Cake decorating

Hello.

  I have always been fascinated by decorated cakes.  It always seemed like something I could never do but I think I'm ready to give it a try.  I do love baking, specially cakes and pastry things in general so at least I have that going.  Does anyone know of any good how to websites or even books?  Next month we are having a birthday gathering with the inlaws because my husband, his brother, his father and myself have our birthdays whithin less than a month so we just do one party.  I said I'd bring the cake, no biggie, I can do that, however, I have to bring a nicely decorated cake even if it's simple.  I need something to keep me entertained at home and what better than this??  TIA

June

When you say decorated, do you mean elaborate with piped frosting and such, or are you just meaning pretty?  A victoria sponge or a carrot layer cake can be very attractive, not to mention yummy.  Also, decorating with fresh flowers and fruit is a simple way to get a good effect. 

I mean piped frosting (which I can do a bit of), sugar paste, etc.

June

There are loads of web sites. Most suppliers have gone online as cook shops don't find it that profitable to stock the huge selection of tools, pastes, etc the really good decorators want. There are a few shops in the UK that are dedicated to cake decorating but I think most of them have online presence now, too. Your local cook shop should have some basics though. I'm pretty sure there's also at least one magazine available at WHSmiths.

Many local colleges have classes in the adult and continuing ed programs. The library is a good place to try some books without buying.

One thing you will discover, which you may already know, is that many decorated cakes in the UK, in particular the wedding cake, will be done with fruitcake. If fruitcake isn't your thing, you might want to look at the US sites for cake recipes because you do need a certain degree of firmness for these cakes.

FWIW, as I know you are heading back to the US, I'm pretty sure it's easier to  do this as a home business in the UK than in the US. This may vary from state to state. I have a friend in Maryland who takes classes but can't do this as a bonafide home business because MD food/hygeine laws are too strict.

Thanks!  Fruitcakes are not my thing at all!  I cannot stand them!  I have looked into classes here in London but I can't find anything.  I have a couple of books that seemed to be pretty good but I need all the help I can get.  I don't intend to make this a business of any sort, I just want to learn because I find it fascinating, that's all.  Thanks for the info though.  I guess I'm just going through one of my many phases    You know, jack of all trades but master of none 

June

Check out http://www.squires-group.co.uk/home/

They are in Farnham which is about 45 minutes from Waterloo.  The courses are excellent and they also have a shop which sells everything you could ever need for cake decorating.

If fruitcake is not your thing them madeira cake is tasty and very sturdy!

Yes, the Farnham shop is ringing a bell. It's supposed to be really good. I used to work for a cookery shop and we'd refer people to them or something that sounded like them!

Anyway, June, I'm sure there are classes in London. I suspect it's the kind of thing you'd see advertised at community centres and that sort of place though (at least the cheaper ones are).

Many local colleges have classes in the adult and continuing ed programs. The library is a good place to try some books without buying.

I'm doing a sugarcraft class through our local college right now! You'll probably be OK with a book, but after learning how to do it properly I think the hands-on method of instruction is really the best way. It's pretty complicated and requires a lot of tools o' the trade to make perfect flowers and all that. But you could certainly do some nice piping if you have a good set of nozzle thingies in different shapes and sizes.

I was talking to my husband a couple weeks ago about this and I told him that once in the US, I was going to take the cake decorating classes that Wilton offers through Michaels.  I've heard they are good.  I think I am going to try and teach myself a bit before then though.

June

I'm so glad you posted this Junehawk! I'm interested in cake decorating too, but until my son's fourth birthday this last May, I'd never done any. I attempted to make him a car shaped cake.......let me emphasize the word 'attempt'.  I have some books, and one of them is a children's cake decorating book, that's where I got the idea from. It was a lot of fun, hopefully my next one will turn out better.

There are loads of sugarcraft classes you can take in London! You're lucky to have so many to choose from!

Sugar Art Academy
Squires Kitchen's International School of Cake Decorating and Sugarcraft
South Thames College
Pipedreams
Kensington and Chelsea College

... and hundreds more! Just do a quick Google and you'll find somewhere near you, I'm sure! 

Have you tried the little shop Books for Cooks it is in the Portobello Road area.   They are fantastic for cookbooks and you would be sure to find a recipe for a suitable cake there. Don't know if they have any cake decorating books but you can ask and they would also be able to tell you where to go to get cake decorating equipment. There is also  a tiny restaurant in the rear of the shop where they choose a couple of recipes from their book, like a soup and a quiche and then 3 or 4 cakes, all are really good and very very cheap.  A great place to have a quick lunch but you must get there early as they are very busy.
When my boys were small I also was interested in cake decorating and taught myself using the Wilton (?) cake decorating magazines.

Desert Dreamer or anyone else that may be interested I have a few of the Wilton cake molds great for childrens (boys) birthday cakes that I would be willing to get rid of.  I can't remember exactly what I have but I know I have a teddy bear, I also have a couple of small individual teddy bear molds, a superman/batman, cowboy boot, dinosaur and probably a couple of others as well.  I think I also have the hints and tips for decorating them.  They are really great and make a big impression at birthday parties.  For the cake I always just used a Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines mix, naughty I know but so much easier and everybody, including the moms would just rave about how good the cake was.  I never told them, they thought they were home made.

Kathryn

So,I jumped in the deep end and make my first cake this past weekend.  This is the result of a lot of reading books and forums. It is a madeira cake with vanilla filling covered in fondant/sugarpaste There are many things I'd do differently next time and it is far from perfect but for a first time, it's not bad if I may say so myself!



June

I think your cake looks great well done!    

June, that's adorable! Way to go! I'm not a big fan of fussy piping work or frosting roses, but I really like the clean, modern look of your cake.