Beginners guide to cake decorating
Cakes fondant, buttercream, or chocolate drip? So what is the difference between them, which are more popular?
Fondant cakes
Firstly you fill the cake with a little jam and buttercream. A crumb coating is next to stop the crumbs from going all over the cake, thus the name, then refrigerate for about 20 mins. Take it out, put another coat of buttercream on, and then cover it with fondant. You can then decide on the decoration. Are you making flowers or models? Are you piping on the cake, all this needs to be thought about. A basic fondant cake could take about an hour to a more intricate one longer. Sometimes if you make the models beforehand they can then just be put onto the cake which takes less time. When you start and are a complete beginner a guide to cake decorating would be don’t start with difficult ones.
This cake is easy for a beginner. You can make the models beforehand. The makeup bag is made from rice crispy marshmallows.
Buttercream cakes and chocolate drip cakes
Beginners guide to cake decorating, buttercream, and chocolate drip cakes.
These take time to make as well, nearly as long as a fondant cake. You still have to fill and crumb coat the cake. The only difference is you have to cover the sides and top of the cake with buttercream another 3 times and it has to be chilled in the fridge in between each coat. You also have to make up the drip and allow it to cool before putting on the cake. Some cake decorators put the drip on with a spoon while others use a piping bag. I use the latter as I find it works well for me. ALWAYS do a test drip on the back of the cake first. If the drip is too thick then more cream needs to be added and if it is too runny it could be that it’s not cool enough and needs more time to cool. I always leave my drip cake to set before putting the decorations on. Piping, chocolate, flowers, sweets, etc. I find if the decorations go on before the drip has set then more drips will flow down the cake and sometimes ruin it. I always leave it for a few hours to set first.
I like making all types of cake but it is trial and error to see what you like the best to do. Remember if a cake is too difficult or you feel you can’t make it then it is to say no.
The chocolate drip cake below was made in the hot weather a few weeks ago in September but I was pleased with how it turned out in the end
The buttercream cake below with the dinosaurs below, I enjoyed making. I made the cake left it to set, made the dinosaurs before the cake, and added them later
Happy baking
Caroline x
Have a look at some of my cakes below
Childrens Birthday Cakes Newbridge Caerphilly and The South Wales Valleys
