cake decorating!
At my high school every senior is required to present a Senior Project in order to fulfill a graduation requirement. Basically, it's a project in which the learning is the focus and the end product not so much. If that makes sense. For example, my project is cake decorating and most of my project is the process of trial and error, the practicing piping and fondant and building flowers and such. Obviously, it will all be vegan and I'm incredbily excited about it! My mentor is our baker at the cafe who is an excellent decorator and I'm very excited to be working with her because she's also just a fabulous person :)
Anyways, I'm wondering if any of the rest of you have had previous ventures into cake decorating and if you have any exciting tips to share or anything like that :) Also, any good resources you know of would be fabulous because I need to demonstrate the use of a quite a few of them. Oh boy. VCTOTW is on my list definately as is the Wilton 2008 yearbook and the level 1 course guide from Wilton.
interesting project. hummm..... :o
mm there are lots of interesting projects. photography is a popular one, poetry anthologies are popular as are illustrated children's books. some one last year fixed up an old truck of their dads. really you can do anything. it's pretty cool but the project is intensive and stressful for most seniors. 40 hours has to go in, a journal and some papers and such also have to be written. granted, its nothing compared to like.. writing a thesis haha. but it's more than most people want to have to worry about second semester of their senior year ;)
Bump!
I'm hoping for some tips because every time I try to be fancy with my decorating it looks like a 3 year old did it. I think I need more practice.
Bump!
I'm hoping for some tips because every time I try to be fancy with my decorating it looks like a 3 year old did it. I think I need more practice.
Ask Noah to do it?! ;)
mkay so I just did my first cake that was picture worthy and will go onto my display in March, when my project takes place.
Little2Ant I reccomend the Wilton level 1 book, it's a good quick reference for easy shapes and also has lots of pictures you can use for inspiration :)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b374/owalkerjillo/seniorprojec009.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b374/owalkerjillo/seniorprojec001.jpg
next on my list of projects to attempt will be one with Fondant :D there's a really cool looking watermelon type cake I want to try in the Wilton yearbook for 2008 :D
Bump!
I'm hoping for some tips because every time I try to be fancy with my decorating it looks like a 3 year old did it. I think I need more practice.
Ask Noah to do it?! ;)
I had that same thought! he so would put me to shame.... ;D
mkay so I just did my first cake that was picture worthy and will go onto my display in March, when my project takes place.
Little2Ant I reccomend the Wilton level 1 book, it's a good quick reference for easy shapes and also has lots of pictures you can use for inspiration :)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b374/owalkerjillo/seniorprojec009.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b374/owalkerjillo/seniorprojec001.jpg
next on my list of projects to attempt will be one with Fondant :D there's a really cool looking watermelon type cake I want to try in the Wilton yearbook for 2008 :D
Are you going to update us on the rest of the cakes you make?
Maybe you could give those who need them some tips as you learn about decorating, share some recipes, etc.
yeah, I could definately do that :) I'll be making a TON of cakes in the next few months :)
i used to really be into cake decorating.. i might have some pics around if i do some searching..
anyway, i took a basic class and she taught the wilton method. they have template sheets you can print out and then then slide into a plastic sleeve, then you practice by going over the template picture & following the lines instead of doing it on a cake. then you can just scrape the template frosting and put it back in the bag to practice again. certain techniques like the basketweave look really complex but once you get the hang of it you realize how simple it is and you fly right through it. also, make sure you look at the pictures of how to properly hold the bag (using 2 hands.. one to support/one to guide) it definitely makes a difference. good luck!!
I use Wilton fondant (I picked some up at Michael's arts and crafts store) and as far as I've heard/read/been told, its vegan. The only sketchy ingredient on the list is glycerine, but I'm pretty sure its not animial sourced. My mentor for the project is a vegan baker and she had told me that her research showed it was vegan. I know most recipes to make your own call for gelatin though so I'm not sure how you would go about doing that without using it.
hope that helps :)
mkay so I just did my first cake that was picture worthy and will go onto my display in March, when my project takes place.
Beautiful!!! I don't have any decorating tips, but I'd be happy to help out with the tasting. :)
I have to admit something.... I avidly watch Food Network. Ace of Cakes is my favorite show and I highly highly highly recommend you watching or just going to a cake decorating web site for ideas to practice.
Things I do know: In frosting a cake put a thin layer on first by dumping a few spatula's full onto the top and working it down and around. Chill the cake. Then put ANOTHER layer of frosting on OR fondant on the chilled frosted cake. That first frosting layer protects the cake from crumbling and gives a nice clean edge for the fondant to adhere to.
I love the idea of practicing on plastic. That is brilliant! Also for tiny thin lines use a small wax paper bag rather than a huge one, it should be easier to manipulate to make fine detail.
Has anyone ever made fondant flowers or other little cake/cupcake decorations before with fondant? It's my first time and I'm wondering if I should do these a couple days early or day of decorating my cupcakes.
wowzers way to bump up my old thread! If you're making your flowers from fondant I would suggest making them the day of, not too far in advance because fondant can dry out pretty hardcore and then it cracks and is no fun. However, if you're making them out of some stiff icing/vegan royal icing concoction you can make them months in advance as long as they're kept dry and relatively cool they'll last. Good luck :)
wowzers way to bump up my old thread! If you're making your flowers from fondant I would suggest making them the day of, not too far in advance because fondant can dry out pretty hardcore and then it cracks and is no fun. However, if you're making them out of some stiff icing/vegan royal icing concoction you can make them months in advance as long as they're kept dry and relatively cool they'll last. Good luck :)
Very helpful. Thank you. :)
Very helpful. Thank you. :)
glad I could be of help, be sure and post some pictures once you finish you endeavor into cake decorating! I'd love to see the flowers :)
Oh! And I forgot to mention that Wilton (the cake decorating super-brand) makes some really great fondant 'cookie' cutters, including several flower shapes. Idk what you were planning on but they generally come in like a pack of 4 with a bunch of different sizes of the same shape so they're pretty handy. Just fyi :)