Cake Decorating for Dummies

Cake Decorating For Dummies......Page 3
 About the Author......Page 5
 Author’s Acknowledgments......Page 7
 Contents at a Glance......Page 9
 Table of Contents......Page 11
 Recipes at a Glance......Page 19
 Introduction......Page 23
  Conventions Used in This Book......Page 24
  How This Book Is Organized......Page 25
  Icons Used in This Book......Page 27
  Where to Go from Here......Page 28
 Part I: Getting Ready to Decorate with Ease and Expertise......Page 29
   Bridging Baking and Creativity......Page 31
   Gathering the Tools and Ingredients......Page 32
   Picking Up the Skills......Page 33
   Calling All Occasions......Page 35
   Recognizing Possibilities......Page 36
   Targeting Tips and Flower Nails......Page 37
   Picking Out Paper Goods and Pastry Bags......Page 41
   Sizing Up Pan Shapes......Page 42
   Boarding Cakes......Page 43
   Gathering General Utensils......Page 44
   Tooling Around with Decorating Specifics......Page 47
   Keeping All Your Tools Together......Page 51
   Finding the Goods......Page 52
   Organizing Your Kitchen: What Goes Where......Page 53
   Hauling Out the Heavier Equipment......Page 56
   Firing Up an Accurate Oven......Page 58
   Refrigerating and Freezing......Page 59
   The Lowdown on Baking Staples......Page 61
   Opening the Dairy Case......Page 65
   Coloring Agents......Page 66
   Gathering Flavorings and Other Liquids......Page 67
   Embellishing with Pizzazz......Page 69
 Part II: Preparing the Canvas of Cake......Page 71
   Considering the Occasion and the Atmosphere......Page 73
   Picking Up Cake Decorating Lingo......Page 76
   Picking Flavors for the Cake and Frosting......Page 79
   Devising a Design......Page 80
   Comprehending the Language of Cake Baking......Page 83
   Measuring Up......Page 84
   Prepping the Pans......Page 88
   Mixing the Batter......Page 89
   Getting Down the Rules for the Perfect Cakes......Page 90
   Perfecting the Basic Cake Repertoire......Page 94
   Devising Your Game Plan......Page 103
   Covering Cake Boards......Page 105
   Leveling and Torting the Cake......Page 107
   Drawing Up Designs......Page 109
   Choosing Colors......Page 112
 Part III: Topping, Filling, and Embellishing Your Creations......Page 115
   Stirring Through the Rules for Frosting......Page 117
   Matching up Frostings and Cakes......Page 118
   Mixing Frostings......Page 119
   Tinting Frostings......Page 124
   Frosting with Finesse......Page 125
   Going the Textured Route......Page 128
  Chapter 9: Dusting and Glazing: It’s Icing on the Cake......Page 131
   Sweetening Up Your Cake with Icing......Page 132
   Giving Fondant a Try......Page 138
   Dusting for a Different Look......Page 143
   Putting the Shine on with Glazes......Page 146
   Picking the Best Filling for Your Cake......Page 151
   Taking Care with Fillings......Page 152
   Indulging in Creaminess: Smooth Fillings......Page 153
   Crunching Things Up: Chunky Fillings......Page 160
   Summoning Syrups......Page 163
   Decoding Tip Numbers......Page 165
   Preparing to Pipe......Page 169
   Practicing Tipping Points and Techniques......Page 172
   Flooding, Filling, and Other Fun Design Techniques......Page 177
   Easing into Enhancements......Page 181
   Modeling with Marzipan......Page 186
   Working with Gum Paste......Page 190
   Tending to Frosting Roses......Page 197
   Dipping into the Candy Jar......Page 199
   Choosing Inedible Features......Page 201
 Part IV: Sweetening Life’s Special Occasions......Page 203
  Chapter 13: Festive Cakes for Kids......Page 205
   Carving Cakes into the Shape of Numbers and Letters......Page 206
   Theme Cakes Boys Go Nuts Over......Page 209
   Theme Cakes for Little Ladies......Page 213
   Pleasing the Whole Gang: Cakes for Boys and Girls......Page 218
   Getting Kids Involved......Page 222
   Trying Kid-Friendly Recipes......Page 223
   Gearing Up for Grown-Up Cakes......Page 227
   Simple Letter and Number Designs......Page 228
   Designing Cakes Ladies Swoon Over......Page 230
   Winning Over Men......Page 234
   Pleasing Both Men and Women......Page 239
   Analyzing the Occasion......Page 245
   Commanding Popular Shower Power Moves......Page 247
   Tossing Cheer into a Bridal Shower......Page 251
   Bringing Up the Baby Shower......Page 258
  Chapter 16: Lifting a Fork to Weddings and Anniversaries......Page 265
   Considering the Event’s Theme and Colors......Page 266
   Creating a Simple Wedding Cake......Page 269
   Tiering Up for Success......Page 271
   Moving Up to a More Elaborate Wedding Cake......Page 273
   Celebrating Another Year with Anniversary Cakes......Page 277
   Bringing Seasonal Treats to Your Decorating......Page 281
   Saluting Spring and Summer......Page 282
   Having Fun in the Fall......Page 289
   Greeting the Winter Holidays......Page 295
   Celebrating Other Occasions......Page 299
 Part V: Thinking Outside the Cake Box......Page 307
   Giving Your Cake the Once-Over......Page 309
   A Cake Decorator’s Checklist for the Big Day......Page 311
   Livening Up the Cake Presentation......Page 312
   Transporting Your Creation......Page 314
   What to Do with Leftover Cake......Page 317
   Keeping a Well-Stocked Pantry......Page 319
   Quick Fixes with Mixes......Page 321
   When You Have Only Minutes......Page 327
  Chapter 20: Starting a Cake Decorating Business......Page 333
   Setting Up Your Own Business......Page 334
   Finding a Location for Your Business......Page 337
   Getting Down to Basics......Page 339
   Attracting a Clientele and Marketing Your Cakes......Page 341
 Part VI: The Part of Tens......Page 345
   Wilton......Page 347
   Surfas......Page 348
   GroovyCandies......Page 349
   Kate Spade and Paul Smith......Page 350
   Coming Up with a Game Plan before You Cut......Page 351
   Square Cakes......Page 352
   Sheet Cakes, Diagonal Cut......Page 353
   Hexagonal Cakes......Page 354
   Heart-Shaped Cakes......Page 355
   Square Wedding Tiers......Page 356
   Finding Elegance in Simplicity......Page 359
   Melting Away Frosting Worries......Page 360
   Applying Sprays and Shimmer Dusts......Page 361
   Gathering Bouquets......Page 362
   Ruthlessly Organize......Page 363
   Consider the Great Cover-Up......Page 364
   Don’t Skip the Crumb Coat......Page 365
   Offer Cake Sundaes......Page 366
 Index......Page 367