cake decorating tips

[Visitor7]

Ok, some after heaps and heaps of researching, I have found that Cairns does not offer cake decorating classes Problem is, I reeeeeeeally want to learn how to cook and decorate a cake properly. All I know is butter icing, and if I say so myself, I'm getting pretty good at it But I'd LOVE to learn how to use Fondant. I have found a place here that finally stocks it (only one store in Cairns that will would you believe!) but I have no idea how to use it.
So, can you learn this sort of thing out of a book? If so, anyone know of decent books for me to learn from?
Thanks

[squidipa]

to make the icing FLAT like on christmas cake use a old card like a birthday card/Christmas and rub it also gets cracks out

there are some good books out there myn are old but well detailed.

[didispunk]

not sure.. but i do know, \

yup the warmth of you hands and fingers moulds it.. I have used lots of fondant with a friend who is a professional wedding cake maker.

and so its doesnt stick you use a little CORN FLOUR.. not much lightly dusted when you roll it out.

good luck

[squidipa]

another tip
use unwaxed dental floss in a sawing motion back and forth to cut your sponge in half.

[squidipa]

one of the books i own is
"cake decorating simplified"

by rosenberge.tucker its quite good but old

you can make your own fondant too i did i made some and made a train cake once hehe

[rosie77]

There's a great website that I've used before - google cake central (the us one, not the aussie one.) Perhaps try YouTube for how to vids as well?

[Laranna]

Yeah I second You Tube vids...there are heaps showing you how to roll out fondant and decorate with it. It's easy once you know how!

If you're wanting to make little figurines, it's just like making shapes with playdough

A tip for colouring fondant - don't use food colouring, it makes it all sticky. Buy the proper fondant colouring paste. It goes a looong way too. Use a toothpick to dip in the colouring paste and then poke into the fondant, little by little and knead, knead, knead until you get your desired depth of colour. That's the most time consuming part.

[Sequoia]

another tip
use unwaxed dental floss in a sawing motion back and forth to cut your sponge in half.

I use an electric knife to slice mine through the middle.

[ShootingStar]

Jodi.. i agree.. get onto you tube. You can learn how to do anything on there. And sometimes you will learn more from you tube than a cake deco course. And secondly.. practice. Get some fondant and play with it.

Re the tip of using corn flour for rolling out the fondant.. only use corn flour when you are using sugar paste (the stuff that dries rock hard). When working with fondant (just buy the Orchard premade stuff from coles $4 a box, is cheaper than decorating supplies and easier than making it yourself), use PURE Icing sugar when rolling it out. Using corn flour will cause your fondant to dry out and crack.

If you want to make figurines, dont use fondant.. unless you add some gum trag or tylos to it otherwise they just wont hold shape. We use sugar paste/gum paste. You can purchase it from cake decorating shops.

But if youre really keen on doing a course.. have a look for a cake decorating shop around you.. i dont know about Cairns but around Sydney alot of cake deco shops offer courses as well.

If you want any tips or any other info just let me know.

xx