Getting started
{baking the cake}
Before you can begin the decorating process, you need to have your cake ready. Baking is half the battle so if you can master this step, you are on your way to making a beautiful cake. You will be surprised at how much better homemade cakes taste, too. Follow this link to useful recipes and tips.
{gathering the materials}
There are certain tools and ingredients which are indispensable for any cake decorating project that you'll do. Always make sure to have these in ample supply before you begin decorating.
- icing - you can buy it from the store or make your own by mixing powdered sugar, water, butter and/or shortening together. Make sure the consistency is not too runny and always make/buy more than you think you'll need.
- piping bag - the best kind come as sheets of paper which you fold to form the bag that holds the icing.
- piping tips - these come in a variety of designs.
- piping fastener - a plastic fastener used to secure the piping tip to the piping bag.
- piping gel - comes in many colors for accenting the cake.
- food coloring - add to your icing to make it any color you want.
- fondant - a type of sugar paste used to make shapes (ie. flowers). It's used to cover wedding cakes to give them a smooth finish. Satin ice does the same thing but tastes better and is more expensive.
- gum paste - used for sculpting more complicated, 3-D objects.
- royal icing - made from egg whites. It immediately hardens and is ideal for creating intricate borders and lacework that will hold.
- ganache - a smooth icing made by mixing melted chocolate with heavy cream.
You can find all of the above and more at any grocery store or kitchen/craft store.