No one becomes an award-winning cake artist overnight; it takes time, patience, and tons of practice. We asked several CakeMade instructors what’s a common rookie mistake newbies should avoid.
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Photo of Amanda Oakleaf courtesy of the Boston Globe
Amanda Oakleaf, owner of Oakleaf Cakes Bake Shop in Boston, MA. Check out Amanda’s CakeMade course, Sculpted Hamburger Cake.
Trying to be perfect from the beginning. People see pictures of cake online all day long and expect it to be simpler than it is. Cake decorating involves several facets of talent and takes repeat trial and errors. Get all your practicing out of the way before you have to make a cake for a real paying client, when the pressure will really be on. Make lots of cakes, try lots of techniques, and be fearless. When you’re experimenting, what’s the worst that could happen? You’ll have to eat the mistakes? Doesn’t sound so bad : ) Plus you’ll know what to do the second time around.
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Photo of Amy Noelle courtesy of TheMarthaBlog.com
Amy Noelle, owner, Sugar Flower Cake Shop in NYC. Check out Amy’s CakeMade course, Modern, Elegant Sugar Flowers.
Not stepping back from their cake. We tend to be Type A personalities who can get bogged down in the details. By stepping back from our creations, we can get a different perspective on what the final product looks like. While we are working, there are times where the cake is better served if it gets popped into the refrigerator. Continuing to work on it at room temperature will only make things worse. After just 20 minutes, not only will our perspective change, but the consistency of the cake and buttercream will be much easier to work with.
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Shawna McGreevy
Shawna McGreevy, owner of McGreevy Cakes in Akron, NY. Shawna teaches the CakeMade course Amazing Gumball Machine Cake.
Not starting with a solid, structurally-sound base cake for their creations.
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Photo of Liz Marek courtesy of Cakers for a Cause
Liz Marek, owner of Artisan Cake Company in Beaverton, OR. Liz teaches our course Rustic Wedding Cakes.
The biggest mistake any cake decorator can make is to be unwilling to accept critiques on their work. We should never stop learning, growing and expanding our knowledge; otherwise we are doomed to become stale, bitter and outdated.
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Dawn Parrott
Dawn Parrott, OSSAS award-winning sugar artist. Check out Dawn’s CakeMade course, Piping, Stenciling & Filigree.
Over-promising and under-delivering. Never agree to do a cake you are not positive you can handle. Just because you saw someone doing it doesn’t mean you can tackle it. Be honest; only offer what you confidently can do. There is nothing more embarrassing than delivering a cake that is nothing like what you promised. It hurts your credibility.
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Photo of Bronwen Weber courtesy of tvrage.com
Bronwen Weber, owner, Frosted Art Bakery & Studio in Dallas, TX. The OSSAS winner and Food Network Cake Challenge Champion teaches the CakeMade course Contemporary Wedding Cake with Classic Piping.
Underestimating themselves! It is amazing what you can accomplish with the right mix of gumption and passion, which is what almost all cake decorators are made of. Go for it! If you make a mistake, you can only learn from it. Besides, even the funny-looking cakes are delicious!
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Photo of Karen Vazquez courtesy of CharmedWeddings.com
Karen Vazquez, owner of Kakes by Karen in Naples, Florida. Watch Karen’s CakeMade course Modern Ruffled Cakes & Cupcakes.
Allowing their nerves to take over and comparing themselves with other cakers, especially ones that are on a different playing field. We all need to walk before we learn to run.
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Photo courtesy of Susan Carberry
Susan Carberry, owner of The Cake Cottage in Murrieta, California. Susan teaches the CakeMade course, Gravity-Defying Garden Cake.
Not chilling their cake before icing it. Also, the icing needs to be the right consistency. If it’s too stiff then you are more likely to end up tearing the cake and creating crumbs..
Share with us your biggest cake decorating mistakes! What did you learn from the experience? Do you have any advice to pass on to your fellow cake decorators?
Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
