subject: Edible Cake Decorating - A Fun And Delicious Hobby! [print this page] Edible Cake Decorating - A Fun And Delicious Hobby!
As a new mom I tried for a long time to find hobbies that I could enjoy with my children and find time for. Edible cake decorating is the perfect past-time. Not only is it fun to do with the kids, but I have birthdays every year that drive me to improve my skills.
The easiest way to start this hobby is to purchase some boxed cake mix, buy a basic cake decorating kit at the store, and browse the internet for ideas. The first cake I made was an Elmo cake for my daughter's first birthday. I made a plain yellow cake and then using some information about edible cake decorating I found online, I made red, black and orange frosting with the Wilton's gel food color. The cake was a big hit and delicious as well.
Since my first cake, I have tried more difficult cakes. This past year for my son's first birthday party, I made a six car train cake complete with edible cargo (M&Ms and gummy bears). The kids loved the cake and I loved making it! I used a simple box chocolate cake and made six small loaf cakes. I then used canned frosting and added different color food dyes to make a variety of colors. I frosted the cakes with a crumb coat and let that harden in the refrigerator for a few hours. After that, I was able to frost again and top each "train car" with Kit-Kat side bars and candy cargo. I covered a piece of wood with wax paper, drew tracks with black icing and laid down the train. This session of edible cake decorating was my favorite as I was able to sample the left over cargo.
One of the best places to shop for decorations and supplies is the local craft store. In my area I go to A.C. Moore or Michaels and using a 40% coupon am able to pick up things like food dye, spatulas, frosting tips and candy toppers.
The best part about this hobby is I have more fun and get better at it with each cake I make. I've now made four cakes and each one trumps the one before it. I'm just hoping I can keep up at this pace! With a three year old and a one year old, I have many more years of edible cake decorating ahead!
