Cake Decorating For Dummies

385 Pages·2007·5.89 MB·English

Cake
Decorating
FOR
DUMmIES‰
by Joe LoCicero
Cake Decorating For Dummies®
Published by
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
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Copyright © 2007 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published simultaneously in Canada
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2007921849
ISBN: 978-0-470-09911-7
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
About the Author
Family lifestyle expert Joe LoCicero’s obsession with cakes and instruction
began with the Flintstones-themed cake his mom served for his fifth birthday.
Before the cake was doled out, Joe explained to everyone the importance of
embellishing a cake with frosting and figures. He developed an immediate
interest in deconstructing and designing desserts, and by the time he was in
seventh grade, his carrot cakes had become such a hit that local organiza-
tions auctioned them off at fundraisers.
More recently, the Southern-bred LoCicero has spent the last 15 years in Los
Angeles working in the entertainment industry as a party planner, writer,
columnist, and marketing consultant. He also works wonders as a cake deco-
rator, accomplished home chef, creative instructor, and entertaining guru.
Having organized big-budget parties for network, studios, agents, and stars,
Joe founded Chartreuse Cake in 1999, which specializes in themed, fantasti-
cally crafted cakes for large gatherings such as birthday parties, bridal and
baby showers, signature events, and private screenings. His Red Velvet Cake
and its wide variety of decorations is his most requested. Chartreuse Cake
has also catered meals for independent films, and dessert buffets for celebri-
ties. LoCicero also continues to offer one-on-one home cooking instruction.
In 2004, Joe and his wife founded Practical Whimsy (www.practicalwhimsy.
com), a company that celebrates family style with products, recipes, party
tips, and of course ideas for cakes. Joe and his wife champion the importance
of family supper and celebrations and have given presentations on those topics
to corporations, organizations, and educational institutions including MTV,
Paramount, Viacom, Turner Broadcasting, Loyola Marymount University, and
Southern California’s Discover Conference.
Joe’s column on entertaining, “Practical Whimsy: Southern Hospitality,
Hollywood Style,” is a regular feature in Y’ALL: The Magazine of Southern
People,and he’s the author of a number of books, including The Complete
Idiot’s Guide to Clear Thinkingand Streetwise Meeting and Event Planning.
Additionally, Joe is the Food Contributor for momready.com.
LoCicero has been featured in Cosmopolitan,Woman’s World,several daily
newspapers in the U.S. and Canada; radio outlets including Sirius’ Martha
Stewart Living Radio;and network affiliate news programs.
LoCicero lives in Los Angeles, where he cooks dinner every night for his wife,
Lori, and their two young children. They have cake as often as possible.

Dedication
To Dalton, whose love for cakes, zest for life, and ever-burgeoning outpouring
of new ideas provide a happy, constant source of inspiration.
Author’s Acknowledgments
I truly regard cake decorating as a way to celebrate the infinite number of
happy occasions that can bring friends, colleagues, relatives, and immediate
family together. In that spirit, I’m so thankful to my nieces and nephews —
Eli, Mary Elle, Samuel, Tucker, Savannah, Ethan, Paulina Jane, and Alex —
who take cake and celebrating very seriously and have fueled my passion for
cakes, served as excellent taste testers, and proved to be unending idea fac-
tories. And to my delightful daughter Garcy, who has already shown me that I
was, in fact, prepared to have a girl, particularly one who has such fabulous,
discriminating taste.
I’ve realized that people can be just as passionate about enjoying cake as I
can be about making and decorating them. Jill and Mark Illsley, Maureen
FitzPatrick and Doug Armstrong: Your unending support and encouragement,
your graciousness, and your ever-present humor humble me.
I’d also like to thank Kristy Wylie and Shari Kaufman, two champions of my
cakes who never missed the chance to express their sheer delight, spread the
word, and show me the importance of never making light of a talent you’ve
been given And I appreciate all my friends and colleagues at Paramount, Disney,
Turner Broadcasting, and Sony who heaped praise on myriad confections,
instilling more pride, happiness, and publicity than they’ll ever know.
To those who willingly enter the Practical Whimsy test kitchen and help us so
immeasurably — namely the incredibly talented Sarah Kent and Julie Jones.
Your assistance in so many areas was absolutely invaluable. You make us
smile and never let us down.
At Wiley, I so appreciate my Acquisitions Editor Stacy Kennedy’s passion for
this project and understanding of my vision; Project Editor Tim Gallan’s stead-
fast commitment and easygoing style; Copy Editor Elizabeth Rea’s cheer and
verve; and Pam Mitchell’s expert recipe testing.
In Jacky Sach, I am always happily amazed at what a dedicated advocate I
have. I’m so lucky to be in league with such a smart, savvy agent who never
wavers from helping me accomplish the ideals I strive for. And that sense of
humor: Don’t get me started!
I also want to point out my parents, Joe and Gloria, whose zeal for good food
and love of us all propelled us to believe that we can do anything. And finally,
to my favorite cake lover, my amazing Practical Whimsy coconspirator/wife
Lori, who let me have an actual chartreuse-colored cake for our wedding . . .
and had no idea what she was getting us into when she ordered me that
Martha by Mail cake decorating kit oh-so-long ago.
Publisher’s Acknowledgments
We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our Dummies online registration
form located at www.dummies.com/register/.
Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:
Acquisitions, Editorial, and Composition Services
Media Development
Project Coordinator: Lynsey Osborn
Senior Project Editor: Tim Gallan
Layout and Graphics: Brooke Graczyk,
Acquisitions Editor:Stacy Kennedy Joyce Haughey, LeAndra Hosier,
Stephanie D. Jumper, Heather Ryan
Senior Copy Editor: Elizabeth Rea
Anniversary Logo Design:Richard Pacifico
Technical Editor and Recipe Tester:
Pamela Mitchell Proofreaders:Melanie Hoffman, Betty Kish
Editorial Manager: Christine Meloy Beck Indexer:Steve Rath
Editorial Assistants:Erin Calligan, Joe Niesen,
David Lutton, Leeann Harney
Illustrator: Liz Kurtzman
Photographer: T. J. Hine Photography, Inc.
Food Stylist: Lisa Bishop
Cartoons: Rich Tennant
(www.the5thwave.com)
Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies
Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher, Consumer Dummies
Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director, Consumer Dummies
Kristin A. Cocks, Product Development Director, Consumer Dummies
Michael Spring, Vice President and Publisher, Travel
Kelly Regan,Editorial Director, Travel
Publishing for Technology Dummies
Andy Cummings,Vice President and Publisher, Dummies Technology/General User
Composition Services
Gerry Fahey,Vice President of Production Services
Debbie Stailey,Director of Composition Services
Contents at a Glance
Introduction.................................................................1
Part I: Getting Ready to Decorate with Ease
and Expertise................................................................7
Chapter 1: Acquiring the Skills and Creativity................................................................9
Chapter 2: Assembling Your Cake Decorating Kit........................................................15
Chapter 3: Planning Your Workspace............................................................................31
Chapter 4: Stocking Your Pantry....................................................................................39
Part II: Preparing the Canvas of Cake..........................49
Chapter 5: Prepping for the Cake Decorating Process................................................51
Chapter 6: Baking the Perfect Cakes..............................................................................61
Chapter 7: Smoothing the Way for Decorating.............................................................81
Part III: Topping, Filling, and Embellishing
Your Creations............................................................93
Chapter 8: Whipping Up Frostings.................................................................................95
Chapter 9: Dusting and Glazing: It’s Icing on the Cake..............................................109
Chapter 10: Amping Up the Flavor: Spreading Fillings..............................................129
Chapter 11: Tip Talk.......................................................................................................143
Chapter 12: Enhancing with Embellishments.............................................................159
Part IV: Sweetening Life’s Special Occasions..............181
Chapter 13: Festive Cakes for Kids...............................................................................183
Chapter 14: Cakes for Grown-Ups................................................................................205
Chapter 15: Showering Brides and Moms-to-Be.........................................................223
Chapter 16: Lifting a Fork to Weddings and Anniversaries.......................................243
Chapter 17: Savoring Holidays and Special Occasions.............................................259
Part V: Thinking Outside the Cake Box.......................285
Chapter 18: Prepping for Showtime.............................................................................287
Chapter 19: Quick Cakes and Last-Minute Decorating Techniques.........................297
Chapter 20: Starting a Cake Decorating Business......................................................311
Part VI: The Part of Tens...........................................323
Chapter 21: Ten Great Sources for Cake Supplies and Ideas....................................325
Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Cut a Cake............................................................................329
Chapter 23: Ten Easy Baking and Frosting Alternatives............................................337
Chapter 24: Ten (or So) Troubleshooting Techniques..............................................341
Index.......................................................................345
Table of Contents
Introduction..................................................................1
About This Book...............................................................................................2
Conventions Used in This Book.....................................................................2
Foolish Assumptions.......................................................................................3
How This Book Is Organized...........................................................................3
Part I: Getting Ready to Decorate with Ease and Expertise..............4
Part II: Preparing the Canvas of Cake..................................................4
Part III: Topping, Filling, and Embellishing Your Creations...............4
Part IV: Sweetening Life’s Special Occasions......................................4
Part V: Thinking Outside the Cake Box...............................................5
Part VI: The Part of Tens.......................................................................5
Icons Used in This Book..................................................................................5
Where to Go from Here....................................................................................6
Part I: Getting Ready to Decorate with Ease
and Expertise ................................................................7
Chapter 1:Acquiring the Skills and Creativity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Bridging Baking and Creativity.......................................................................9
Gathering the Tools and Ingredients...........................................................10
Picking Up the Skills.......................................................................................11
Baking the foundations........................................................................11
Spreading on the layers.......................................................................11
Decorating with tips and embellishments........................................12
Setting up, striking down.....................................................................12
Infusing Your Own Taste...............................................................................13
Calling All Occasions.....................................................................................13
Recognizing Possibilities...............................................................................14
Chapter 2:Assembling Your Cake Decorating Kit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Targeting Tips and Flower Nails...................................................................15
Starting with essential icing tips........................................................16
Adding couplers...................................................................................17
Fixating on flower nails........................................................................17
Picking Out Paper Goods and Pastry Bags.................................................19
Sizing Up Pan Shapes.....................................................................................20
Rectangular and square.......................................................................20
Round and oval.....................................................................................20
Cupcake tins..........................................................................................21
Bundt......................................................................................................21
Specialty shapes...................................................................................21