Anyone in here decorate cakes?

[AlaskaMOM]

One more pic for tonight, I've been thinking about DS a lot today

This was a "gag" gift for my DS his b-day list comprised a single thing: a Gamecube, but we had already gotten him a fly-in fishing trip, so the game was cake (he did eventually get the game, well all the kids, the next christmas) He thought it was so cool to eat the whole controller! My only problem with this cake is the darned red licorice string, I couldn't find black licorice string for anything!

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

If anyone's still looking for a cake class, at Michael's (for the Wilton's courses), they're offering the classes at half off. So what would normally be a $45 class is going to be $22.50. Plus I got a coupon for $5 off, so it'll just be $17.50 for me, plus the basics kit and icing (which I'll obviously get with the 40% off coupons )

 

[Angelhalo]

I teach Michael's Wilton courses here in the Charlotte area, so if anyone has any questions, I'd be happy to try to answer them!

 

[Angelhalo]

I have taken the first Wilton class and am really enjoying making some simple cakes (Ya'll are just ). I have a hard time icing my cakes really smooth (I use the wilton buttercream recipe). Any ideas?

Ice it as smooth as you possibly can with your spatula. Then leave it alone for at least 30 minutes. Let the buttercream develop a nice crusting. Then take a Viva papertowel (it MUST be this brand because it is the only brand with absolutely no pattern whatesoever), lay it over the area you wish to smooth and rub your hand or a fondant smoother over it. This will help smooth out any lines or bumps in your icing.

 

[DSNY4ever]

Oh my! All these new cakes are gorgeous!!!

I have a question that maybe someone can help with-

What kind of frostings and fillings do you use when you fondant cover a cake? Most of my frostings (whipped cream/buttercream/cream cheese/mousse fillings/fruit fillings etc.) need to be refrigerated and then I can't cover them with fondant because you aren't supposed to refrigerate fondant.

I refuse to use the buttercream recipes with crisco because they don't taste good to me. I have one chocolate fudge recipe that doesn't need refrigeration and so I only use that when I have to fondant cover.

Any tips? I went to a wedding recently and the cake was fondant covered with cream cheese frosting underneath and I didn't die of food poisoning so I know it can be done

 

[MosMom]

You can refrigerate a fondant cake, just give it time to dry because it will sweat (especially in the summer) when you pull it out. Don't touch it when you pull it out...just leave it alone and it will dry.

 

[Angelhalo]

Well, if you the cake is going to be sitting around for 1 day or less before it is eaten, a buttercream with real butter would be fine. I make a real buttercream for my cupcakes sometimes and they can sit out for a day and are just fine.

Really any frosting will be fine, the only change I make is if I know the frosting will be sitting out for a while (a day or more) I use water instead of milk in the mix.

Also, I have never had any issues with refridgerating my fondant once it is on the cake.

 

[DSNY4ever]

Thanks guys I will have to give it a try. I am always paranoid because it is so hot where we live. But I have so many great recipes I want to try and I am sick of chocolate...except that oreo picture looks really tasty right now!

 

[Imzadi]

This one was my DD sweet 16, the only directions I got was CHOCOLATE. It was triple chocolate cake with choc ganache filling solid choc plaques between layers and hand made choc truffles surrounding the layers.

Oooo! You had me at chocolate!

If anyone's still looking for a cake class, at Michael's (for the Wilton's courses), they're offering the classes at half off. So what would normally be a $45 class is going to be $22.50. Plus I got a coupon for $5 off, so it'll just be $17.50 for me, plus the basics kit and icing (which I'll obviously get with the 40% off coupons )

Thanks! I wasn't sure of the prices. that professional cake decorating place costs $85 for 3 sessions, not including supplies. So definitely Michael's is the way to go.

I teach Michael's Wilton courses here in the Charlotte area, so if anyone has any questions, I'd be happy to try to answer them!

Do I have to get the whole Wilton kit, or just a couple tips for the beginner course?

 

[Angelhalo]

Thanks guys I will have to give it a try. I am always paranoid because it is so hot where we live. But I have so many great recipes I want to try and I am sick of chocolate...except that oreo picture looks really tasty right now!

Haha! Thanks! They were a big hit. Oreo's in the batter and the icing!

 

[Angelhalo]

Oooo! You had me at chocolate!




Thanks! I wasn't sure of the prices. that professional cake decorating place costs $85 for 3 sessions, not including supplies. So definitely Michael's is the way to go.




Do I have to get the whole Wilton kit, or just a couple tips for the beginner course?

When you enroll they will give you a syllabus telling you what you will need for course one. I definitely recommende buying the kit and not just because I work for Wilton. You can certainly buy things separately but in the end, it's less hassle to just buy the kit and then you don't have to worry about your store possibly being out of items that you need that all come in the kit.

 

[laracroft]

HOw much is the kit?

 

[Angelhalo]

Here is the front of the course one kit:

And here is what comes in the course one kit:

Sorry for both the glare, and the dog hairs on the box (LOL)

 

[Angelhalo]

HOw much is the kit?

I want to say it is $25 but I'm not positive. I'm trying to find it on the Michael's site

 

[Angelhalo]

Here is a basic rundown of course 1:

Decorating Basics
The Wilton Method® Decorating Basics Course is the perfect place to start! Your instructor will show you the right way to decorate, step by step, so that you experience the excitement of successfully decorating your first cake in a Wilton Method Course. You’ll understand how to bake a great cake, see how to make and color icing and learn the best way to ice the cake. You will also practice the three fundamentals of decorating, enabling you to approach each technique the right way for great results. In addition, you’ll decorate cookies and cupcakes too!

Along the way, you’ll learn to create:

•Icing drop flowers
•Rosettes
•Shells
•Pompom flowers
•Leaves
•Shaggy mums
•Ribbon rose


I know that at my store August courses are 40% off

 

[Imzadi]

I want to say it is $25 but I'm not positive. I'm trying to find it on the Michael's site

Remember you can use the 40% off coupon for the kit. When this week's expires, Google "Michaels coupons" for the next one.

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

I'm in CA, the kit was $34.99 at JoAnn's, but used a 40% coupon so it came otu to $22.

 

[laracroft]

Angelhalo, thank you! I really appreciate the pics!

Thanks to everyone for the advice. The nearest Michaels is an hour away but I would still love to learn how to decorate. It seems like they show you a ton!

 

[Angelhalo]

Angelhalo, thank you! I really appreciate the pics!

Thanks to everyone for the advice. The nearest Michaels is an hour away but I would still love to learn how to decorate. It seems like they show you a ton!

They do the classes at Hobby Lobby and AC Moore as well if you have either of those closer to you.

Happy to help!

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

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