Anyone in here decorate cakes?

[stargrazer]

So there, in pictures, is the last 5 days of my life.

 

[MrsPete]

Ok, so let's say I want to make my DH a chocolate cake with the marshmallow fondant that mosmom posted. What cake shape would be the easiest to start with for fondant? Is rectangular easier (like 13x9 pan)? Or a a double-layer round cake? Would I be totally crazy to make a fondant for my first try or should I try some store-bought?

Round with beveled edges is BY FAR the easiest shape.

Fondant is very easy to make on your own (though I've never used the merenge powder or the marshmallow stuff that people've mentioned here -- I'm going to try the marshmallow though); however, you MUST make it a day ahead of time. It needs that time to "sit"; if you try to use it too soon, it'll sort of tear into pieces instead of laying down in nice sheets. I always make four recipes at a time and store them in double ziplock bags; they last essentially forever that way. Homemade fondant is easier to work with, and it's less than half the cost of the store-bought stuff. The only negative to homemade stuff: in the refrigator it becomes "harder" and it requires more initial kneading time before you can start covering your cake.

 

[Beth76]

Those are great! I love the blue and green cakes? How did you get that color? It's just buttercream right? You got it so smooth.

 

[stargrazer]

Those are great! I love the blue and green cakes? How did you get that color? It's just buttercream right? You got it so smooth.

I didn't make those; those are the cakes that I ordered that inspired me to start a cake decorating class last week.

Aren't they great? Gel colors are best from what I hear but I'm new so I could be wrong...

 

[clownfish1452]

All these cakes look so good and so beautiful.

Sarah

 

[Goofyzgurl]

All of these cakes are so beautiful. I really need to take a class. I tried to decorate a couple of cakes, because I just "knew it was so easy..." yeah, it was a sad sad day when I finished.....how is it that the picture you have in your mind and what actually is in reality just isn't the same....

 

[scarlett873]

Yep...I would use the gel colors for coloring your icing. Don't use the liquid food coloring that you get in the stores...it tends to thin out your icing! They also make powder colors as well. I have one that I use that is for pink...just haven't gotten around to buying any other colors yet. And remember...a little at a time! Just add small amounts of coloring until you reach your desired color.

The bakery cakes look like maybe a bit of green and yellow were used to achieve the green color...and I have a color called sky blue that looks like it would work for the blue color!

I have pictures to share...I just don't have them here! I made my tropical themed cake on Saturday and while it didn't turn out quite as I had envisioned it (never does!), it still looks pretty cute! I'll post as soon as I get them off of my camera...

I'm actually seriously considering taking the new fondant and gum paste class from Wilton. I don't have much experience with flowers and I learn better when someone shows me how to do it. Maybe I'll do that next month before i go back to school in August...has anyone taken this class yet? Just trying to figure out if it's worth it or not.

 

[MosMom]

Brandie, I just noticed you will be going to China soon to bring your baby girl home! Congratulations!

 

[stargrazer]

Thanks for the nice comments!


I want to do the gum paste and fondant class, but here they make you take them in order so I signed up for class 2 last night (July) class 3 in August and so it'll be September before I get to do that one. Sigh.

All I can say to those thinking about it is...take the class, take the class, take the class. It's so much fun and you won't ever have to buy a cake again!

I'm going to do a chocolate one for Father's day (tomorrow) and I have another cake to do for Tuesdays' class (the official Wilton class cake with clowns) so I'll post them as I do them.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

My DH loves to play pool. I made pool ball cupcakes for his birthday a few years ago. I'd post pics, but I don't have any digital copies.

Cake decorating is fun and tasty.

 

[Tinkerbell_Girl]

I have taken the Fondant and gumpaste class. I think it was worth it considering I had never worked with fondant before. I made marshmallow fondant and it was pretty easy.

I love everyones cakes! They are all so cute!

 

[scarlett873]

Brandie, I just noticed you will be going to China soon to bring your baby girl home! Congratulations!

Thanks Bridget! It's gonna be awhile...with where we are in line, it's gonna be at least another 18 months before we are matched to a child...it's gonna suck, but it'll be worth the wait!

All I can say to those thinking about it is...take the class, take the class, take the class. It's so much fun and you won't ever have to buy a cake again!

I'll never buy a cake again...I haven't bought one since I took my first Wilton class in 2004! I'll probably take the class since my culinary courses don't really focus much on the fondant and gum paste flowers...

I'll try to post some pictures of cakes I did over the weekend tomorrow!!

 

[MosMom]

Oh I misread your ticker. I thought it says you only had 1 month and 4 weeks TO GO until she comes home. I'm dumb.

 

[MosMom]

Just finished my dad's Father's Day cake. He is drumming today in his bands reunion conert so I figured it was appropriate. I'm really happy with how it turned out. Had a few hangups but made it through without freaking out too much.

 

[laurie31]

Fantastic job! It looks great!

 

[stargrazer]

You are an amazing cake decorator. Makes my little Wilton cakes cry!




AWESOME!

 

[Feralpeg]

You guys inspired me to try my first fondant cake. I did the marshmallow fondant. Here is my creation. I think this is going to require a lot of practice!

 

[Trish Bessette]

Wow great job for your first time!!!!

 

[Beth76]

Mosmom, great cake. They just did a "Fist of Rock" cake on Ace of Cakes. Yours looks great!

Feralpeg, that's so pretty.

Well I was lazy and didn't get around to making a cake for Father's Day. I'm going to try it someday soon though.

 

[stargrazer]

OK, some catching up!

I made my bestest cake so far for Father's Day; also the only cake I did not take a photo of

Session 3, Class One Wilton

Miscellaneous Bday Cake for a friend

Session 4, Class One Wilton (Final cake for now, yay)

Next Up, Class Two (in July).

Hope someone else has some new cake pics too!