If you want to learn how to decorate a cake, cupcakes or cookies, and you’ve never done it before, fear not! Here we will offer you five simple ways you can get started without spending too much money on cake decorating supplies.
Even people who don’t regularly eat sweets and treats can’t help but admire the lovely ways professional cake decorators seem to effortlessly “make” their beautiful creations!
But, here is a little cake decorating secret for you. You don’t need a pantry full of expensive cake decorating items. Usually, when you first learn how to decorate a cake, chances are some of the items you’ll need are already in your kitchen.
For example, do you have a hand blender or a tabletop blender? What about mixing bowls and spatulas? If so, you’re on your way!
If you’re very new to learning how to decorate a cake, the simplest thing you can do is buy an inexpensive cake decorating kit for a particular “theme.” By “theme” we mean something like “baby shower cake kit” or a similar term. There are cake decorating kits for many popular television characters. There are also themed kits like “pirate cake kit” or “castle cake kit”.
As a beginner, you can also find cake decorating supplies and kits made just for you! For example, there are famous cake decorating supplies and kits for less than $20.
Here are five simple things you can do to start learning how to decorate a cake:
1. Shop for the most basic decorating tips. Most experts agree that you should have at least four primary pastry tips. These are the little prongs that attach to the end of the pastry bag or piping bag. A “Round” tip, size 3 or 4, will be used to write on the cake. A #18 “Star” tip, a #352 “Leaf” tip, and a #102 or #104 “Petal Ruffle” tip are also recommended. These tips are what will help you make those little flowers, leaves, and other shapes!
2. Gather the rest of the essential equipment, like your mixer, mixing bowls, flat spatulas (we’ll show you a source where you can see what they look like shortly), some frosting gels (for coloring your frosting), and the basic ingredients. for your icing Your basic buttercream frosting or frosting won’t require any complicated ingredients! If you have icing (powdered) sugar, butter, shortening, light vanilla extract, and a little milk or water, you’re good to go!
(Here’s a quick note on why you need “clear” vanilla extract, which you can find in any grocery store craft or decorating aisle: If you use the usual “brown” colored vanilla extract, the brown color will stain your icing, giving it a “muddy” color look. When adding your icing colors, it’s best to add them to a pure white icing base. Using light vanilla extract will help give it that bright white color.)
3. Watch a couple of beginner videos, many of which are now free and easy to find online, before you get started. Simply observing some of these techniques will help you gain the confidence to try them yourself. For example, you can check out one of the videos showing a professional making a classic buttercream frosting. Then you can try making the frosting yourself and covering a plain cake or a batch of cupcakes just to get you started and get an idea of what the spatulas and frosting will feel like.
4. Take a look at some easy start cake decorating supplies and kits for beginners. As mentioned, you can pick up an appropriate starter kit for very little money. You might even find some at a thrift store or garage sale if you keep your eyes peeled! If you know someone in your neighborhood who is an avid baker, you might even want to borrow some cake decorating supplies just to see how they feel before investing in your own.
5. You can join an online cake decorating community and forum and get expert advice and learn from professionals who not only post how-to videos on a regular basis, but are also available to answer questions. Cake decorating communities can help you figure out what you might have done wrong when that little line you put down the side of your cake fell off, or offer suggestions if you show them a photo of your work. Online cake decorating communities are very helpful and members really enjoy helping others learn how to decorate a cake.
Finally, and this should probably be step number 6, but just do it! Bake a single layer cake. Even use an easy baking mix, or a batch of cupcakes, and then just fill one of the icing bags with some frosting (you can even buy pre-made frosting at the grocery store to get started), and allow yourself to draw lines and figures on the cake or cupcakes.
It really all comes down to taking the steps to get started, doesn’t it? You will have fun and your friends and family will enjoy your results too!
