Cake decorating course?

[bubbaray]

Anyone taken one? Is it worth it? I've considered the Wilton ones at Michaels.... I'm NOT looking to make gourmet tasting cakes, but would like some creative skills to use, particularly on cupcakes....

Thoughts?

[lizzywednesday]

I've seen the Wilton one advertised, but can't bring myself to play with fondant. (I loathe fondant.)

However, I'd like to learn how to work with gum paste ...

[trentsmom]

I took the Wilson basic cake decorating course at Michael's a few years ago. We only worked with buttercream, no fondant. I think the other courses worked with fondant, and I'm just not interested in that. The focus was on regular-size cakes, but since cupcakes are so popular now, I wonder if they include some cupcake decorating now, too.

I enjoyed the class, and I've put my skills to use doing DS's birthday cakes and the birthday cakes for my best friend's kids.

[Piglet]

I took a cupcake course, which is funny since I would have preferred a cake course, LOL. It was fun and I definitely learned a few useful tricks for birthday cake decorating. Go for it!

[WatchingThemGrow]

I think some fun accessories/tools go a long way! I have these (http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_products/catalog/product.jsp?categoryCode=BK&productId=13835) and watched some youtube and flickr things which gave me great ideas! Fondant was a fun process, not scary at all. These cutters (https://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=6974&words=cutters) are fun to use with it.

[KrisM]

I took the Wilton I class 4 years ago. It was only buttercream and royal icing, not fondant.

I thought it was great! None of it is hard, but it's nice to have someone show you how to do it and build some confidence in it. I make fun cakes for my kids and know I can do it now. I'm making this one for our end of soccer season party on Saturday:

http://www.wilton.com/forums/attachments/soccercake1.jpg and I have no thoughts that I can't make it look nice :).

My DH also really liked taking cakes into work every week!

[happymom]

I'm a big cake decorator- self taught though. I work with buttecream and fondant (although buttercream is much yummier of course.) I browse the Wilton's forum a lot, and people seem to really learn a lot at the Wilton's courses. I would say definitely go for it! I really enjoy cake decorating- I think its the only hobby I still indulge myself in at this point!

[DietCokeLover]

I took the first two Wilton courses at Hobby Lobby. The third one is fondant. I enjoyed it and learned a few fun things for making DCs cakes.

[egoldber]

We are cake decorators, well actually DH is LOL!!! He never took a class, but he learned from his mom who probably did. I agree that having the proper tools, tips and bags makes all the difference. We have gradually built up a collection using the Michaels 40% off coupons and finding things on sale over the years.

We've made all the cakes for our kids birthdays and for us it's a big part of the fun. :)

We just made this cake this weekend for Amy's birthday party:

http://www.nickjr.com/recipes/wonder-pets-fly-boat-cake.jhtml

[lizzywednesday]

Ugh. I hate buttercream even more than fondant ... looks like these courses are not gonna be my thing! (Everything I ever learned about cake decorating came from an episode of Good Eats.)

[pastrygirl]

You probably haven't had real buttercream. If it has powdered sugar, it's not the real stuff. ;)

[lizzywednesday]

You probably haven't had real buttercream. If it has powdered sugar, it's not the real stuff. ;)

No, I just hate anything butter-based.