The Sweetness Of Sugarcrafting

Any serious cake decorator will tell you about sugarcrafting - the art of making sugar flowers, leaves and stems for cake decoration. It is one of the hardest cake arts to conquer, requiring a steady hand, delicate tools and determination. It also helps to have a comprehensive how to book on the ready. Luckily there is a brand new one , written by famed British cake decorator, Alan Dunn. This is the must have book in any baker's library.

Alan Dunn's Sugarcraft Flower Arranging (IMM Lifestyle Books 2018) is the definitive cake and flower arranging book for hardcore cake enthusiasts. Mr. Dunn has been creating amazing sprays of gum paste flowers and leaves for over twenty-five years. His website has several how tos along with merchandise to sell. Access to his tutorials is $12.45 a month, but it lets s home bakers view and study his tutorials (Mr. Dunn is like a UK version of Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro)on everything from shortbread cookies to icings. It can be a bit expensive to join which is why buying the book is a better choice. It  is divided in three sections : flowers, sprays and arrangements and cakes. Home bakers not only know about sugar fauna but also about h9ow to arrange them in realistic displays..Mr. Dunn gives the recipe for how to make the gum paste(he also gives the name of ready made gum paste sticks which makes decorating that much easier) along with pictures of all the tools needed - and there are many.)  What was needed however was a recipe for a cake - even a simple vanilla one. He does recommend using a fruit cake which is great for British tastes -not so much for the Americans,

The pictures and hows tos are stunning. Every known flower and leaf is in the book. Looking at them, you feel cheated by creating cakes with just rosebuds and buttercream leaves. The exotic Madagascar stephanotis is featured along with the South American Masdevallia orchid and the South African Brunia head seeds.There are the much wanted roses, always in demand. Mr. Dunn explains in in detail how to create them. For novices there is the dischidia,  a delicately leaved vine that doesn''t require the same amount of work as a bloom or the North American winterberry, a cousin of holly, that a round ball tinted deep red. I loved the flower arranging section. Mr. Dunn dosn't make it all about the cake. \The sprays and arrangements would look lovely on a table or even a coffee table. These are the sugar flowers and leaves but thanks to his masterful hand , they even make the real deals pale in comparison. The book is a godsend for those freelance bakers who include wedding cakes in their repertoire. There are beautiful sugar bouquets in many lovely color combinations. cascading down cakes .Any couple would love a three tiered masterpiece  topped with silvered roses or deep violet anemones.

Alan Dunn's Sugarcraft Flower Arranging is the perfect book for the hardcore cake decorator.It shows how simple sugarpaste can be turned into magnificent buds and blooms. Home bakers must have this book in their library and try their hand at coping Mr. Dunn's masterpieces.

The Perfectly Iced Cake

Fall means baking and with that decorated cakes. Cooler temps make it ideal to frost and decorate cakes and cupcakes. Every home baker should possess a variety of tools to create a creation worthy of any baking show competition.

One of the most important items to have is a turntable.Mine is an Ohuhu brand that is perfect for getting a smooth , even surface. Buy an icing spatula if you don't have one. It can even be bought at your local dollar store. Again this guarantees an even surface. You can also use a regular butter knife for this too if you want.

Another must have is an icing comb, This is a set from Cake Boss that I got from Target. It creates those elegant lines that bakery cakes have . These two create two entirely different designs with wavy squiggles or elegant lines. .

Every home bakers also needs this

This is one of my favorites. The Wilton Icer which is a dream to use. It can be used to create lush roses or delicate lines of leaves. It also makes lovely puffs of frosting on cupcakes, as well as filling them with cream. There are many attachments to create all sorts of  buds and blossoms. Unfortunately  it doesn't come with an icing nail. I had to buy those separately through Amazon.

As for the icing. I prefer a cream cheese frosting This one is from Allrecipes and it is a classic. I have used it not only on carrot cupcakes but also on chocolate ones as well.

1/2 cup softened butter (I prefer I Can't Believe It's Not Butter)

8 oz, cream cheese (Philadelphia Cream Cheese is the best)

3 1/2  to 4 cups confectioners sugar

2 tblespns good vanilla extract.

Beat butter and cream cheese until well blended. Slowly add confectioners sugar and vanilla. It will yield two cups. Double it if you;re planning on making a sheet cake. Add two or three tablespoons of extra confectioners sugar to a cup of reserved icing to make roses.

This is the season to start baking. Try your hand at creating a fancy cake for a fall soiree or party.It's easy to do if you have these tools. They'll aid you in making the picture perfect cake.

My Little Cake Shop

One more piece of my bake shop puzzle arrived today. The Ohuhu cake stand arrived, thanks to Amazon.

Soon I will have my icing spatula and icing comb to create those professional looking lines on the iced sides of a cake. I also have my Wilson icer

Thanks to my new , and sadly overworked oven, I will be trying all sorts of fun recipes and decorating. This week I will be making homemade fudge along with carrot cake cupcakes and banana bread.What I am looking forward to is making my friend's favorite cake - butter with chocolate buttercream. This will my masterpiece. It will have combed sides along with delicate puffs of icing along with  pink buttercream roses and pale green leaves.

My baking days are starting up again.I'm looking forward to all sorts of creations, from coconut macarons to chocolate chip cookies to elegantly iced cakes.

And a few fudge bars too.

The Best Cake Decorating Book Ever.

Everyone thinks that cake decorating is an art.Many home bakers would love to create a fancy cake or whimsical cupcakes but are deterred by the complexity of decorating.Never fear.There is a great how to book out now that not only guides step by step but has great ,hints ,suggestions and recipes.Even a novice can create a truly professional looking gâteau with this how to. Carey Madden'Manhattan baker , is the author of this amazing decorating guide and dessert book.It is called Sensational Buttercream Decorating (Robert Rose Press,New York) and it is perfect for any baker.There are many things to like about it,One is that she gives scratch cake recipes from simple vanilla and chocolate to the more complex pink lemonade and sweet potato spice cake.She also includes gluten free and vegan recipes too.(understandable ,since her client base includes Madonna ).Another plus is that actual book is more like a notebook where you can wrote notes in the margins.It also has templates to cut out to insure you have a picture perfect cake. The book is chockfull of good advice.She spells it out what you will need for decorating and shows how to use each tool.Ms. Madden also shows how to create different kinds of flowers from the classic rose to mums and hydrangeas.She also gives pointers on how to write in various fonts, as well as giving suggestions on what lettering to use for different occasions. The showcase of this book are the highly detailed pictures of gorgeous cakes and cupcakes.There are fifty projects to try.One of my favorites is a basket weave icing so named because it looks like an actual basket.This simple looking design is a series of intricate short lines of brown or chocolate icing around the cake's sides.It is the perfect sort for a summer or spring bridal shower.Another breathtakingly beautiful cake is the bow and swag.It is reminiscent of a Victorian hatbox with small exquisite pearl drops of icing. Another design in this vein is the calico cake, reminiscent of a sprigged muslin that a Jane Austen heroine would wear.This is a series of random deep pink rosebuds with sugar pearls. It is a perfect cake for a girl s only brunch.There are also downright fun designs such as the hot pink and black zebra design and the totally neat cheetah icing ,done in the mottled spots of the big cats.Cupcakes are well represented in the book as well.They can be topped with peach colored buttercream rosettes or hydrangeas petals.These would be the perfect little cakes for an afternoon tea or funraiser Fundraiser.There are also whimsical ones with buttercream bumblebees and lady bugs.Ms.Madden also throws in easy decorations with simple ruffled and combed effect. These are lovely in their simplicity. Carey Madden's book is a must have for home bakers longing to create that most beautiful cake or cup cake. Any one can create a picture perfect creation with simple buttercream, dye and tools. The icing and decorations will certainly take the cake!