Suanne and Ben’s Food and Travel Adventures from Vancouver, BC

Jun

Wilton Cake Decorating Level 1

Posted by suanne Published in Cakes, Non-Food

I like to bake cakes but they are all cakes without frosting because I simply dont know how to frost a cake. One day when we were shopping a Michaels, Ben noticed that Michaels offers cake decorating class on a notice board in the store. So, I signed up for it since the course is free with the condition that you buy the student kit for the course.

There are four levels in the Wilton Cake Decorating course. Each level has four classes and the class is two hours each on a weekly basis.

The student kit for level one costs $29.99 plus tax. The kit consists of some of basic items like a spatula, seven tips, a flower nail, a tip brush, a decorator brush, a practice board set, two 10″ featherweight decorating bags, a disposable decorating bag and two standard couplers. We were given a coloured course material book too.

In the course, we were taught how to make different consistency buttercream icing. The different consistency is meant for different decorating tips. For example, thin consistency is for the base icing for the cake and printing. The medium consistency is mainly to create motives using tips while the stiff consistency is for creating larger motives like a rose. Well, I would not know all this without going to a course like this.

We also learned how to prepare a cake for decorating; from baking, leveling, torting, filling and icing the cake. Before we start to create motives with the different tips, we learned about the correct bag position with the right angle and direction. We also learned about pressure control to create different size and uniformity of the icing designs. It seems like a lot to learn but you will get the hang of it with practice.

Finally, we got to decorating our cakes. We have to prepare a cake with icing to bring to the class so that we can decorate it after we learn how to using the icing tips to create different icing motives. This the my first decorated cake with mainly star tips.

I made a chocolate cake base as my kids love chocolate cake.

My second cake had drop flowers and shell decorating. I find that the shell is very difficult to do especially when you need to get consistent shells. The shell is very common for borders.

A side view of the cake.

By the last lesson, we learnt how to make the Wilton Rose, sweet peas, bows, leaves and vines. I cant believe I made this cake.

I’m amazed that I can create a cake like this with just a few lessons. I will blogged about the other levels when I get the time to attend them. This is a great course and I would recommend those who are interested in cake decorating to join it.

Light Carrot Cake (April 27th, 2008)
Classic Carrot Cake (April 26th, 2008)
Wacky Cake (April 3rd, 2008)
Yellow Cake with Pumpkin (March 28th, 2008)
Ponderosa Cake (March 13th, 2008)

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MammaViv said in June 27th, 2007 at 8:35 am

How impressive, Suanne! You’ve got talent for sure. Btw, I’m curious….did you create the rose directly on the cake or did you transfer it when it was done? I’ve only made the roses in advance and transfered it to the cake when the icing had hardened.I’m assuming not everyone has the time to let the roses harden, so what do they do? If you transfered it, did it become messy? Did you use any special tool for the transfer?

Suanne said in June 27th, 2007 at 9:19 am

Hi MammaViv, we made the rose on a rose nail. Since we were using buttercream icing, the rose will not harden. The instructor demonstrated to us on how to use the tip of a pair of scissors to transfer the rose onto the cake.

Lili said in June 27th, 2007 at 10:18 am

Hey Suanne, I live in Vancouver as well. I am curious about this class, where do they have the classes?

Suanne said in June 27th, 2007 at 10:44 am

Hi Lili, I attended the Wilton Cake Decorating class at Michaels on Bridgeport Rd in Richmond. You can call up Michaels in the following link for the location nearest to you to checkout on such classes; http://direct.where2getit.com/cwc/apps/w2gi.php?client=michaels&template=locator&city=vancouver&state=BC&postalcode=&country=CA

cocoa said in June 27th, 2007 at 8:56 pm

wow….you are very talented.. I saw the cake class in hobby lobby too and i was wondering whether i should sign up because i am thinking of making the birthday cake for my son in 2 months… this really good info. i should sign up the class asap!!!
by the way, could you provide the buttercream recipe for printing? i made a cream cheese frosting for father’s cake and they are too soft for piping any style

Suanne said in June 27th, 2007 at 9:36 pm

Hi Cocoa, here is the recipe for the buttercream icing (stiff consistency):

1 cup solid white vegetable shortening
1 teaspoon Flavour (Vanilla or Almond)
2 teaspoons milk or water
1 lb. icing sugar (approximately 4 cups)
1 tablespoon Meringue Powder
a pinch of salt (optional)

Yield 3 cups.

For medium consistency, add one teaspoon water to each cup of stiff consistency icing (or one additional tablespoon of water for the full recipe).

For thin consistency, add two teaspoons of water for each cup of stiff consistency icing (or two tablespoons of liquid for the full recipe above). The thin consistency is the one for writing.

Anu said in June 29th, 2007 at 4:23 am

Hi,

Great work.. looks nice..you are really talented.. looking forward to learn from you :)

Thanks
Anu

cocoa said in June 29th, 2007 at 6:13 am

Thank you! will try this weekend. I checked the michael over my area and the class is jun 3 - 30, i guess i missed the class

Suanne said in June 29th, 2007 at 6:42 am

Hi Cocoa, I understand that Michaels has new class every month for the branch in Bridgeport Rd. Try to ask Michaels when is the next intake.

cocoa said in July 2nd, 2007 at 6:46 am

I went to Michael this weekend and they do have class started every month. I registered the wilton 1 class. Some how, they said the registration fee is $30USD and material not included but for July promotion, the material is 1 cent.
Thank you for posting this.

Lizabeth said in July 8th, 2007 at 10:09 pm

I start the class tomorrow 07/09/07. Always wanted to take it and inspired by your success! Please post your Wilton 2 class success! I understand by Wilton 4 class you do a 3 tier cake!
Lizabeth

Chubbypanda said in July 20th, 2007 at 10:59 pm

Wow. I can’t believe you learned how to make that after one course. … Better watch out. Ben might send you to more cooking classes.

Melissad said in August 1st, 2007 at 8:41 pm

I have been wanting to take a cake decorating class for awhile.I wanted to read about someone else’s experience from Michaels cake class. Your web site gave me the feedback i was looking for… I start my cake class next week …thanks for the insight …melissa

Erin Kellogg said in August 8th, 2007 at 1:32 pm

Wow thank you for the pictures and your comments. I just took my first class last night and I’m so excited to start decorating. Your cakes are lovely and look yummy.

maryam said in August 14th, 2007 at 8:41 pm

hey…did you do all these cakes in course 1?

Suanne said in August 14th, 2007 at 9:16 pm

Hi Maryam, that’s what being covered in Level 1.

Verna said in August 15th, 2007 at 3:45 pm

WOW, I am planning on taking the classes this fall once the kids are back in school, I hope my work turns out as nice as yours

April said in September 19th, 2007 at 12:13 pm

Hi, I am doing this class now…I am so excited for next week When we actually get to decorate a cake…
Our recipe is the same but we changed the water to 3 teaspoons instead of 2.

I do have a few questions,..
1. have u had any previous cake decorating experience at all?
2. were the roses very hard to make?

Thanks for sharing ur pics, they are absolutly beautiful and I am hoping that in another 3 classes I can do the same! : D

Suanne said in September 19th, 2007 at 1:40 pm

Hi April, I have no experience in cake decorating prior to the lesson. The roses are not hard to make, just need some practice. I’m sure you’ll be a happy graduate.

suhanya nadarajah said in February 10th, 2008 at 8:17 pm

I would like to learn cake decorating. please let me know that how much it cost and when it will start. thank you.

suhanya.

sarah said in February 11th, 2008 at 7:34 pm

I called Michaels and they said it is $15 plus supplies. Is that how much you paid? ($15 plus the $29.95 you stated above?)

suanne said in February 11th, 2008 at 8:09 pm

Hi Sarah, when I attended the course, it was free. I only paid for the kit which was $29.99 at that time.

karen said in February 12th, 2008 at 4:51 pm

I’m taking course 2 right at Michael’s in Ottawa. The courses are $17.50 plus the course kit (but you can use their 40% off coupon for that). The flyers with the coupon are in the Saturday newspaper every week, or every other week.

It really is easier than you think to make nice roses. My reservation is that the buttercream doesn’t taste all that good. The instructor said you can use butter for part or all of the shortening - it will taste better, but is a little harder to work with as it melts more easily.

cledford said in March 29th, 2008 at 3:31 pm

Want a cheaper way to learn with lots of hands-on experience - and free classes - get a job at a supermarket bakery - like Wal-mart, Kroger or Publix! I worked at Walmart - and loved every minute of it! The best job I ever had! Pay wasn’t great but you at least get paid while gaining free training!! Also, you learn what people like and what gets their attention. The greatest part - your failure might be something somebody else loves - I did a basket-weave on my first day (only across one corner) and I thought it looked a little “botched up” but it sold that night after I left!

laura said in April 8th, 2008 at 10:58 pm

cledford — Did they require you to have any experience at the bakery? I am a military spouse who needs a job for just a few months while hubby is traing and that sounds like a great idea.

hoywf said in April 29th, 2008 at 8:21 am

I could not get meringue powder in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Pls advise. Thank you.

Suanne said in April 29th, 2008 at 3:35 pm

Hi Hoywf, you may check with Malaysia’s International Wilton Distributor at:

INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF CAKE ARTISTRY SDN. BHD.
16-B, 1ST & 2ND FLOORS,
SECTION 14, JALAN 14/20,
46100 PETALING JAYA, SELANGOR, MALAYSIA
CONTACT: ROSALIND CHAN
TEL: +603-7960-0388
FAX: +603-7960-6833
E-MAIL: inquiry@2decoratecakes.com
WEBSITE: http://www.2decoratecakes.com
EXCLUSIVE WILTON DISTRIBUTOR
AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT WILTON METHOD CAKE DECORATING CLASSES COURSE I, II & III.