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How to Decorate a Cake Like a Pro…Take a Class! *Giveaway*

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This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Kimberly. Congrats!

This weekend, we have almost 30 people getting together for my son’s 3rd birthday party.  The theme is Disney/Pixar Cars and I’m going to attempt to do something I’ve never done before…bake AND decorate his cake from scratch.  While I was in Chicago last month, I picked up a Lightning McQueen Cake Pan and am going to adapt their Lightning McQueen Cake Recipe this week during my practice run.

I thoroughly enjoy baking…and spending some time in Chicago with Wilton inspired me to take it up a notch by making my baked goods look and taste good.  I had the privilege of taking their newly revamped Wilton Method Courses…specifically Decorating Basics and Flowers and Cake Design.  While I never had an opportunity to take their courses before they were redesigned, I will tell you that the one thing I came away with was that anyone (even me) can do it.  Some of the changes include a streamlined curriculum, more practice time with the instructor, new techniques, more hands-on activity, and easy ways to decorate cookies and cupcakes.

I have a series of posts (which include videos) coming up that will take you through the experience of completing a Wilton Method Course.

Before I get into the “decorating” part of the classes, I want to share with you some tips I learned on how to make baking that perfect cake easy and attainable.  As you may know, Wilton is the leading food crafting company and offers the information and tools necessary to bake and decorate cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and more.  The company has been around for over 80 years, and it’s likely that you’ve encountered and even used their products.

So…how do you achieve that perfect cake, which is in essence, the foundation for a perfectly decorated cake?

Mix it up!  Did you know that liquids should be measured at eye level?  Or that you should pour dry ingredients into the measuring cup rather than scooping them (which packs them in and gives an inaccurate measurement)?  These are just a few tips for ensuring your batter is prepared in such a way that your cake comes out perfect!

It’s all about the pan!  One of the things I learned during my time at Wilton is that most people overfill their cake pans.  Prepared pans should be filled halfway and baked immediately after mixing.  Be sure to place the pan in the center of a pre-heated oven and avoid opening the door during the first 20 minutes of baking.  I picked up some of their Bake-Even Strips which help ensure a perfectly level, moist cake without cracked tops or crusty edges.

Cool it off!  Do you know how many times I’ve left a pan “cooling” only to find that it’s STUCK?  Even after spraying it with non-stick cooking spray (which by the way, is not the best way to prepare your cake pan).  Once you know your cake is done (a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean), cook it on a cooling grid for 10 minutes (be sure to set the timer).

Prep the cake!  It never fails…every time I remove a cake a piece somehow manages to stick to the pan.  Part of this problem can be averted by prepping the pan appropriately.  Another trick is to use parchment or waxed paper over the cake.  Use a second cooling grid on top of the cake and invert it.  Once you remove the top cooling grid and cake pan, allow the cake to cool completely.

Stay tuned!  My next post is all about the basics of decorating.  Plus…I’ll show you what I’m working on for this weekend’s birthday celebration.

You can take a class too!  Wilton Method Courses are offered at local Michaels and Jo Ann’s stores.  By the end of the class, you will take home a cake you have decorated yourself.  How many classes can you say that about?

Win It! One of you will win a spot for you and a guest to attend a Wilton Method Course (Decorating Basics, Gum Paste & Fondant or Flowers & Cake Design) at a local retailer.  You will each receive a $50 gift card to cover the cost of the Wilton Method Course tuition, a student kit for the Wilton Method Course chosen, and a package containing class supplies needed for the course!  Please note that the winner and his/her guest is responsible for transportation to and from the course location.  Be sure to check your local retailer to learn more about where classes are held.  To enter, simply leave me a comment with the course you’d like to take and what you hope to learn.  Comments will close on July 20, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST.  US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn. Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

No compensation was received for this post.  I was invited to the Wilton Mom ReTreat which included travel, accommodations, and products.



Caryn Bailey
Latest posts by Caryn Bailey (see all)
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148 Responses to How to Decorate a Cake Like a Pro…Take a Class! *Giveaway*

  9. Would love to take the Basics Class first (have wanted to for a while now). After that I am quite intrigued by the fondant one. Thanks for the fun. Can not wait to see your Cars cake.

    Reply

  12. I would probably have to take the basics class to just learn the basic techniques of decorating. I think my sister would enjoy the class too!

    Reply

  21. I’d love to take the gum paste and fondant class so that I can make the cakes for mt children’s birthday parties going forward which could save u s alot of money. Thanks for the chance.

    Reply

  23. I would like to start with Decorating Basics. I want to learn how to make my cakes look better and all about piping and flowers.

    Reply

  25. So excited to see this giveaway, I have wanted to take one of The Wilton Courses for the longest time! I’d love to take the Basics class=)
    Thanks sooo much!

    Reply

  28. I’d like the Decorating Basics course to just learn the proper way to ice cakes and create designs.

    Reply

  29. I’d love to take the Decorating Basics class. I’d love to learn how to use decorating bags and any tips that I can learn would be helpful.
    Thanks so much.
    rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

    Reply

  31. Thank you for the opportunity to enter to win a Wilton Class and Kit!! I am a very recent empty nester trying to find the next part of my life. I enjoy baking so much so I want to learn how to decorate what I bake. I am interested in the “Flowers and Cake Design” class. I am presently in the “Decorating Basics” class. I love it! Winning this prize will be wonderful for me and my very light pocketbook! : )

    Reply

  32. I have completed (as has my oldest daughter) Course 1 and 2 at my Michael’s Craft Store. I would love to take Course 3, although, it really looks advanced!

    Reply

  39. I took the basic class two years ago and I loved it though I was the only one that was not a teenager or over 50 in my class.
    I would probably take the Flowers & Cake Design

    Reply

  40. I would love to take the Decorating Basics class. I have always wanted to take a Cake Decorating class! My mother took this class 30 years ago and I remember her making me a beautiful cake for my 18th birthday! I would love to be able to make my kids some cool birthday cakes!

    Reply

  47. I would like to take the Decorating Basics Wilton Method Course and learn how to do roses better!

    Reply

  49. I would love to take the basics class and learn how to frost a cake properly without it crumbling every time I do it!

    Reply

  51. I want to take the Decorating Basics course with my 17 year old daughter. I’d love to learn to make nice looking cakes. My cake decorating method right now consists of using lots of sprinkles to cover the cake.

    Reply

  55. i’d like to learn about gum paste and fondant , my sis and i just made my sons birthday cake it took 5 hours and looked HORRIBLE!!!
    nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net

    Reply

  57. I have told myself that the next time they offer a basics class by me, I would sign up for it.. so that is the one I would pick! I would bring my husband so we could get out of the house together for a little while! I would love to learn piping.

    Reply

  60. These classes sound like so much fun, I would choose the gum paste and fondant flowers because I feel that I have most of the basics but I have only worked with fondant on a few occasions. I would take my friend April who loves to bake and decorate just as much as I do.

    Reply

  68. I would take the flowers and cake design course, as I just signed up for the basics course. Drove to Jo-Ann’s last night to start, and found out when I got there that the course was cancelled!!! Will sign up for another one, when rescheduled.

    Reply

  71. I would like to take Decorating Basics – I enjoy baking but know nothing about decorating so this sounds like fun!

    Reply

  72. i would like to take the Flowers & Cake Design class and hope to learn how to decorate a cake like the stores so I can bke my own and not buy store bought.

    Reply

  79. I LOVE to bake and could brush up on my skills lol

    I am shocked they have a class at my local Hobby Lobby-not far from me at all:)

    I’d take the basics decorating class and would hope to learn how to be better at frosting, piping, etc.

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    ajoebloe(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply

  101. I would like to take the Gum Paste and Fondant class. I want to learn how to make gum paste flowers.

    Reply

  103. Flowers and Cake Design. I would want to learn to make beautiful cakes. I would love to make a tiered cake.

    wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

    Reply

  107. I’d like the basics since my daughter and I have been trying to mesh schedules to take it for a while and it just hasn’t worked for us yet.

    Reply

  119. I would love to take the decorating basics class and I would love to learn how to make an amazing looking cake.

    Reply

  126. I would love to take the Decorating Basic class, what I hope to learn is how to make my daughter a pretty cake. I am tired of buying them, but I can not make them pretty.

    Reply

  130. I would really like to take the gum paste and fondant class because I LOVE the look of fondant but have always been too nervous to use it without someone around to ask for help! 🙂
    romancingthestork (at) gmail (dot) com

    Reply

  140. I would love to the Decorating Basics class. I have always wanted to improve my cake decorating skills! I hope to learn to make a more perfect cake.

    Reply

  142. I want to take Gum Paste and Fondant so I can cover a cake with fondant like the pros on TV!
    Thanks

    Reply

  143. I’d like to take the Gum Paste and Fondant cause I already know the basics…I’d like to learn everything about fondant cause I have some great ideas but I just need to know how to make them come to life!

    Reply

  144. As much as I would love to jump forward to Flowers and Cake Design, I think I need to start with Decorating Basics and learn how to spread my icing evenly first. I have always wanted to take a cake decorating course!

    Reply

  148. I would love to take the decorating basics course. My mom and I have been wanting to go for some time and I’m hoping to learn to make beautiful cakes.

    Reply

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