Cake Decorating: Beautiful Buttercream

This is a flipped-style class that includes a LIVE meeting and guided work that participants will complete prior to our meeting.  Please watch the class introduction video at the top of this page to learn more about how content is delivered and how your learner will thrive in this class.    

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This class is perfect for learners with artistic flair who love good food.  If your child loves binge-watching Kids Baking Championship and other Food Network fascinations this class is for them! 

Participants in this class will learn how to make smooth, delicious American buttercream that has just the right amount of sweetness!  Then, we will learn how to apply that buttercream to cakes using some of the trendiest design techniques on Pinterest right now.  

This class will focus on decorating techniques more so than baking.  Our first week we will bake a boxed cake mix as a group to lay the foundation for future weeks.  In the subsequent weeks, students will be expected to have a baked cake (two 6" or 8" round layers) ready to decorate when they jump into the content.  They may continue to use boxed mixes or try their hand at Grandma’s secret cake recipes.  Students may use gluten free mixes too.  Please message me to discuss any other accommodations prior to enrolling.  

Each week a series of videos will be shared in the classroom providing students with step-by-step instruction for the skills we'll be focusing on.  Students can work at a time that is convenient for them, re-watch the videos, pause while working along... whatever jives best with their creative process.  This content should be completed *before* our live meeting.  I encourage lots of classroom discussion throughout the week.  Whether you're stuck on something or jumping up and down with success... share!  I love to see it all - from work in progress photos to completed masterpieces.  Students can learn so much through classroom discussions and peer review.  Plus we all love cheering one another's successes in the classroom.  

Our week culminates in a LIVE meeting where bakers can share their creations from the week and ask any questions not yet addressed.  As a group, we will dig deeper into the skills from that week and also prepare for the upcoming week.  Plus, let’s not forget FUN!  We’ll have a blast exploring new creative opportunities through games, group activities, and more!

Week One:
Independent class prep:  
We will bake a box mix cake as a group and learn how to level and crumb coat it.  This will lay the foundation for future weeks when we get into the fancy stuff!  

Live meeting:  
After getting to know one another we’ll work as a group to troubleshoot some common baking mishaps.  We’ll also play a Kahoot and discuss what has been learned in week one.  

Week Two:  
Independent class prep:
Bakers will gain familiarity with piping bags and learn to pipe a cake using the petal technique.  

Live meeting:
Bakers can share their petal technique results and any thoughts on the experience.  I’ll share ways learners can dig deeper with petal technique.  We’ll prepare for the upcoming week by playing a brainstorming game about cake fillings.  Lastly, we’ll learn more about various types of extracts.  

Week Three:  
Independent class prep:
Bakers will learn to cover a cake using the ruffle technique and have the option to try their hand at a fresh fruit filling. 

Live meeting:
After the group has shared their work from the week, we’ll explore the zillion and one ways the 104 tip can be used beyond our work from the week.  We’ll also learn about ways to jazz up the colors in our creations! 

Week Four:
Independent class prep:
Participants will learn how to pipe the ever-popular rosette technique!

Live meeting:
Rosettes are usually quite the crowd favorite, so after learners dazzle the group with their work we’ll jump into a game of Chopped Baking to flex our creativity to new heights!  We’ll also explore ways to build upon the technique of the week! 

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I have chosen to structure class this way for a number of reasons…
#1  For best results, learners truly need to work with ingredients in an ideal state.  In live classes a lot of time is spent “keeping the group together.”  Oftentimes this means learners are working with fondant that has dried out of ganache that has cooled because they aren’t able to work at the best pace for them. 
#2  Creative minds typically don’t like to be rushed.  I doubt Van Gogh ever said, “I’ve got 55 minutes.  Let’s knock out some sunflowers!”  I can see precision, detail, and creativity in the work my learners complete because they have the time to really immerse themselves and work at a pace that is comfortable for them. 
#3  The ability to pause and rewind is like being the gift of time travel!  Class participants can manage the pace of the class themselves and customize it 100% to their learning style. 
#4  As a working mom of three homeschooled kids, I completely understand how busy life can be sometimes.  This class let’s learners complete their cake when it is convenient and then come together for a live session to dig deeper!  Rainy day and soccer is cancelled?  Make your cake!  School holiday?  Make your cake!  Flexibility is a gift in our busy lives!  
#5  Our live meeting allows us to build on what has been completed independently and gives class participants the opportunity to create connections with peers who share their interest and passion for baking.  

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When it comes to cake decorating…. I pretty much do it all!  I can take learners from their very first box mix all the way up to stacking tiers upon tiers of fondant covered edible works of art!  I offer a “skills map” towards the end of each class to help learners identify what skills they may want to jump into next.  Want to see some of the cakes learners have recently completed in classes with me?  Check out this link - https://youtu.be/gm7GTE5aRrc