Josh's Birthday Cake

Above are some pictures of the cake I made for Josh's birthday party on October 17th. My writing needs some work but this is the first cake that I've ever attempted to on. It was delicious.

Wilton Flowers and Cake Design - Class 4

This has concluded my cake decorating classes at Michael's. It feels weird to be done. Don't worry I'll keep practicing my techniques and maybe one day I'll open a bakery. In the mean time I'll continue to post some pictures and hope you will keep me in mind for all your cake needs.

The last class we learned the basket-weave technique. At first I just did the sides but felt like the top was lacking so I did the whole cake. I hadn't planned to put the flowers in quiet that placement but right as I was done with the top I accidentally put the side of my hand into the cake. I used the flowers to cover my boo boo. All in all I like how in looks and it tasted wonderful!

Wilton Flowers and Cake Design - Classes 2 and 3

Roses - My pink icing was too hard so I had to switch to the purple.

Daffodil - My yellow icing was too hard as well. Do they have purple daffodils in nature?

Primrose

Apple Blossoms - I also made some Violets (not pictures) that look just like this but in purple (obviously).

Rosebuds - These were my favorite to make

So I haven't quite figured out how to do the whole typing and posting of pictures on the blog. This is my 4th attempt to do so. I'm sorry to say that if this doesn't work there will be no words only pictures from now on.

For classes 2 and 3 we used royal icing to make flowers. You use royal icing instead of buttercream because the royal icing hardens quicker and better. You make royal icing by combining powder sugar, meringue powder, and water. I also added vanilla the first time. The taste is quiet different. I think it has a slight lemony taste. The second time I made it I added some almond extract and it taste way better but still not great.

Next week we are decorating the whole cake. Stay toned....

Wilton Flowers and Cake Design - Class 1

Last week was the first lesson of the final cake decorating class that Wilton offers at Michaels. This class is all about flowers. I have a different teacher (if you want to even us the word teacher) as well as new classmates. The teacher didn't instruct us or demonstrate any of the techniques. She mainly just sat there. At the end she had to demonstrate how to make royal icing and complained through the whole process. From now on I guess I better read the instruction book before class so I have some sort of an idea of what I'm doing.

The first class mostly dealt with gum paste and fondant. The other students in my class haven't taken the Fondant and Gum Paste class yet so they found it interesting. I found it boring. I looked through the instruction book and the only week we use fondant or gum paste is the first lesson and we only make two flowers. These could easily be added to the other class. I felt bad for the other students who had to waste their money on those supplies but I guess they can hang on to them for the next class.

We learned to make two flowers during class time - the button flower (on the left) and a pansy (on the right). They both need some improvement. After making the flowers we found out that you should use more than one color to make flowers.

Orange Cream Cupcakes

I just signed up for the final Wilton cake decorating class - Flowers and Cake Design. Classes start tomorrow Tuesday, August 10.

Once I got home from signing up, I was motivated to make some cupcakes. I came up with these all on my own (with some help from Josh). It's a vanilla cupcake and orange icing with a candied orange peel on top as a garnish. The cupcake recipe was from 500 Cupcakes that Meredith and Maggie got me last year for my birthday. I created the orange icing all on my own based on my mom's buttercream recipe. And I learned how to make candied orange peels from ehow.com

Who's coming to my cupcake shop now? Better yet who's going to be my silent investor.

Wilton Fondant and Gum Paste Class 4

The last class for the Fondant and Gum Paste series has come and gone. The last class consisted of covering a cake with fondant then decorating it. We also learned to make a few borders. I'm really pleased with how this cake turned out.

This was the first time Josh and I have tasted fondant. I ended up liking it but Josh was not a fan. It kinda tasted like marshmallows. I did make the fondant a little too thick so I'll try to make it with a thinner layer of fondant and more icing under the fondant next time.

This was a chocolate cake with my mom's buttercream recipe. I also added some sprinkles to the filling in between the layers.

The last class that Michael's offers is Flowers and Cake Design. This class starts this coming Tuesday evening. I haven't signed up yet. For some reason I don't know if I want to take the class but I better hurry up and make a decision.

Wilton Fondant and Gum Paste Class 3

We've reached the third week of the Fondant and Gum Paste class. We didn't learn much this week. I was actually home from class before it was suppose to be over. We learned to make to flowers - Daisies and Mums. We also covered a cake bass with Fondant. I still don't really understand the purpose of it. I'll probably will throw it away. Seemed like it was a big waste. If you are putting the final cake on a cake stand or in a carrier its just a waste of time, money, and fondant. Next week we'll be covering a cake so stay tuned.

Here are some pictures from the third Fondant and Gum Paste class. Josh took pictures with his camera this week so the quality is way better.

Daisies













Purple Mum

This is my favorite flower so far.











Box with all the flowers I've made. I have no idea what do with all of them. Any suggestions?

Pictures from Wilton Level I Class

I've been a slacker lately. I had every intention of doing a blog for every class but time has just gotten away from me. I will try to do better for the remainder of the classes.

Below are some pictures form the Wilton Level 1 class.


These cupcakes were not actually for class. I made them to celebrate my friend Amie's birthday. I just applied the skills I had learn. I was really excited with the coloring of the cupcakes. In case you can't tell the dark blue faded to light blue to green to yellow and spelled out Happy Birthday Amie.








This was my final project. Red velvet cake with Wilton butter cream icing with a fish on top.

Side note: I really don't like the taste of the Wilton butter cream icing. The icing I grew up with my mom making is way better. So from now on I'll be using that recipe instead of the Wilton pre-made stuff.







Project from the second class. You can't tell put I actually messed up on the white icing part of the cupcake so the icing is really thick in that area. It was a red velvet cake with Wilton butter cream icing.









Project from class three. We were suppose to decorate six cupcakes. I dropped one on the ground during class and the other five didn't really survive the car ride home. But Josh, Patty (Josh's mom) and I still thought they tasted great. Once again they were red velvet (I actually used some leftover batter) and Wilton butter cream icing.

Wilton Fondant and Gum Paste Class

A few weeks ago I signed up for the Wilton Fondant and Gum Paste class at Michael's. I was a little skeptical about this class. I've never tasted or worked with either fondant or gum paste. I still haven't tasted it. I've been to two classes and so far I like working with it but I have yet to taste it. Our last class we'll learn to cover a cake with fondant so I'll probably get a chance then. Here are some pictures from the first two classes. The picture quality isn't too good but you'll get the idea.Call Lilly

Carnation

Rose (Daisy was really interested in what I was doing)

Bow for the top of a present

Wilton Level 1 Class 1

On June 4, I started the Level 1 Wilton cake decorating class. It would meet every Friday from 6:30 to 8:30pm for four weeks. I had signed up for the class the week prior and was given a list of supplies I would need.

Starting in June, Wilton had redesigned their cake decorating classes. Taking it from four levels down to only three. We were going to be the guinea pigs.

The first decision came when picking out which supplies to get. I could get a box that had all the supplies I would need for Level 1 for $35 or a organizational container that had all the supplies I would need for all three levels for $199. Josh and I flip flopped between the two and finally decided to get the box with just the Level 1 supplies. However, on the way to the checkout I notice a 40% coupon attached to my receipt for paying for the Level 1 class. But it didn't go into affect until the following week. I decided to wait and get the more expensive one later.

The following week I went to get my new container and found out that Michael's was discounting all the Wilton merchandise 25%. So I got the 25% plus the 40% I ended up only paying $94 for the more expensive container. I was extremely proud.

So I came armed to my first class with my container, icing, and 6 flat cookies. The first class pretty much went like this. Welcome to Wilton. blah blah blah. This is how to bake a cake. blah blah blah. This is how to ice a cake. blah blah blah. This is how to put icing in a bag. blah blah blah. This is how to hold the bag. blah blah blah. Finally we get to the part I didn't already know. We used one of the icing tips to create a star. If you put the stars close together they give the cake texture and even decorate a whole cake like Cookie Monster or other character faces pans you've seen.


Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures to from the first week.

The Beginning

I have an obsession with baking and cake decorating. I know I'm not the only one. There seems to be a plethora of shows on the subject -- Cake Boss, Ace of Cakes, Cupcake Wars, Food Network Challenges, etc. I can watch them for hours on end.

I dream of opening a small bakery selling only cakes and cupcakes. While walking through old towns with great storefront shops, I imagine my bakery there. I hope to make a business out of this one day. For now I'm just learning and hoping someone will want to use my services at some point.

For my birthday Josh bought me Wilton cake decorating classes at Michael's. I figured I'd start this blog to post pictures and report my progress. I have my last class for Level 1 this coming Friday. I guess I should have started the blog sooner. I have taken pictures from all of the projects except week one. Those will follow soon (as soon as I figure out how to post pictures to the blog site).