Cake Decorating Classes

Cake Decorating Books Instruct and Inspire!

Cake decorating books are excellent resources for home bakers and those aspiring to market their skills. Consider the following benefits:

• Step-by-step guidance
• Special tips from experienced designers
• Inspiring colored photographs
• Recipes
• Ideas and inspiration for new projects.

When you are taking cake decorating classes or after you have completed a course, a cake decorating book answers questions, and reminds you of what you have learned. Books are relaxing to skim through as you dream about your next project. Here are seven great books that can launch your cake decorating library.

Hello, Cupcake! Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make, by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson

Featured on the Martha Stewart Show, this cake decorating book has vivid color photos and easy-to-follow instructions on how to make, ice, and decorate cupcakes for all kinds of occasions—from weddings to barbecues, April Fool’s Day, Halloween, baby showers, Easter and Christmas. The design motifs are fun!—giraffes, clowns, sunflowers, puppies, alligators, garden vegetables, corn on the cob (April fool’s) and much much more. Techniques are simple, based on frosting with a zipper lock bag and using candies, chocolate and other food items. There are cake mix recipes and homemade recipes. This book is suitable for beginners and advanced decorators who want to immerse themselves in new creative designs, colors, and flavors. Learn more…

Cakes to Inspire and Desire, by Lindy Smith

Lindy Smith, is an experienced cake designer and instructor. Cakes to Inspire and Desire presents 15 celebration cakes with full illustrations. Whether you are into traditional decorations, such as flowers and embroidery, or want to experiment with modern stripes and beadwork, there will be a cake for you in this book. The instructions are organized by shape categories—round, square and “creative”. Special skills presented include carving and covering “wonky cakes”, stacking, and working with cake jewelry. Learn more…

Start a Cake Business Today, by Paula Spencer

The lush two-tier chocolate cake with pink ribbons and silky pink roses on top may attract you to this book. However don’t let the cover deceive you; this is a no-nonsense detailed guide for starting a business. You are taken through start-up considerations, skill development, marketing, setting up your office, legal and tax considerations, food safety, selecting recipes, developing a portfolio, pricing, and more. There is even a chapter with classic cake, icing, and glaze recipes and tips. Users of this book have been quite impressed by the quantity of useful references and web addresses, as well as the thorough coverage of topics. Learn more…

Wedding Cakes You Can Make: Designing, Baking, and Decorating the Perfect Wedding Cake, by Dede Wilson

In this book, Dede Wilson, television cooking show host and wedding cake expert, guides you in the planning and creation of your own wedding cake on a reasonable budget. Her book is written so that anyone with basic baking experience will be able to successfully make a delicious and unique wedding cake. There are 16 different, unique and delicious cakes to choose from—such as Lemon Blackberry Cake and Chocolate-Covered Caramel Cake. All you need, she says, is a love of baking and a willingness to plan. She discusses timelines; suggests that you make a trial 6-inch sample; gives detailed directions and tips backed up by color photos; and guides you through transportation and display logistics. Learn more…

The Whimsical Bakehouse: Fun-to-Make Cakes That Taste as Good as They Look! by Kaye Hansen and Liv Hansen

Kaye and Liv Hansen are a mother-daughter team running the Riviera Bakehouse in New York State. Their book generously shares step-by-step illustrated instructions for decorating basics, simple cakes and tiered designs. Their special skill in chocolate accents is reflected in segments on one-color, multi-color, advanced, and relief chocolate methods.
The recipes for cakes, fillings, and icings reflect their belief that a cake needs to “taste as good as it looks”. Rather than fondant, they use ganache, glaze, butter cream, flavored whip creams, and tinted chocolate. Learn more…

Cakes to Dream On: A Master Class in Decorating, by Colette Peters

Colette Peters, a celebrated cake designer, pastry artist and teacher, provides an advanced volume for professionals and serious enthusiasts, who are familiar with specialized tools and have experience working with fondant and gum paste. Her creations are intricate, using royal icing, fondant, marzipan, multi-layers, and tiers. Anyone wondering how to create a lopsided multi-tier look will be pleased to find detailed instructions in the first part of this book. Colette Peters shares new designs for different occasions; recipes; and descriptions of numerous techniques such as sugar work, gum paste, brush embroidery, and piping. The 150 color photographs and special insider tips further empower readers to transform their dreams into reality. Learn more…

Wilton Cake Decorating for Beginners Guide, by Wilton

If you have never baked and decorated a cake before, this fully illustrated guide will show you how. It provides instructions on the following skills:

• How to equip your kitchen,
• Baking,
• Leveling,
• Stacking,
• Making and spreading a variety of icings, such as fondant, royal icing, marzipan, and butter cream,
• Cake board preparation,
• Decorating with different shapes of tips (for example, round, leaf, petal and star),
• Sugar craft techniques such as making flowers, fabric effects, piping, and modeling animals.

The skills are incorporated into projects such as a clown cake, castle cake, baseball cake, birthday cake with lettering, and cupcakes. Learn more…

Wilton also have a series of cake decorating courses.

Image source: Flickr