The Cake Decorating Co. Booklet #Issue18

YOU WILL NEED...

Vicki is a UK based cake artist and content creator. Her love for cake decorating began over 15 years ago. Over time she developed a passion for making cake toppers. This led to her very own cake tutorial blog and YouTube channel called A Cake On Life.

Use your thumb to flatten where the eyes will be. Then gently mark with a ball tool.

Roll the paste between your fingers just above half way down to form a neck.

Use the smaller end of a bone tool to make sockets for the eyes.

Use the larger end of the dresden tool to make a smile. Then with the finer end, widen the smile on both sides.

Add two small balls of black modelling paste into the eye sockets and secure with the smaller end of the bone tool.

Colour some white

Form 60 grams of your ivory coloured modelling paste into an egg shape.

Form two small tubes of brown modelling paste and use edible glue to stick them into position.

Take two tiny balls of white modelling paste and stick them onto the eyes and secure with the bone tool.

Use the needle tool to create holes on either side of the cheeks where the whiskers would be.

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Form two pieces into flat tear shapes. Use the knife of the knife and scriber tool to create indents for the toes.

Stick the feet into position. Secure with the larger end of a ball tool and create indents in each foot.

To make the ears, form two small flat discs. Make sure they are the same size so they look even.

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Stick the ears into position. Secure with a bone tool and create an indent for the middle of the ears.

Form two tiny balls of pink modelling paste and stick them in the middle of the ears. Secure with the bone tool.

Colour some white modelling paste. Form it into a flat leaf shape and use the knife tool to mark the veins.

Pinch the leaf together with your fingers to create a leaf shape. Stick the leaf into position.

Roll the end between your fingers to create a wrist and flatten the hand. Create fingers with the knife tool. 22 23 24

Stick the arms into position and place the hands as if holding the leaf.

Form two small pieces of ivory paste into two tubes for arms. Make one end thinner and curve inwards.

To make the nose, form a small oval of black modelling paste and stick onto the point.

To make the spikes, take small pieces of brown modelling paste and form them into tear shapes.

Attach them using the ears and other spikes to help you stick them into position. You can make a few spikes at a time to make it quicker.

Leave an area at the back spike free, so you can still pick it up. Finish off the spikes once the hedgehog is secured onto the cake.

Finish off your hedgehog with a dusting of pink edible dust on the cheeks, feet and a little in the mouth.

Zara is a full-time luxury cake designer who specialises in ganache finishes & creates beautiful bespoke sugar cookies for weddings & celebrations. As well as creating content for a handful of companies within the industry, she also teaches her skillset in class settings as well as private 1:1 tutorials.

How did you get into the world of cake decorating and treat making?

A friend asked if I could bake a cake for her daughter's birthday, so I did. I really enjoyed the entire process & something clicked. I spent years honing my skillset and then having it as a side hustle once I returned to work in the NHS. I set up a Facebook page, started posting my bakes & it soon starting taking over. I was hugely unfulfilled in my role at work & constantly daydreamed about cakes, so took the decision to jump in with both feet & I have never looked back. I am so deeply passionate about this industry I truly would not know what else I would or could do now.

Introducing Zara (@bubbasbakes)

What are your ‘must-have’ cake decorating tools and products?

Agbay Cake Leveller

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FMM Dab-A-Dust

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Roxy & Rich Fondusts

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Mini PME Palette Knives

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Couture Sugarpaste

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What are your top decorating tips?

Sketch/Plan: Not only to give clients a visual blueprint, but also to help refresh my mind on what the end result is to be. Spend your money on good quality butter: your buttercream tastes as good as the money you spent on it.

Time management: You cannot produce a high-end good quality design if you haven’t given yourself enough time. Good quality tools: You don't need 'everything' you just need some specific good things. Quality scrapers, a heavy based turntable and a set of good flexible palette knives.

What’s been your favourite cake to date?

I think because of the sheer volume of designs I create, my favourites change quite quickly. But if I was pushed, I currently would say my Black & Gold 'Her'. My client's brief was for over the top & extra with a black & gold theme for his Fiancée's 30th Birthday. This is one of those designs where I can still look back & be happy with the finished design & not wish to change certain elements. My recent three-tiered woodland creation is also right up there as a firm favourite & they couldn't be further apart design wise.

SAY HELLO TO THE NEW

THE AQUA BLEND COLLECTION HAS LANDED!

Aqua blend brings the best of Colour Mill to the world of water-based colouring, without compromising on quality. Still premium pigments, just without the oil.

54 COLOURS AVAILABLE!

NO ADDED SUGAR

GLUTEN FREE

ALLERGEN FREE

DISPOSABLE PIPING BAGS

With our ‘piece of cake’ dispenser box, your piping bags are easy to store & grab and will stay crease-free.

SIZES 9”, 12” AND 15”

GLITZ AND LUSTRE DUST

Bring a little bling to your baking with our ultra sparkly gem in a jar that can be used for everything from cakes to jellies and more!

4 GLITZ AND 8 LUSTRE BLENDS

SERIAL SCRAPER

With a sharp bevelled edge that glides effortlessly along any surface, the Serial Scraper does all the hard work for you.

SIZES 6”, 8” AND 10”

4B Open Star

PIPING NOZZLES

Introducing Colour Mill’s must-have piping tips for every kind of decorating, from florals to lambeth cakes and everything in between.

10 MUST-HAVE DESIGNS

how to make Salted Caramel Brownies

The only thing more indulgent than a brownie, is a brownie topped with buttercream! And luckily, our friend Sarah at @bake.works had just that in mind. Here we have her easy salted

Ingredients

brownies

250g butter, melted

3 medium eggs

1 x 500g Funcakes

Fudge Brownie Mix

buttercream

250g butter, room temperature

450g icing sugar

1 x Ingenious Edibles

Salted Caramel

Flavoured Icing Sugar

1-2 tbsp milk

Food colouring (optional)

mini bio

sarah | @bake.works

Sarah is a London-based cake artist and content creator for popular cake decorating brands. She was born and raised in Germany and moved to the UK in 2016 where she discovered her passion for cake decorating. Sarah enjoys creating vibrant showstoppers and is known for her modern & intricate designs.

Instructions

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2.

Preheat your oven at 170°C.

Melt 250g of butter in a saucepan. Then let the butter cool down. Transfer the butter into a bowl and add three eggs.

Mix for 5 minutes with a hand mixer or with your stand mixer.

Transfer the brownie mix into your pan and bake for 30-35 min or until a skewer comes out clean.

Let the brownies cool down and sit in the fridge for about 2-3 hours before cutting or removing from the mould.

To make your buttercream, beat 500g of room temperature butter in a large bowl until pale. Add half of the icing sugar and beat until smooth.

Add the remaining icing sugar and 1-2 tablespoons of milk. Beat the mixture until creamy and smooth.

Once everything is combined, mix on the lowest mixer setting for about 5 min to remove air bubbles.

EASY MEXICAN THEMED DECORATIONS? NO PROBLLAMA!

Make your best bakes yet!

Of all the tools in their collection, FMM is particularly well known for amazing cutters. From flower and leaf designs to novelty cutters for birthday bakes, these are a wonderful way to add a personal touch to any special occasion. Lucky for you, we’ve got all the inspo you need! So, let your creativity run wild and have fun making your best celebration cake.

@BAKE.WORKS

LEVEL UP YOUR BAKING WITH INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS FROM FUNCAKES!

Add that creative touch to your treats with the baking products from FunCakes. A bright colour, a surprising flavour, extra sparkle or trendy topping. The possibilities are endless!

FOOD PAINT

Top off your bakes with some metallic glam using this range of edible metallic food paints. These food paints dry well, don't leave a sticky residue and are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Unleash your creativity with your cake designs using the FunCakes Edible Food Pens. These handy pens are perfect for adding small details and more intricate designs to your cakes and decorations.

£6.75

£3.25

FROM £4.50

DECO MELTS

Perfect for adding a drip to cakes, cupcakes, cookies, or for dipping fruit, cake pops and more, with a delicious white chocolate flavour.

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FROM £7.99

CHOCO DRIP

Add delicious chocolate drip to your cakey creations. It’s never been easier - simply squeeze and drizzle directly onto your cake.

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£5.25

CAKE MIX

Imagine the warmth of the Tuscan sun on your face and the freshness of a limoncello cocktail. This fruity summer cake has it all.

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cakes and pastries. Get creative!

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2023 top trend

Ganache Plates

Whatever the occasion, creating a shaped cake always takes your bake to the next level. From Princess Parties to Spooky Season, we’ve made it easier than ever to create flawless shapes out of your sponge and buttercream. Our Ganache Plate and Stencil collection is a total game changer.

huge time saver achieve a flawless finish

Wipe clean & Use again

@4CAKE_SAKE

@CHIKZPATISSERIE

@BAKE.WORKS

So, pick a plate that matches your favourite theme and get creative. The ganache plates act as the perfect guide to carve out your shape – it's no surprise they have soared in popularity lately, going viral on TikTok and Instagram!

Tip: cover with buttercream in several layers allowing each layer to set before applying the next!

@BAKE.WORKS

@BAKE.WORKS

@THECAKERUBIKS

@BAKE.WORKS

Cake decorating is much more than smearing a layer of frosting onto your cakes. Like working on a painting, cake decorating is an art; you can accentuate the aesthetics by using different tools, colours, & techniques.

LARGE DROP FLOWER TIP NO.2D

Let your creative side bloom and make stunning icing flowers look easy. Ideal for drop flowers, stars, rosettes, swirls and more

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Give your cakes an exciting texture using this basketweave tip. Ideal for piping both smooth and ribbed striped decorations.

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OPEN STAR TIP NO.021

This large open star tip can also be used to add “gems"—the tiny star-like shapes that are typically used to pipe out meringue drops and decorate mini cupcakes.

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PETAL TIP NO.103

This large petal tip is great for creating frills, ruffled borders, and swags. It’s also perfect for piping out flower petals on top of your cakes and cupcakes!

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GET INSPIRED

Our favourite part of the day is visiting Instagram to check in on #CakeDecFamous - here are just a few of your cakey creations that have caught our eye lately!

MADE FROM QUALITY FOOD-GRADE SILICONE,

all the rage!

STRONG & STURDY COLOURED BOARD

ADD

Level up your bakes with these delicious new flavours.