An introduction to cake decorating
Cake decorating can be a fun and rewarding hobby. When you’re new to cake decorating, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of great results. In this guide, we’ll share some tips and tricks to get you off to a great start with this fabulous hobby.
Practice makes perfect
Learning any new skill takes time and patience, especially when it comes to a physical skill. It takes time for your hands and brain to work together. As you practice, you’ll notice your hand becoming more stable, faster, and you’ll gain a new level of confidence.
Start by practicing icing and spend time making various flowers and decorations. Your best bet is to practice daily for a while and perfect one flower before moving on to the next. After a few weeks of practice, combine what you know and decorate your first cake.
Great Plan = Amazing Cake
The best way to end up with a fabulously decorated cake is to do a little planning. Before you bake the cake or mix the frosting, take some time to plan out your design on paper. If you like to see things actual size, use butcher paper cut to size to plan your layout. Start with whatever letter you plan to do to give yourself enough room; many beginners start with the decorations and then have to add words in small letters to make them fit.
Another advantage of planning on paper first is that you will have a template to follow. Also, if you’re going to try new techniques or cake decorations, you’ll have a list of all the different flowers and decorations you’ll need to make and you can practice the more challenging ones beforehand.
mistakes are the best teacher
It is a fact that you will make mistakes when you start decorating cakes. The important thing is to use every mistake as a learning opportunity. If you ever get to the point where you feel like a cake is hopeless, take a break and come back to it with fresh eyes. The icing can always be removed. Resolve to never throw out a cake because you feel like the decorations didn’t turn out right. Identify major problem areas and rework them. However, be careful not to set your expectations too high. As someone new to cake decorating, don’t anticipate being able to produce a three-tier wedding cake with intricate fondant and gum paste decorations on your first try!
Decorating cakes can give you a great sense of accomplishment. Remember to practice often, have a plan and learn from your mistakes and you’ll be producing beautifully decorated cakes in no time.