About Cake Decorating
Cake decorating can turn an ordinary cake into a work of art, or at the very least a personalized treat that shows the receiver she is special and worth the effort. Decorating cakes crosses all income levels and most cultures. Decorated cakes are often a highlight at any celebration. Chefs and homemakers alike enjoy the art of cake decorating.
-
History
-
Vintage Cake Decorating Items
Cakes have been around since ancient Egypt. However, the art of decorating cakes came much later when cake pans were introduced to Europe in the 17th century. Initially, decorated cakes were just for show. They were displayed at banquets of European royalty but never eaten. As the 19th century progressed the French started eating sweets at the end of a meal and dessert was born. Decorated cakes became popular in France and across Europe. Cake decorating also became popular for cakes for specific celebrations such as a wedding. As cake baking became easier due to mass production and availability of ingredients, cake decorating moved out of restaurants and bakery shops and into the home. Today cake decorating is popular around the world, using different methods and items.
Types
-
Elaborate Decorated Cake
Cake decorating can apply officially to any type of cake decorated additionally after or instead of basic icing. At the least it can involve spelling words in gel tube icing bought at a grocery store. A decorated cake can also be realistic and made to look like actual things. For example baby showers often have cakes baked in the shape of a pregnant belly and decorated to look like a maternity top. Taking it further, cake decorating can become such an art that contests are held to award prizes for elaborate cakes that take hours and excellent skill to decorate to look like exact replicas of the real thing.
Tools
-
cake decorating tips
Tools for cake decorating vary on the methods used and the decorator's preferences. One tool most decorators use at one time or another to decorate a cake is a tip. These can be made of metal or plastic and are attached to tubes or bags of icing. The tips come in various grooved designs and sizes. By squeezing the bag or tube of icing, the icing is forced down to the tip and exits onto the cake. The groves shape the icing as it moves into assorted waves, squiggles and lines depending on the tip used. Other tools include formers that make flowers from icing, spatulas and decorating combs that change the look of the icing by "combing" it. Decorators also use shaped cake pans, plastic favors, airbrush kits and brushes. Edible tools are sugars, assorted icings, glazes and candies.
Methods
-
Example of Victorian method cake decorating
One method that many people use, especially when a beginner at cake decorating, is the Wilton method. The Wilton method uses shaped cake pans to bake the cakes and then a pastry bag with tips attached to decorate the cake in butter cream frosting. Often this is the method used in homes for decorated cakes when people wants to bake their own cakes.The Victorian method is used with wedding cakes. These cakes are multi-tiered cakes with flowers, piped icing and other decorations on each section. Lacy designs of royal icing applied to a fondant-covered cake signals a decorated cake of the Australian method. The lacy designs are very intricate and detailed. The Lambeth method also starts with a fondant-covered cake. Then the icing is piped on over and over in such a way that the design becomes 3D and lifelike. The newest method is called wafer mache. This method involves creating small edible figures out of thin rice paper.
Misconceptions
-
Decorating Class
The top misconception is that cake decorating is easy. While some methods are easier, such as the Wilton method, others take considerable knowledge and practice. To gain this knowledge, classes in cake decorating are available, but cake decorating is also an art. Many of the cake decorators that win contests for elaborate creative decorating have often gone into cake decorating from previous strong foundations in other complex art mediums.
-
Related Searches
Resources
- Photo Credit http://www.flickr.com
