The Evolution of Cake

 Well, folks, it may appear that I haven't been baking anything because I haven't posted in 4 weeks, but believe you me--I've been baking up a storm. I just haven't had time to post. And I won't catch you up on any of it except my cake decorating class stuff...

This week I had my final--the last of three classes. I loved it and learned a ton, but I'm not going to lie I am relieved it's done. It turned out to be WAY more outside work than I had anticipated...Like, way more. I'm positive I was the only current college student in my class, so everyone else seemed to have all sorts of time to practice at home. So a word to the wise--if you ever decide to take a continuing ed class, make sure you're continuing your ed and not still in it. Ok that's all. 

Class #1

 Yes. Yes. This was the disastrous first cake decorating experience. I learned the hard way that cakes that were meant to be eaten were not meant to be decorated. I made the yummiest double layer lemon cake I could find with delicious butter frosting. Yeah, that's the last time I do that when I'm trying to decorate. The cake literally fell apart at the seams, and the whole side of the cake, frosting and all, slid right off the plate. As you can tell, I didn't even get through the crumb layer and then I just gave up, ran out of time, and threw some polka dots on it. I was embarrassed, frustrated, and upset.  

So I ate some of it. Don't worry, I didn't eat that big of a slice. Ugh. I was so mad. 

 Determined not to let this get me down for too long, I made some of my own cupcakes and layered them to practice frosting smaller cakes. This went better already. That's because I actually used the recommended recipes. Which aren't that yummy. But they sure decorate well.

Class #2

 Take 2: cupcake night. I didn't have time to finish all these, so I just threw rose swirls on the tops of those three and made up some random weird one on the lower right. But I had fun with these (although filling them was an entirely different story) and found that I really enjoy decorating cupcakes. Maybe because there's no frosting action involved. I have discovered that I really dislike frosting cakes just to frost them. So I tried out a couple of the flower patterns we learned in class and they were quite fun!

 I especially liked this flower--what a fun way to dress up a cupcake! I have learned that you can do almost anything with the right icing tip. 

Class #3

And then it was time for the final. I was determined not to mess this one up...So I made the cake way in advance and put it in the freezer (which caused a deformity that I somehow managed to hide). I dyed all my icings (thanks to Aileen's genius skills on the color wheel) and spent literally three hours just putting the base icing layer on. As you see above. This is where my perfectionism streak really pays off. Or not. 

 It didn't quite turn out how I had planned, but I was still pleased. It was at least better than the first one...

 An interesting sort of last-minute flower garden there in the center...but I was practicing my roses! :) I nearly revived my carpal tunnel with those groups of polka dots. 

My teacher is so funny--she's so sweet and tells you anything looks good even when it absolutely doesn't. It just causes selective believing when it comes to her nice comments...But she's very encouraging. 

Well, I filled this one with cherry pie filling so I wouldn't eat it (also a reason for making the last cake lemon, but the tactic didn't work either time). And I bid farewell to this class with much more peaceful feelings. 

So to summarize...I loved this class, had fun, and learned a lot. But it was HARD for me. And it was more time than I had budgeted. So perhaps I'll take the other classes when I'm all done with school and have more time to practice at home. It's a useful skill and I'm excited I get to keep the tips and keep practicing!