How to Start Baking Creative Cakes
How does one learn a great new skill? Jump in and get messy! For many folks who are somewhat Type A, there are a number of things that can be done for starters to kick things off.
Get motivated You've got to think like an artist.
A first-rate artist visits museums, galleries, reads art publications, surrounds herself with images she finds stimulating.
She also maintains a sketchbook of her own creative ideas.
This helps to keep her enthusiastic and ready to create so that when she arrives in the studio, she doesn't stand around wondering "er...
what do I do now?".
You are capable of doing the same thing.
Take a trip to your local library or bookstore and flip through the cake decorating books.
I strongly recommend Hello, Cupcake and What's New, Cupcake? by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson; even if you don't plan on making cupcakes, their techniques will jump-start your creativity.
Other sources of inspiration:
Don't neglect to look into additional general books that aren't just about cake; you can find good, simple directions in books that focus on "how to bake" or "how to cook".
If you can't come across any books you like, or if you prefer other types of learning, no worries! You live in the age of YouTube.
Visit that site and look for "cake decorating" or "creative cakes"...
see? Hours of video goodness.
I like this tutorial video; it's particularly retro, and it's a series! It's more or less basic, which is great if you're just starting out.
If exploiting the Internet and the lovely free library isn't doing it for you, you can always learn from a another person.
Craft stores occasionally provide cake decorating courses (try Hobby Lobby or Joann), or if you have an acquaintance who's a first-rate cake decorator, you can request to linger next time they design a cake.
You could even offer to trade favors for formal training.
One thought before we continue: I'm assuming you already know how to bake the cake and make or obtain frosting.
Boxed mix and canned frosting are just fine if you're not interested in doing the from-scratch thing.
If, however, you want to be decorating cakes you made yourself--and you don't know how--let me turn your attention to one of my best resources: The King Arthur Flour blog.
They walk you through the process of each recipe (with photos!), the comments are extremely beneficial, and you can even call them with concerns.
Oh, and their recipes are superb.
Make a mess After all that researching, observing, chatting, planning...
dive in and get messy! All that prep work alone won't make you any better; it's just information that will help you learn more proficiently once you're actually practicing.
You've got to get into the kitchen if you ever wish to make creative cakes.
The only way to learn to do something is to do it.
Bake a cake.
Try your new capabilities.
Keep a journal if you prefer, of what you did and what you learned.
Take a picture of each cake so you can watch your progress.
Next thing you know, you'll be an excellent cake decorator and your friends and family will be asking YOU for lessons!
Get motivated You've got to think like an artist.
A first-rate artist visits museums, galleries, reads art publications, surrounds herself with images she finds stimulating.
She also maintains a sketchbook of her own creative ideas.
This helps to keep her enthusiastic and ready to create so that when she arrives in the studio, she doesn't stand around wondering "er...
what do I do now?".
You are capable of doing the same thing.
Take a trip to your local library or bookstore and flip through the cake decorating books.
I strongly recommend Hello, Cupcake and What's New, Cupcake? by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson; even if you don't plan on making cupcakes, their techniques will jump-start your creativity.
Other sources of inspiration:
- Websites that showcase creative cakes
- TV programs (cake competitions are fantastic)
- Local bakeries
- Food blogs (The Kitchn is a good one)
Don't neglect to look into additional general books that aren't just about cake; you can find good, simple directions in books that focus on "how to bake" or "how to cook".
If you can't come across any books you like, or if you prefer other types of learning, no worries! You live in the age of YouTube.
Visit that site and look for "cake decorating" or "creative cakes"...
see? Hours of video goodness.
I like this tutorial video; it's particularly retro, and it's a series! It's more or less basic, which is great if you're just starting out.
If exploiting the Internet and the lovely free library isn't doing it for you, you can always learn from a another person.
Craft stores occasionally provide cake decorating courses (try Hobby Lobby or Joann), or if you have an acquaintance who's a first-rate cake decorator, you can request to linger next time they design a cake.
You could even offer to trade favors for formal training.
One thought before we continue: I'm assuming you already know how to bake the cake and make or obtain frosting.
Boxed mix and canned frosting are just fine if you're not interested in doing the from-scratch thing.
If, however, you want to be decorating cakes you made yourself--and you don't know how--let me turn your attention to one of my best resources: The King Arthur Flour blog.
They walk you through the process of each recipe (with photos!), the comments are extremely beneficial, and you can even call them with concerns.
Oh, and their recipes are superb.
Make a mess After all that researching, observing, chatting, planning...
dive in and get messy! All that prep work alone won't make you any better; it's just information that will help you learn more proficiently once you're actually practicing.
You've got to get into the kitchen if you ever wish to make creative cakes.
The only way to learn to do something is to do it.
Bake a cake.
Try your new capabilities.
Keep a journal if you prefer, of what you did and what you learned.
Take a picture of each cake so you can watch your progress.
Next thing you know, you'll be an excellent cake decorator and your friends and family will be asking YOU for lessons!
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