Monday, January 23, 2012

Adventures in Cake Decorating

I love making birthday cakes for my kids, but my cakes have always been unimaginative in the past.  My cakes were frosted, and I tried to write something simple or just use sprinkles.  I am not very artistic, but I wanted to create cakes that my children will love.  Fancy cake designs just seemed like they were far too advanced for my ability level.

When my son turned five, I decided that I was going to try to be more adventurous.  I made a hot air balloon cake.  

I cut the cakes to form the hot air balloon shape.  I added food coloring to vanilla frosting for the balloon's design.  I used Twizzlers and candy letters to decorate it.  It turned out a little messier looking than I would have liked, but my son loved it.


The next cake I decorated was a rainbow cake for my daughter's 4th birthday.  I used a bunt pan to make two cakes.  I cut the cakes in half and attached them together with frosting.  Then I stood it up on it's side.  My daughter wanted chocolate frosting and m&m's.  I used red, orange, yellow, green, and blue m&m's.  I needed a purple, so I added purple Skittles and white frosting to make clouds.  This cake was really easy to design, because all I did was place candies all over the cake.  I did learn an important lesson this time about cake presentation.  Professional cake decorators frost cakes twice.  When you frost the cake for the first time, cake crumbs get mixed in with the frosting.  Then the second layer of frosting goes cleanly over the crumb layer.  This definitely help make this cake look more clean than my previous attempts.

I have made a couple of cakes since the rainbow cake, but my favorite is the robot.  


 
I have been enjoying decorating these cakes for my children.  What cakes have you decorated lately?  Do you have any tips for those of us who are learning?

-Cassidy

2 comments:

  1. Hello,
    I just found your rainbow cake on Google images and will attempt something similar for my daughter's cake tomorrow. Thanks for the idea! You asked for tips above. I learned about the second layer of frosting a few years ago and it really does help, but what helps even further is if you put the cake in the freezer for about 30-45 mins. before you frost the first layer. Then, put the cake in the freezer about 30 more mins. after you frost the first coat. The second coat goes on even smoother if you do this. I always decorate my cakes in the morning, so by the time the kids come for the party in the afternoon, the cake is not cold:-)

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