Cake Decorating Courses For Beginners

Do you view yourself as the baker of the family? Do you obsess and worry over the consistency of your icing, or what colors you use on your cakes? If so, do they always come out exactly as you planned?  Or do you find yourself constantly running into difficulties as you try to make your masterpieces?

If you're enthusiastic about cake decorating but feel that you just don't have the skills necessary to do it well, then you may be pleased to learn that there are cake decorating courses that can help you.   It's easier than you think!

Cake decorating for beginners can prove to be very intimidating at first.  There seems to be so much to know!  Fortunately, these courses can help you learn:

To make the perfect icing, every time
How to apply the icing well
How to use other decorating tools to add to your options
How to make complicated decorations, such as roses
The possibilities are endless!  You don't have to have any experience at all to register for a beginners guide to cake decorating!

Learning something new can be hard, but if you have a trained professional guiding your every step, then it can be a breeze.  It can be frustrating to simply follow a step-by-step guide from a magazine, as nothing ever goes exactly how it's supposed to.  However, in cake decorating courses, you can simply ask the instructor how to get the best results.

This isn't the only reason to enroll in one of these courses, however.  There will be plenty of chances to mingle with people who also enjoy this hobby.  Everything is more fun if you do it with a group, and taking cake decorating courses is a great way to get one started!  This may be a little more expensive than trying to do it yourself, but it basically pays for itself in rewards!

It's a great idea to pursue your passions and try to turn them into a little extra cash.  It may be easier than you think to start your own cake decorating business.  If this sounds like something you are interested in, then it's practically necessary to get the education you need to succeed.   You will get paid to do what you love!

If you have no such business ambitions and just want the skills to make the best cake you can, then these courses are for you too.  If you're tired of hiring other bakers to take care of special events, only to find that you overpaid, then take a cake decorating course and do it yourself!  You can be the talk of your family or social circle. Plus, doing something by yourself and learning a new skill in the process is very satisfying, and you will gain a rich sense of achievement if you are recognized for your new ability.

You may think that it's hard to find someone teaching the right course, but that just isn't the case.  Any establishment that focuses on teaching arts and crafts, or offers adult education, probably teaches a cake decorating course.  Also, culinary academies in your area offer courses for beginners.   No matter what your schedule or availability is, you can find a cake decorating course that you can work into your routine.  There are courses at any time of day, and you can choose to take only a few courses or really immerse yourself in your new art.

If you happen to be out of reach of one of these cake decorating courses, then don't fear!  All you need to do is access the internet and you can bring the course into your living room.  Courses are taught through video instruction, and you can post pictures of your work and get the criticism you need to improve.

What are you waiting for?  Make a better cake today by enrolling in cake decorating courses!

Gum Paste Cake Decorating Tips For Beginners

Making gum paste decorations is an art in itself.  The results are durable and can be saved as souvenirs long after the cake has been eaten.  Following are some cake decorating tips to help you along the way as you explore experiment with gum paste:

Purchase gum paste at a local arts and craft or cake decorating supply store - some enthusiasts make their own, but you may want to skip this step at first.
Familiarize yourself with the many colors available.  You can add color yourself with a gel or paste - or purchase colored gum paste.
When coloring be very careful to not use too much color gel or paste.  Knead in tiny amounts at a time.  Application with a toothpick helps you to control the amount you use.
Start with simple projects first and then progress to more complicated ones.  A lily is one of the simpler flowers.  Also try creating your own fantasy figures, such as a teddy bear or gnome.
You don't even have to make your own flowers - you can purchase them at a bakery or cake decorating supply center. Ready-made flowers are also useful as templates you can copy.
Give yourself lots of time if you are planning to make your own decorations - especially if you are inexperienced.  You can achieve wonderful, colorful results, but the work is very detailed and time consuming - involving cutting, molding, shaping, detailing, and assembling each creation.
Keep the gum paste covered at all times and wrap it tightly when you put it away - just like other malleable substances, it is not workable when it dries out.

What Tools Do You Need?

You can purchase a tool kit or only tools that will suit your current project. Some of the tools that are handy for working with gum paste are:

Dog bone shaping tool - helps to shape flower petals
Shell tool for making lines on flower petals
Umbrella, Ball, and Veining tools are other shaping tools specifically designed for flower making
Cutters
Foam surface to cut on
Heavy gauge wire for spearing a piece while you work on it
Small brushes.

Finding More Cake Decorating Tips

Unless you are a very artistic person or have experience making decorations with fondant, the most efficient route for acquiring skills will be from an experienced instructor or even an instructional video.  This is probably the most practical gum paste cake decorating tip, that is:  Attend a class or workshop to gain a solid foundation in the skills you need to work with gum paste.  This foundation will be the springboard for your own personal style and creativity.

Wilton Cake Decorating Classes - Professional Decorating Techniques For Beginners

Wilton cake decorating classes are the ultimate form of instruction for decorating cakes. A huge selection of Wilton cake classes is available at the Wilton school in Darien, Illinois, with options ranging from a three-hour workshop focused on one project to a 10-day Master Course of Wilton cake classes designed for students interested in a career in decorating cakes. You can also learn the Wilton Method of cake decoration outside of the Wilton school classes by looking for cake decorating instruction at local craft stores and culinary schools. If none of these options will work for you, you can even learn all aspects of cake decoration with online courses you can take at home.

Wilton Cake Classes - Introduction to Gum Paste

Introduction to Gum Paste is a beginner's course in how to make gum paste flowers and arrangements. Learning to work with gum paste will take you a long way in designing and decorating all styles of cakes. The class is offered over four days in three-hour sessions covering the following lessons.

Day 1: Demonstration of the use of gum paste; how to prepare gum paste; how to make gum paste leaves, a rose base, and a daisy center
Day 2: Making gum paste rosebuds, roses, and daisies
Day 3: Making gum paste orchids, stephanotis, and calla lilies
Day 4: Highlighting; assembling and finishing orchids and calla lilies

Wilton Cake Decorating Classes - Introduction to Rolled Fondant

Introduction to Rolled Fondant at the Wilton school, in three 3-hour sessions, includes cake decorating instruction on the basics of using fondant. Students practice fondant decorating techniques to make a complete display cake that they can take home.

Day 1: Basics of using fondant, including covering a cake with fondant, making fondant bows, and crimping and embossing
Day 2: Making flowers and leaves; using fondant molds and ejectors; fondant cutouts
Day 3: Assembling bows; sponging; making drapes; positioning flowers on the cake

Wilton Cake Classes - Introduction to Sugar Artistry

Another of the beginner Wilton decorating classes is Introduction to Sugar Artistry. In this class you'll learn the art of making sugar decorations, including recipes, pulling, and molding. Students get to take home floral cake toppers and bows made in class. The following topics are covered in one 9-hour session.

Explanation of recipes and sugar art equipment
Making simple leaves and flowers
Creating a floral cake topper
Explanation of Isomalt sugar substitute, including recipes and equipment
Making sugar cages
Using spun sugar and bubble sugar
Demonstration of sugar molding
Making sugar roses
Creating ribbons and bows

More Cake Decorating Instruction at the Wilton School

There are dozens of Wilton cake decorating classes available at the Wilton school in addition to the three featured here, but these are an excellent beginning in cake decorating instruction. If you complete one of these Wilton cake classes, consider an advanced course to add to your skills. Try a class focused on a theme, like Sugar Artistry for the Holidays, or one that adds new techniques, such as Advanced Fondant Art. With any of the Wilton cake decorating classes, you'll learn everything you need to know to make beautiful cakes for all your special occasions with family and friends.