Easy Single Layer Cake Decorating

Everything You'll Learn from a Wilton Cake Decorating Course

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Michaels is an art and crafts shop with a presence in North America. The company has been incredibly successful and its brand has gained recognition as a leader in the space. Michaels stores sell everything from wedding decorations to quilting fabrics and sewing machines.

For students of bakery or those who want to learn, Michaels offers the opportunity to take a training class. One of these is the Wilton Cake Decorating Class, modelled on the famous Wilton Method. Attending a Wilton cake decorating course is not only a way to learn a useful skill that can make family events fun, but the experience can be quite enjoyable.

Baking Your Cake

Before you can decorate your cake, you first have to bake it. It's a good idea to have learned some basics about baking before you attend a Wilton cake decorating course. You should at least know your way around the kitchen, and how to prepare basic baked dishes.

The Wilton Method is a well-established cake making set of techniques. Wilton is an Illinois-based school that has been teaching cake making methods for decades. The company has a set of processes that have spread around the world due to the outstanding results of the Method. As part of your Wilton class, you will learn how to bake cakes that fit after the tradition taught in the Wilton Method. This will take your baking to a new level.

Making the Icing for Your Cake Decoration

Another area you will learn as part of your course is how to make icing for decorating cakes. You will learn about the ingredients you will need, such as icing sugar, milk, or vanilla, and how to select the best ingredients for your icing.

Based on the type of cake you are interested in making, you may use special purpose ingredients and flavoring to make the icing fit. For example, a vegan cake may replace some common ingredients with vegan-friendly options. In addition, you will learn the art of combining icing and other ingredients for the best possible results.

Cake Decoration

The highlight of a cake decorating course on the Wilton Method will be the actual cake decorating. This is an area of specialty for many baking and patisserie experts in hospitality establishments around the world. Your course will steep you in the fundamentals of cake decoration, covering areas such as:

Royal icing decoration
Decorating with buttercream icing
Piping decoration
Hand-sculpting decorations
Airbrushing techniques

The available classes range from basics to master level cake decorating classes. Master level baking and decorating classes will cover even more advanced decorating techniques. If you are interested in pursuing a professional career in cake decoration, taking a series of classes in the Wilton Method is a good step towards that.

Where to Begin: Decorating 101

You have several options for beginning your journey in cake decorating with the Wilton Method. You might select to get started with an introductory one-time workshop. This is ideal if you just want to get some basic ideas about cake decoration. If you want a more structured introduction to the subject, you can take a Wilton Method Cake Decorating 101 course.

Wilton Method Cake Decorating 101 courses will show you how to decorate your favorite desserts and turn them into special masterpieces. This will include buttercream decorating, cookies, mini cakes, fondant, and cupcakes. The techniques you learn will prepare you to take more advanced classes in Wilton cake decorating.

Practicing Your New Skills

Cake decorating is above all a practical skill. To get better as fast as possible, you must put your new decorating skills to use. The class will give you plenty of project ideas that you can carry out on your own at home. This is a good step to try out the techniques you will have learned in class and add your own unique personality to the project. For example, you can bake novelty cakes at home with appropriate decorations, for example:

Coconut Bundt Cake
Malted Milk Birthday Cake
Red Velvet Cake
Neapolitan Cake

The good part about practicing your new skills at home is that you can share the creations with your family. Chances are, if you have young kids, they will love the special treats.