Tips, Tricks, & Cheats... Its not as technical as it looks!
The first time I showed my best friend one of my cakes she said
" WOW! I could never ever do something like that, that's so cool. It must have taken forever!"
To which I replied, "It was actually fun, I looked up the steps online. It really wasn't that hard! "
"Um. ya. No way I could do that."
A year or two later... she has her own website. Cindy's Cookies and Cakes. So you see? Its really NOT as hard as it looks, as long as you've been shown the steps! So I've put together a few things that I think might help out the average beginner.
My first piece of advice? I know this is in the links page... but the best place to start is Cake Central. You can sign up for a free account, and once you get started you can upload your pictures there, find recipes, share recipes, get advice quick (I mean within the hour!), and meet people at whatever level you are at.
SKETCHING
Decide a theme and get ideas, draw a lot, sketch, or just find a picture you like online. Google images is a great way to search for a theme.
BAKING
Despite what I thought in 6th grade Home Ec...It does matter what the recipe says. Try and follow it as much as possible.
It doesn't have to be perfect to taste good!
Substitutions: (See list below)
Test your oven temperature
ICING
Don't try a new recipe the day you need to make it work. Trust me. (even though I still do this, I know better and often end up with trouble later!)
Keep a tried and true recipe around before trying fun flavors.
There are lots of good recipes, and lots of bad recipes. Look for recommendations if you're in a hurry!
FONDANT -as easy as play dough
Lots can go wrong, but it really is forgiving, hang in there and shape it.
It takes practice. Don't get frustrated.
If you see any cracks, the fondant is too dry, add a little water or shortening
If the fondant is sticking, add powdered sugar or cornstarch.
DRIED ITEMS: need to be dried overnight if possible, a few hours at minimum if they'll have support.
Bridges: Over the appropriate sized can
Bows: Loops can be formed over dowels
Letters: Lay flat on a movable surface (placemat, etc.) lightly dusted with cornstarch. If they need to stand vertical, insert toothpicks before drying.
Sculptures: Don't need to dry unless they need to hold a form (arms, tentacles, extra hair, ect.)
Flowers: Overnight or longer, They are actually more fragile when half dry than when fully dry. Also, I recommend a half gumpaste mixture.
SCULPTING
Look up "Sculpey" clay tutorials online for sculpting ideas.
Paint your sculpture with food color paste! It can be a lot faster than mixing individual colors
Consider making some items out of clay and baking them so you can keep them after!
PIPING
Practice! I know it sounds time consuming, but try practicing on a vinyl sheet over a children's manuscript printout. Wipe off and repeat!
Watch YouTube videos, they really are helpful!
" WOW! I could never ever do something like that, that's so cool. It must have taken forever!"
To which I replied, "It was actually fun, I looked up the steps online. It really wasn't that hard! "
"Um. ya. No way I could do that."
A year or two later... she has her own website. Cindy's Cookies and Cakes. So you see? Its really NOT as hard as it looks, as long as you've been shown the steps! So I've put together a few things that I think might help out the average beginner.
My first piece of advice? I know this is in the links page... but the best place to start is Cake Central. You can sign up for a free account, and once you get started you can upload your pictures there, find recipes, share recipes, get advice quick (I mean within the hour!), and meet people at whatever level you are at.
SKETCHING
Decide a theme and get ideas, draw a lot, sketch, or just find a picture you like online. Google images is a great way to search for a theme.
BAKING
Despite what I thought in 6th grade Home Ec...It does matter what the recipe says. Try and follow it as much as possible.
It doesn't have to be perfect to taste good!
Substitutions: (See list below)
Test your oven temperature
ICING
Don't try a new recipe the day you need to make it work. Trust me. (even though I still do this, I know better and often end up with trouble later!)
Keep a tried and true recipe around before trying fun flavors.
There are lots of good recipes, and lots of bad recipes. Look for recommendations if you're in a hurry!
FONDANT -as easy as play dough
Lots can go wrong, but it really is forgiving, hang in there and shape it.
It takes practice. Don't get frustrated.
If you see any cracks, the fondant is too dry, add a little water or shortening
If the fondant is sticking, add powdered sugar or cornstarch.
DRIED ITEMS: need to be dried overnight if possible, a few hours at minimum if they'll have support.
Bridges: Over the appropriate sized can
Bows: Loops can be formed over dowels
Letters: Lay flat on a movable surface (placemat, etc.) lightly dusted with cornstarch. If they need to stand vertical, insert toothpicks before drying.
Sculptures: Don't need to dry unless they need to hold a form (arms, tentacles, extra hair, ect.)
Flowers: Overnight or longer, They are actually more fragile when half dry than when fully dry. Also, I recommend a half gumpaste mixture.
SCULPTING
Look up "Sculpey" clay tutorials online for sculpting ideas.
Paint your sculpture with food color paste! It can be a lot faster than mixing individual colors
Consider making some items out of clay and baking them so you can keep them after!
PIPING
Practice! I know it sounds time consuming, but try practicing on a vinyl sheet over a children's manuscript printout. Wipe off and repeat!
Watch YouTube videos, they really are helpful!
