turntable to keep you cake turning for easier decorating.

Please post your thoughts below.

Getting Ideas for Wedding Cake Decoration

One of the best parts of decorating a wedding cake is the gathering of ideas. There are so many different ways to go with wedding cake decoration. There are many fine books and magazines that you can consult in order to get ideas about cake decoration. Although it can be a lot of fun to look for wedding cake decoration ideas, you will find that it can sometimes be a little daunting, especially if you are on a time deadline of some kind. The best thing is to take your time with finding the perfect wedding cake decoration. That way, you can choose a design that is well suited to your tastes and that you know you can handle.

Experiment With Different Wedding Cake Design Options

Sometimes you are not sure that something will work until you try it. This is especially the cake with wedding cake decoration. What may look pretty in a professional photograph, and what may seem like a good idea in your head, may turn out completely different when you actually try it. Give yourself the time and space to make sure that you can explore and experiment with different wedding cake design options.

Stock Up On Your Wedding Cake Decorating Supplies

Decorating a wedding cake is no simple task. Before you get started with decorating the wedding cake you will be working on, make certain that you have all the decorating supplies that you need on hand. One of the biggest things that can go wrong when you are working on decorating a wedding cake is that you run out of supplies midway through, or you realize that you are missing a key tool. Although it can sound easy enough to have all of your wedding cake decorations on hand, you will find that there are a lot of smaller wedding cake decorating supplies that are very easy to misplace. So make sure that you have every single cap and pastry bag and paper cone and icing and filling and confectionary that you need to complete your proposed wedding cake design seamlessly. Always double check your wedding cake design notes and ideas to make sure that you will be able to pull off the design.

Do You Have the Right Kind of Wedding Cake Accessories?

Another important consideration that can be easy to overlook is to make sure that you have all the right kind of wedding cake accessories. You will probably want a special wedding cake table or stand. You will want to make sure that you have the right kind of table so that the wedding cake can act as a centerpiece. You will also probably need a special platter or foundation to work on the cake decoration that you can easily move onto a table. You will want to make sure that you are working on a solid, smooth surface that you can also move easily so that you can transfer the wedding cake to its table or stand without problem.

Practice is Key to Wedding Cake Decoration

The only way to make sure that you can create a stunning wedding cake decoration is to practice. There is simply no substitution for acquiring the steady hand that only comes from many hours of practice. You may want to practice with smaller cakes. And you can even practice on plastic cakes. You can order a cake decorating practice kit that lets you practice on plastic.

If you have any wedding cake decorating tips, please post them below.

Why Fondant May Seem Like a Challenge

Fondant is not only difficult to work with; it can also be a little costly. If you decide to purchase pre-made fondant, you will find that the costs of this beautiful icing can add up. There are a handful of cake decoration companies that specialize in making and selling pre-made fondant. As of late, you can purchase fondant for roughly $6 per pound. Although initially this may not seem like much, it can add up, especially if you are baking a medium-sized or large cake. A pound of fondant will only realistically cover a two-layer 8-inch cake. So if you are planning on making a 3-layer cake, you will need to order more fondant. However, the worst thing about this pre-made fondant icing is not the cost, but the taste. In order to get the most out of fondant, you will want to make it fresh. The pre-made, pre-rolled fondant simply does not compare in taste and texture to the fresh stuff. In fact, most pre-made or pre-rolled fondant is simply peeled off of the cake since the texture is not always that appetizing.

Rule # 1 – Have Fun with the Fondant

If there is one thing that you should know when you are working with fondant, and when you are working on cake decoration in general, is that you should really try to relax and have fun. It can often be difficult to relax and have fun while baking and cake decorating, since sometimes these activities are linked to high-pressure events such as big birthday parties, anniversary parties and weddings. But remember that stressing out or striving for constant perfection will not necessarily result in the perfect cake. In fact, not being able to relax and enjoy the experience of baking a cake and cake decoration in general will usually only tend to impair your ability to produce a beautiful end result.

Remember that Perfection is Not Your Ultimate Goal

It may help slightly to relieve the stress of baking and decorating a cake to realize that there is no such thing as the perfect cake. True, when you look at the cakes on display at the bakery or at the glossy portfolios of bakers and wedding cake designers, it may seem like there is such a thing as a perfect end result. But as any professional cake designer and pastry chef can tell you, there really is no such thing as a perfect cake. All great bakers and chefs understand this, and that is why they correct their errors as they go.

Basic Tips and Hints for Dealing with Fondant

Here are some tips for working with fondant. Although fondant can be notoriously difficult to work with, and all fondant dough and recipes will vary slight, these tips are presented in order to give you an overall sense of what you should expect from working with fondant. You will want to make sure that your hands and fingers are pliable and greased when you work with many fondant dough. You will need to knead the dough as you would regular bread dough, even though this may not seem natural at first.

If you have any fondant tips, pleas leave them in the comments.

Crumb Control – How to Keep Crumbs From Ruining Your Cake Decoration

Let us say that you have all of your special decorating tools out and you are getting ready to put the decorative touches on your cake. Everything is going fine until it comes time to decorate and you realize that you have a lot of crumbs on your hand. What happens when those pesky crumbs begin to get mixed up with your icing? This can literally ruin the way that your cake looks. Fortunately, there are few tips and techniques that you can use in order to solve the crumb control problem.

Use the Crumb Coat to Keep Things Under Control

One easy way to keep crumbs under control is to begin your cake decoration by applying a single crumb coat. What is a crumb coat? A crumb coat is an easy way to combat the problem of crumbs. The crumb coat is exactly what it sounds like—a thinner layer of icing that you apply to the cake. You can thin down your regular icing in order to create a specific crumb coat. You can use many liquids that are already at your disposal in order to create a crumb coat. For instance, you can use water or milk to thin down the cake icing. You have to thin down your icing just enough so that it remains stiff enough to be applied, but you don’t want it to be too thick.

Let the Crumb Coat Set Before Proceeding

It is very important that you let the crumb coat set before you move on to further wedding cake decoration. An easy way to set the crumb coat is to put the cake in the refrigerator and let it set there. You can let it set for at least an hour, but it is best to let it set overnight. The longer you let the crumb coat set, the best chance you have that the crumbs will essentially become glued to the cake. Once the crumb coat has been fully set, you are ready to proceed with the rest of the cake decoration.

How to Deal With Ugly Cake Bulges

Yes, cakes can take on their own set of ugly bulges. It is often the case that novice cake decorators fill the cake layers, but then find that the filling is bulging at the side of the cake. Fortunately, there are many different ways to take care of this minor decorating problem. One easy way to take care of cake bulges is to avoid them altogether. You can avoid cake bulges by baking the cake well in advance of decorating it. This will give the cake time to settle. Cakes that have been freshly baked are considerably unstable and simply won’t hold in their filling as well as previously baked cakes.

Use the Dam Technique to Avoid Cake Bulges

Another easy way to take care of the cake bulge problem is to create a dam using your icing. It is a common problem for layered cakes to bulge from an overflowing of filling. Use piped icing to create a kind of dam. This will keep your filling from bulging.

If you have discovered away to prevent or solve a cake decorating mistake, please add them to the comments.

Spatulas- when it comes to cake decorating, you will not want to be in short supply spatulas. At the very least, you will want to make sure that you have both a flat and an offset spatula.

Cake Leveler – A cake leveler is a funny-looking device that is fun to use once you realize what it is for. A cake leveler is used to lop off any uneven parts of your cake. You can use the cake leveler to cut off the dome of a rounded cake, for instance. A cake leveler, so you can spot it at the kitchen supply store, is an instrument with a metal frame with an attached thin wire stretched between two opposite posts.

Metal Decorating Tips – Here is where the fun starts. There are so many metal decorating tips, there are probably too many to count. Make it easy on yourself and buy one of those beginner metal decorating tips that come with all the basic tips, including round tips numbers 3 and 12, rose 104 tip, the leaf 352 tip, and the two basic star tips (16 and 21).

Various decorating bags – These are the cornerstone tools of any good cake decorator. You can choose from the featherweight reusable plastic decorating bags. You can choose from paper triangle bags that are made from parchment paper. You can create your own paper cone bags, or you can choose a plastic piping bag. Keep a few in your collection that you can experiment with.

Flower Nails – One of the pleasures of cake decorating tools is that you get to use fun and original tools with names like flower “nails.” These are special picks that can be used to carve out flowers, especially roses, out of icing.

A Plastic Turntable – What is a cake decorator to do without a plastic turntable? A plastic turntable makes it easier to decorate a round cake. You can turn your cake easily while you work.

Cake insulators – This refers to insulated strips of cloth that are used to wrap around the cake pan. They are used to bake the cake and to prevent the browning of the cake’s sides.

Different paste colors – Paste colors are used to change the color of your icing. It can be a lot of fun to work with paste colors. These usually come in pots of thick dye. These are preferable over any kind of food dye because they won’t dilute the consistency of the icing that you are working with.

Glassine or paper dollies. These can be used successfully for being placed on top of the cake round. They give off a pretty and polished look to the finished product.

Paintbrushes – Kitchen and cake decorating paintbrushes can be very helpful and a lot of fun to work with. You can use cake decorating paintbrushes that are used for bag striping methods.

Toothpicks – Always keep toothpicks on hand to fix mistakes and test consistencies.

Are there any tools that you use that aren’t highlighted on this list? If so, please add them to the comments.

Do you have a cake that you would love to liven up, but you aren’t sure how? Would you like to learn more about cake decorating, but you find it intimidating? Cake decorating can indeed seem intimidating. With its elaborate borders and turrets, fancy script and ornate scrollwork, cake decoration can seem like a difficult art to the novice. But it need not be that way at all. The simple truth is that there are many simple ways to liven up any cake. And in many cases, less can definitely be more.

Using Stencils to Make Your Cake a Unique Creation

What is one of the easiest ways to liven up any cake in a flash? Stencils are fun to use cake decoration accessories that can transform a dreary cake into something truly memorable in just a few minutes time. Stencils come in a variety of shapes and sizes and themes and can be used on just about any kind of cake. Where can you find stencils? Stencils can be purchased at any place that is well stocked in kitchen or baking supplies, including supermarkets, craft stores and kitchen supply stores. What should you look for in a stencil? There are many types of stencils out there. Look for stencils that appear sturdy, and which say that they will not absorb grease.

Tips for Using Stencils Effectively

Although there is no right or wrong way to use stencils, there are many tricks and tips for achieving the right kind of effect on your cake. First, always make sure that you let the frosting and icing dry to the touch before you apply any kind of stencil. Once the frosting and icing has been allowed to settle, spray the top of the stencils’ surface with cooking spray. That way, you won’t get sprinkled sugars sticking to the stencil. Also, the stencil will not stick to the cake or fall back onto it when the stencil is lifted. Place your stencil gently onto the center of your cake (or wherever you want the design to go), and then sprinkle colored sugar very evenly over the openings. You can also use powdered cocoa or powdered sugar, or any other concoction that you can come up with. Or you can simply use icing to fill in the stencil openings. Finally, gently lift the stencil, making sure not to smear any borders or frosting.

Add Festive Borders to Your Cake

Another easy way to liven up your cake is to add some festive borders. This is a very basic way to effectively bring life to an otherwise drab cake. There are three very basic borders that can help you liven up your cake.

Making a Star Border for Your Cake

First, you can use the popular number 21 star tip. Use a zigzag motion along the edge of your cake to create a great-looking star border.

Making a Pretty Shell Border

You can also use the star tip in order to make a classic shell border. To make the shell border, touch the star tip to the cake surface and squeeze gently. Then lift the tip a little and let the short loop of the icing roll down. Then you want to bring the tip down at an angle in order to form the “tail” of the shell. Repeat this pattern until you have a row of connected shells.

Making a Ruffle Border

Another very pretty and lively border is known as the ruffle border. There are two different border tips that can do this job effectively—the number 70 leaf tip, and the number 104 rose tip.

If you have any tips to share, leave them in the comments.