Questions about the Wilton cake decorating courses?

[Imzadi]

This is a spinoff of the Buttercream/fondant Wedding Cake thread. I didn't want to hijack the OP's thread.

I noticed many experienced cake decorators in that thread mentioned how awful the Wilton frostings/fondants are. Not sure if I've had any, so I don't know.

As I mentioned, I actually want to learn cake decorating. With my catering connections, I've found a few places that are looking for part-time cake decorators - but ones that are trained already.

I am planning on signing up for the Wilton cake decorating classes. Is this a good place to learn? I figure I'll eventually be using the frostings that the caterers use, (and picking up some good recipes & techniques along the way,) so that part isn't the problem.

There are some cake decorating classes at the professional cooking institutes here, like the French Culinary Institute. I'm sure I'll learn everything there is to know about cake decorating since they are at professional levels. But they are like $300 - $500 for a 12 week course.

The Wilton course is only $20/4 weeks (plus cost of the Wilton Kits.)

I notice Collette Peters, THE premiere cake decorator, is based here in NYC, but does NOT teach her own courses out of her facility, but does teach around the country at Advanced Wilton seminars. So she's endorsed them with her name & reputation.

If I get good enough at decorating, I may even want to get Wilton certified to teach, so I would have to take their courses anyway.

Will I really learn enough through the basic Wilton courses? I'm not really interested in learning fancy "art cakes" that Collette or even Duff makes on Ace of Cakes. I'm into more traditional kind of cakes with swirly buttercream pipings & beautiful flowers, basketweave designs, etc. and more simple fondant designs.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I first looked at it as Walton cake.
I'm thinking I didn't know there The Waltons had cakes.

 

[Becky2005]

I took the Wilton Home Course eons ago. Basically everything I see done at least here, I know HOW to do. Doesn't mean I'm any good at it but I know how to do it. That's mostly from lack of practice though. If I practiced more I would be better.

Except the new foundant stuff but I think that's just rolling it out & covering cakes. Frankly I think that's cheating. So much easier than when I learned, where you had to frost the cake smooth (I think you might still need to do that for underneath). I know on the Disney Wedding special they said you don't really eat that frosting? They peel it off before cutting or something -- to me that would be no fun. I want the frosting.

I even learned how to do roses but I really can't do those well, so I don't even try. I usually make my kids own birthday cakes and although not professional, they are done enough to know what they are.

I would imagine the techniques are pretty much the same no matter where you learn them. You could learn the basics with Wilton and then if you felt you needed more, you could take advanced classes elsewhere? I have never taken any other classes (I did take the candy making course too).

I just re-read this & yes you do learn the basketweave technique, stars, swirls, leaves, drop flowers, roses, etc...

When I ordered my wedding cake from a bakery no less, I *know* they used Wilton because I remember being handed the book for my topper! Plus my topper came in the Wilton box.

 

[Ava31]

I took Course 1 of the Wilton classes and I learned how to use a few different tips and make the awful frosting and how to make roses (although mine were never quite right). It was informative, but I never went on to the next courses because it wasn't something that I would want to do for a living. The second course is when you learn the basketweave and different flowers and fondant. If you're a true beginner (as I was), I'd definitely recommend the class.

 

[Octoberbeauty]

I've taken all 3 levels of Wilton courses and Loved them!! I'm thinking about taking some of them again to refresh because I haven't done any since the accident and I'm way out of practice and could use something fun for me to do anyway. (That was a looong sentence. lol) My instructor had trained with Colette and was very good. So, I learned a lot and their courses are set up to teach you a lot in a short period of time. If you are a fast learner then you should be okay.

I had a great experience with these classes, so I say "Go for it!"

Oh, my instructor also gave us an alternate frosting recipe to the one in the books.

 

[jonestavern]

Former baker/decorator/caterer here.
Contact ICES:
http://www.ices.org/

or check to see if there is a very big decorating competition in your area where you can view cakes.
Most of the decorators will have porfolios & you will glean respected names, these people may give lessons. You can learn more in 1 hr from a real pro than 3 lessons of the Wilton courses~
Get loads of references. As in any field, often great decortors are not great teachers~
Semi-private lessons are not cheap~
Expect to practice at least one hour daily. Practice does make perfect~

I have been to culinary school & had Wilton & been taught in small private courses by one of the most artistic & practical cake decorators ever
There are 'boutique' classes. International & nationally respected decorators do travel about giving classes. These are very expensive, but, IMHO, worth it.
Wilton colors, tips, bags are okay products, but folks who do decorate everyday, overwhelmingly, tend to use other products. I do get the annual Wilton books. They products are fine enough to start with, easier to come by, just not my 1st choice. Martha Stewart has her name plastered all over KMart, but I really don't think she believes it is the end all be all of the domestic shopping experience!

good luck, it's a wonderful career!

Jean

 

[Tinkerbell_Girl]

I have taken course 1 & 2 and am in the middle of the fondant course. I learned alot from course 1 & 2. I think it's worth it if you might want to end up teaching the courses.

 

[druidia]

Fondant is really hard to work with for an amateur (me). I wouldn't call it easy or cheating. We had a Disney cake that was covered in buttercream underneath and fondant on top. They never serve it with fondant because it is pretty much tasteless, but I think it makes for a beautiful cake.

For our at-home reception, my husband and I made our own cake and dyed and covered the cake with fondant. It was hard to get it smooth enough! The Disney chefs make it look so simple.

We bought the Wilton cake decorating book and the Wilton fondant and fondant dyes. It was fun to attempt.

 

[scarlett873]

I started with the Wilton courses myself! I learned enough of the basics to get by...I am now a culinary arts student specializing in baking and pastry arts!

The Wilton fondant is the yucky kind...it just doesn't taste good. If I am decorating a cake and I need fondant for a decoration that will not be eaten, then I will use Wilton. If the cake is covered in fondant and meant to be eaten, then I will use Choco-Pan (YUM!!) instead of the Wilton stuff. There are other fondant products out there besides those two that don't taste bad.

Enjoy the Wilton classes...just beware...you get hooked!!

 

[tgmousechick]

I took the Wilton levels 1-3 about 10 years ago, and took them again last year for grins and giggles. I'm taking their new Gum Paste and Fondant class at Michael's during February. I think it's a decent value, and you should be able to pick up a part-time decorating gig with that training under your belt.

I don't do anything formal with my skills- just do cakes for friends for spare scrapbooking cash!

I wouldn't worry so much about the frosting recipes- they are fine for practice, and there are tons of resources for tasier alternatives. Again, the Wilton Fondant is fine for class purposes, it's quick and easy to learn the techniques, and alternatives are available through various sources.

My vet's office got my class cake from last night (they stayed open in the snow storm to check my cat's blood pressure- long story) as a thank you for going above and beyond. I just told them to pull off the fondant and enjoy the buttercream, and the chocolate cake underneath...

 

[cryssi]

I've been wanting to take the wilton classes, just to learn the basics. Anything I know has been self-taught. My mom took the wilton classes years ago, but she's quite the accomplished home decorator. She recently taught me how to make a rose... I still can't make a rosebud for the life of me, though.

I've learned a lot from this other site cakecentral, and I watch WAAAY too much Food Network! I think that I can do all these crazy things...lol

I really should just stick to decorating cookies. I KNOW I can do that!

I just cake so much...mmmmmmmmm

p.s. for a first-timer, it's good to buy the wilton fondant b/c it's easily accessible and you will be able to gauge consistency. don't eat it, though, blech. I make marshmallow fondant (said in other thread), much, much, much better. I still want to try choco-pan, though!