Wilton Cake Class #2

Yesterday was my second Wilton cake decorating class at Michael's here in Pearland. It is really quite convenient that the class is so close to home. I actually found out that there are a lot of places that host these classes. To find one near you head to Wilton.com!

OK, so like I said last week there are three courses, plus a fondant course that can be taken anytime after your first course is complete. The first course is all about learning how to basically ice a cake! Last week we learned how to "smooth ice" a round cake and this week we mostly concentrated on the star tip or #16 tip. Everyone was required to bring in a shaped cake already baked and prepared icing in the colors needed for the cake.

I chose to make a football, I really couldn't decide, but thought this would come in good use in the future! Wilton make all kinda of shaped cake pans and they include icing ideas (colors and amounts required). Little did anyone remember in the class that there are different consistencies of icing and we all made stiff consistency decorating icing...it didn't go over well. In less than five minutes every one's hand were aching so bad we all had to add water and remix our icing in class. This created a medium consistency icing which is much easier to decorate with.

I didn't exactly finish my cake in class so I had to come home (to an awesome homemade lasagna) and finish up. We took some pics and started eating :-)

If you can see from the pic, my brown icing seemed to have changed colors half-way through. I can't exactly figure out what happened! It may not seem like much, but it's my first cake of the class so hopefully we will see some improvement!

Next week we make a clown cake...hmmm I don't think anyone is too excited about this, but it will be a good lesson on smooth icing my cake, borders, and writing. I think this class may be a little formal and outdated, but the lessons give a good base and I can start using my right brain!

A little close up in my star action

My instructor, Mandi, started with the Wilton classes 5 years ago and is now teaching them and competes in cake competitions! She told me about one coming up in Austin the last weekend of February, they have cake competitions, celebrity demonstrations, and even a live challenge (beat that Food Network)! If your interested head to thattakesthecake.org, this year's theme is Science Fiction and Fantasy!