Cake Decorating Books For the Beginner

I have always enjoyed watching the cake decorating challenges on TLC, the talent these individuals have is amazing. I realized though that all of these contestants had to be a beginner cake decorator at one time or another. A few years ago I decided I too would like to learn how to decorate cakes, but since I live in a smaller city we did not have any classes nearby. I decided I would try to teach myself how to decorate a cake with the help of cake decorating books.

The key to buying a good cake decorating book if you are just beginning your new hobby is to find the right one. There are so many cake decorating books available that is can become overwhelming. I am going to try and make it a little less overwhelming for you. I have reviewed many cake decorating books, which I will discuss in further detail, and tell you which ones I liked the best, and why.

If you have looked at any cake decorating supplies in your local stores, you have most likely seen the Wilton products. The Wilton company is a large company which is located in Woodridge Illinois. They make all kinds of cake decorating tools and supplies, and they even publish books. My favorite books for learning the basics are the Wilton books, I liked these the most because they are very easy to understand even for the person that has never baked a cake before. The three books I am going to be telling you about are, Course I Discover Cake Decorating, Course II Flowers and Borders, and finally Course III Fondant and Tiered Cakes.

The book, Course I Discover Cake Decorating is an excellent book for the learning the basic techniques that you will need so that you can advance to the more advanced techniques. The course I book starts out by walking you through the steps of baking a cake that will be a good canvas for decorating, including how to make the cake bake flat, rather than having that round mound on the top. It also talks about what types of frosting to use for the different decorating aspects. This is a great book for anyone that wants to learn the basics.

The second book Course II Flowers and Borders, builds on the skills you learned from the Course I book. It focuses on the different types of flowers and borders you can make and what types of tools you will need to make these different flowers and borders. Like everything practice will be necessary, but you first need to know the techniques of making these decorations.

The third book Course III talks about using fondant and making tiered cakes, which are multi-level cakes, much like the cakes you have probably seen at weddings. This was my favorite book of the series, mainly because you can make some really smooth cakes by using fondant.

If you are someone that wants to learn the basics, but don't know where to start, I would highly recommend the Wilton cake decorating books, you will get a lot of helpful information but won't have to spend much money on them. I was even able to create a cake for my sister's wedding, by using the information I learned in these books.

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Cake Decorating Books - What to Look For When Choosing a Cake Decorating Book

If you want to learn more about cake decorating, to impress at family gatherings, or maybe think about starting a business of your own, cake decorating books can be a good way to learn. You want a book that you will return to over and over again, as you improve your skills.

The best books for you will be clearly written, with plenty of easy-to-follow instructions and decorations. Not everyone will agree about the clearest and best way to learn about is from a book, so pick the one that makes the best sense to you. If you are new to cake making, you will want books that focus on the basic skills of cake decorating. If you have a specific goal or theme in mind, like learning to decorate a wedding cake, or a birthday cake your cartoon-obsessed nephew will adore, you will want to make sure to choose books geared towards those topics.

Don't be swayed by a celebrity author of a decorating book. If you scour the bookstore for books featuring Martha or Rachel Ray, you might miss out on some great books. While Duff Goldman of Ace of Cakes has become famous, thanks to the Food Network show, the book that includes his decorating tips might not be the right one for you. Maybe the designs aren't the ones you want to learn. And if you get enticed by the marketing of a big name, or a tie-in to a famous bakery, you'll miss out on cake design books that focus where you can develop the best skills. And if you focus on celebrities you know from the Food Network or the media, you'll miss out on cake decorating books by people who are celebrities in the cake decorating world, like renowned British sugarcrafting artist Maisie Parrish, whose cake decorating books showcase whimsical, original designs, with decently easy instructions.

The Cake Decorator's Motif Bible: 150 Fabulous Fondant Designs with Easy-to-Follow Charts and Photographs, by Sheila Lampkin (Firefly Books, 2007) is full of photographs, teaches basic skills, and is spiral bound, so it would be one of the better books for someone who wanted to master the basic skills. A spiral binding makes it easier to have the book open on your counter as you learn and practice new decorating techniques. Cakes for Kids: 35 Colorful Recipes With Easy to Follow Tips and Techniques, by Matthew Mead, (Chronicle Books 2008) focuses on designs that will appeal to young children, without cartoon media tie-ins.

When you're picking from among the vast array of cake design books, you want to make sure that the cakes you create will be as delicious as they are beautifully decorated. The Whimsical Bakehouse: Fun-to-Make Cakes that Taste As Good as They Look, written by the mother-daughter team of Kaye and Liv Hanson, focuses on keeping the ingredients of their brightly colored cakes simple and tasty, so it's a great place to learn the delicious basics of getting creative with cake decorating staples like butter cream.

Get a lot more information and a complete guide to cake design and decoration by visiting our cake design and decoration site at http://www.wherecaniget.net/best-birthday-cakes-designs/effortless-cake-decorating-themes-and-ideas you can find cake design and decoration tips and start producing professional. cake design and decorations

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Cake Decorating Books - Three Best Methods

When looking at various cake decorating books I discovered that there are many options available ranging from very detailed technical books to ones that included simple how to instructions. These books ranged from the level of culinary textbooks on sugar crafting to ones that were no more than coffee table books full of beautiful pictures of cakes.

When researching the various books describing cake decoration and outlining the various techniques to decorate a cake, I found that three main books came highly recommended for any aspiring cake decorator.

The most expensive of these books was "The Lambeau Method" which I came to find out was a highly detailed book that is used primarily by students studying culinary arts. It is for more advanced decorators and gives really good instructions but it was way above what I was looking for.

Another book that I kept reading about was the "Australian Method" which is also an advanced book and this one is hard to find. From the description of the book, it was also not what I was looking for.

The one that I finally settled on was the "Wilton Cake Decorating Course" that is designed to take beginners to an advanced level of cake decorating skills. It comes in a three volume set and is updated with a new yearbook every year that provides new techniques and cake decorating designs every year.

Another great resource I stumbled across was an on line course "The Art of Cake Decorating" that had a lot of good information and also discussed all of the three methods mentioned above. What I really liked about it was that it had a lifetime membership to an extensive forum for cake decorators and sugar crafters. It is one thing to get information from a book and it is another to have people to ask when you have a question about something you have read and are trying to implement.

This course also included instructional videos and extra recipes for making candy and other confections, cookies, and puddings which could come in useful. There is also a section that is on taking the skill of decorating cakes to the next level and how to start your own business doing this. It sounds like it could be profitable, I am just not there yet.

To have a better look at these cake decorating books and courses, visit this page on Cake Decorating Books which includes more pictures and further reviews.

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The Art of Cake Decorating - A Beginners Recommendation For Cake Decorating Books

I am a relative newcomer to the art of cake decorating. However it's something I've been interested in from since I was a little girl and I baked my first cup cake.

Since picking up my icing pallet and fondant I've discovered that sugar craft is a creative outlet that has the capacity to delight, not only myself when decorating cakes, but also the recipients. It's a fun, exciting and challenging hobby which I find continually stimulating and my head is full of ideas of cakes yet to come!

As I said, I am a newcomer to the world of cake decorating so I've taken a few starter courses. These have been very helpful, but I've discovered that trial and error has served me best. Nothing is more rewarding that sitting down and trying to recreate some cake details that I have seen on-line or in a magazine. After I had completed a few basic courses in sugar crafting I went and bought myself a few cake decorating books which have proved to be a great inspiration to me. Not only in terms of exciting and visually stunning cake decoration, but also techniques and tips that the pros use to create their towering masterpieces.

If you are thinking about taking up this wonderful and fulfilling hobby, here are four cake decorating books that I have found useful so far:

1. "Cakes to Dream On" by Colette Peters

This book is top of the list, simply for it's 'wow' factor. This is a fantastical collection of original, whimsical and artistically detailed cakes. While the book is more geared towards the skilled baker, it does serve as a great source of inspiration with it's colour combinations and unsual techniques. It is truly a feast for the eyes and something to aspire to.

2. "Cake Chic" by Peggy Porschen

Peggy's cake work is contemporary, yet classic. With it's surprising detail and sophisticated lines this book showcases her effortless flair when creating cakes like they are fashion outfits. A wide range of ideas and recipes ensures that there is something for everyone in this cake decorating book.

3. "The Complete Book of Cake Decorating With Sugarpaste" by Sylvia Coward

A good, straightforward cake decorating technique book is worth it's weight in gold. This handy and uncomplicated book is ideal for beginners. Covering a wide range of techniques which are presented in a project form, it is easy to follow and starts with a number of basics that will be ideal for the beginner.

4. "The Well Decorated Cake" by Toba Garrett

This book is well worth a mention here. Ms Garrett presents easy to follow chapters with wonderful direction which help to build up your confidence. I've managed to expand my skill base at a realistic pace with this book and the results have been certainly worth it!

Well, there you are, four cake decorating books which I have found very useful as I have started my journey into this fascinating hobby.

I hope you find them as useful and enjoyable as I have.

Since starting my course in sugarcraft I have found that nothing has been more useful to me that these books. I would recommend that, if you can you take a few basic classes in the starter techniques which will allow you to implement some of the slight more advanced techniques outlined in these books above.

There is no substitute for practice, so even if you are just beginning, get yourself a cake,some fondant and fire up your imagination!

Shana Kilbee recently discovered that cake decorating is not a mystical science, but a fulfilling and wonderful hobby.

Through her cake decorating blog she shares her successes (and failures!) as she learns this amazing craft.

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