Don't we all like to know what happens behind the scenes of a movie, video clip, commercial, celebrity's life, Cirque du Soleil... You name it! I was always curious to see what happens in the kitchen of a cake decorator. As a kid I thought cake decorators were magicians and all of them secretly carried a magic wand in their apron pockets.
It is hard to believe that these pieces of art were made with sugar products by ordinary humans! The cakes were created by talented magicians... Oops, I mean cake decorators for WASSA cake show.
There is a saying in Russian "I'm not a magician, I just started learning it". Every cake maker has his/her own style, way of work and lots of tips and tricks. Today I'm inviting you to my kitchen to see how...
I go from here... ...To there
There is a saying in Russian "I'm not a magician, I just started learning it". Every cake maker has his/her own style, way of work and lots of tips and tricks. Today I'm inviting you to my kitchen to see how...
I go from here... ...To there
What a pleasure to open a door to my world of a baker and cake decorator for you! Let the magic happen! First we need to be prepared to have some fun. Secondly we need few drops of a good mood. Also a tool box, a rolling pin, strong hands and patience. Let's get started! Ready....Set...Go! |  |
I'm so ready to start creating!
It's such a pleasure to make my own fondant and gumpaste! I know exactly what's in there and can play with color and consistency.
To cover a cake with fondant I need to roll it first making sure the surface is smooth and non-sticky, my hands are not too warm and nothing gets in my way!
To cover a cake with fondant I need to roll it first making sure the surface is smooth and non-sticky, my hands are not too warm and nothing gets in my way!
Now it's time to let the fondant set and make itself comfortable on a cake. Phew, half way through. Time for a coffee break and some chocolate!
Mmmm that chocolate was good... All right, where am I? Oh yes, The Little Mermaid cake!
Making a little plato for a top layer to sit on can be messy but there are some cake pieces for a photographer who looks at me with hungry eyes!
Mmmm that chocolate was good... All right, where am I? Oh yes, The Little Mermaid cake!
Making a little plato for a top layer to sit on can be messy but there are some cake pieces for a photographer who looks at me with hungry eyes!
The bubble tea straws support the upper layer and don't let the bottom one take on any weight. The wooden dowel is a protection for transportation of the cake. Wow, it's heavy!
Now it's time for a bead border. Having a decorating bag in a tall glass lets me have both hands free.
Now it's time for a bead border. Having a decorating bag in a tall glass lets me have both hands free.
Lets add some pearls for our princess Ariel...
Sometimes the actual cake requires some adjustments that are different from the original plan/sketch. So when you order a custom cake please keep this in mind and let your baker/cake designer/decorator know if you'd like your cake look exactly like showed on a sketch or a picture.
I have been asked what a preparation work means exactly and why custom cake makers ask for at least 2 weeks notice (depending on a size and occasion).
It begins with a making a sketch and research, exchanging emails with a customer to confirm a design, buying ingredients, boxes, dowels and cake boards; developing a plan of action to make sure a successful delivery of a beautiful cake to a client's event venue. Then the actual work begins: baking (some cakes like sponge ones should sit for 24 hours to get ready to work with and hold the shape); preparing all mediums for decoration process (such as fondant, gumpaste, modeling chocolate, royal icing, buttercream), making decorations and putting the whole cake together. Some cakes take 8 or more hours of active time to complete which explains prices for custom cakes. It's a hard but super fun job!
And now the final portion of the cake decorating – the most creative one – placing the figurines and playing with details!
Sometimes the actual cake requires some adjustments that are different from the original plan/sketch. So when you order a custom cake please keep this in mind and let your baker/cake designer/decorator know if you'd like your cake look exactly like showed on a sketch or a picture.
I have been asked what a preparation work means exactly and why custom cake makers ask for at least 2 weeks notice (depending on a size and occasion).
It begins with a making a sketch and research, exchanging emails with a customer to confirm a design, buying ingredients, boxes, dowels and cake boards; developing a plan of action to make sure a successful delivery of a beautiful cake to a client's event venue. Then the actual work begins: baking (some cakes like sponge ones should sit for 24 hours to get ready to work with and hold the shape); preparing all mediums for decoration process (such as fondant, gumpaste, modeling chocolate, royal icing, buttercream), making decorations and putting the whole cake together. Some cakes take 8 or more hours of active time to complete which explains prices for custom cakes. It's a hard but super fun job!
And now the final portion of the cake decorating – the most creative one – placing the figurines and playing with details!
This was a challenge to copy somebody else's work of art, but the reward is happy faces of birthday girls and boys, women and men, brides and grooms.
I love Sebastian, the lobster, the most! What is your favorite character in "The Little Mermaid"? I made the figurines a week in advance and had to remake Flounder and Ariel's tail twice – for some reason they didn't want to look the way they are supposed to. When everybody were happily sitting on a counter I let them dry for 48 hours. To keep the figurines steady on the cake I used kebab sticks.
Thanks to Peggy (I wrote about her amazing job in natural food coloring making) I had this vibrant colors that smelled of berries, sugar and fruits! I love love love my new natural gel colors!
I love Sebastian, the lobster, the most! What is your favorite character in "The Little Mermaid"? I made the figurines a week in advance and had to remake Flounder and Ariel's tail twice – for some reason they didn't want to look the way they are supposed to. When everybody were happily sitting on a counter I let them dry for 48 hours. To keep the figurines steady on the cake I used kebab sticks.
Thanks to Peggy (I wrote about her amazing job in natural food coloring making) I had this vibrant colors that smelled of berries, sugar and fruits! I love love love my new natural gel colors!
The final step is picture taking for my records and website.
Was it fun to see the cake creation process? It was definitely fun for me to share it with you! Looking forward to hearing from you soon – leave you comments below!
Going to make some royal icing flowers for another cake. I love my sweet job!
More interesting post to come...
Was it fun to see the cake creation process? It was definitely fun for me to share it with you! Looking forward to hearing from you soon – leave you comments below!
Going to make some royal icing flowers for another cake. I love my sweet job!
More interesting post to come...
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