A cake decorator is a trained professional who can transform a plain cake into a work of art. Cake decorators are the artists of the cake world, capable of creating anything from realistic flowers to massive animal cakes. Cake decorating combines two fantastic passions for many people: a love of sweets and a love of art.
Cake decorator training can be formal and strict, or informal and self-directed. Pastry chef training programs at cooking schools and culinary institutes frequently include cake decorating. Many formal pastry chef programs take several years to complete and result in degrees and certificates. Cake decorating classes are frequently offered by craft shops, cooking stores, and community colleges for home bakers of all skill levels. Whether a decorator is learning to make flower petals or planning a wedding cake for 200 people, there are bound to be classes, books, and even websites that can help.
It is possible for a cake decorator to also work as a baker. While most people can follow a recipe, cake decorators tend to focus on frosting and decorating cakes rather than assembling them. Whether the cake is baked by the decorator or not, flavor is clearly just as important as the fancy design. It probably won’t matter how good the cake looks if it doesn’t taste good. As a result, if they do not bake their own goods, many decorators team up with talented bakers or pastry chefs.
In most cake decorating projects, the first step is to apply a base layer of frosting or icing. Soft icing, such as buttercream, or firm icing, such as fondant, can be used for this. Buttercreams have a more uneven but textured finish, whereas fondant or rolled chocolate can provide a perfectly smooth, seamless canvas for a cake decorator to work on.
Decor can be added after the first coat of icing or frosting has been applied. A cake decorator can create figures and forms out of frosting, chocolate, fondant, or even candies and fruits by piping icing into designs. Cakes can be made into tiers by stacking layers or balancing them on different levels and supports. Cakes in the shape of objects and animals can be cemented together with supports, cut down into the correct shapes, and built up with additional layers. A decorator’s ability may be limited only by his or her imagination, as he or she is part construction worker and part artist.
A cake decorator can specialize in a specific type or style of cake decoration. Some people choose to specialize in wedding cakes, which can be extremely elaborate and large. Others claim to be able to create whimsical and fantastical cakes to fit any theme or requirement. Much like an artist who creates commissioned works, an established decorator can choose to accept orders based on what she wants to work on. Prepare to be bombarded by friends and relatives begging for special requests if you are a home baker who has proven his or her decorating skill.