A cake decorator is someone who not only bakes cakes but also decorates them with frosting and other edible mediums. Enroll in a pastry arts or cake decorating program or practice your skills at a local bakery to become a cake decorator. You can take informal classes at a craft store if you want to decorate cakes as a hobby. Prepare cakes for family and friends to hone your skills.
Before you can work as a cake decorator, you must first learn how to decorate cakes. If you want to work as a professional decorator, you can enroll in a culinary school’s pastry arts diploma or degree program. You will also learn how to make other pastries besides cakes during the program. If you want to learn how to decorate cakes for fun, you could enroll in classes at a craft store or another informal setting. Informal classes are typically much less expensive than earning a diploma.
It’s possible that some people won’t even need to take classes to learn how to decorate cakes. If you’ve been decorating cakes for years and want to take your skills to the next level, inquire about apprenticeships or internships at a local bakery. While you won’t make any money working in a bakery, you will gain valuable hands-on experience that you won’t get at home or in a classroom.
Offer to design and prepare cakes for friends’ and family members’ weddings and birthdays to show off your skills as a cake decorator. You can build a referral and client base by decorating cakes for people you know. By word of mouth, you can become a cake decorator. People who like your work will spread the word to their friends.
Entering competitions is another way to show off your skills. You may be required to design and bake a cake during the competition or bring a pre-made cake to be judged, depending on the nature of the contest. You’ll be able to advertise that fact to potential customers if you win a competition, in addition to showcasing your skills.
After you’ve established a client base and received adequate training, you might want to pursue certification as a cake decorator. After a few years of cake decorating and passing an examination, you can usually earn certification. The certification demonstrates to clients and customers that you are an experienced and dependable decorator.