Specialization in Creative Cake and Cupcake Decoration

Conceptualizing Your Cupcake Set

Once we have an idea or theme for our cupcakes, we'll gather inspiration and reference images of our subject matter.

Sketching and Planning

In this lesson, you will develop your cupcake design sketches using references from your mood board. Plan the shapes, colors, and decorations to guide you during decorating, ensuring a cohesive and visually appealing result.

How To Prep

You will prepare for decorating by mixing colors and setting up your materials. You will learn techniques for creating multi-colored buttercream and ensuring a smooth decorating process, making your creative vision a reality.

Spring Blossoms and Butterflies

Now, you will create beautiful spring-themed cupcakes featuring blossoms and butterflies. Learn to make chocolate antennae and use two-tone buttercream for stunning floral designs that capture the essence of spring.

Summer Vibes: Beaches and Flamingos

Check out these design summer-themed cupcakes with beach and flamingo motifs. Use silicone molds for chocolate accessories and crushed cookies for realistic sand textures, creating delightful and seasonally inspired cupcakes.

In this lesson, you will create cozy autumn cupcakes featuring Thanksgiving pie designs. Learn to make a lattice crust with jam filling and a pumpkin pie look with wavy crust and buttercream, capturing the essence of autumn.

Autumn Pies

Winter Wonderland

Learn how to design winter-themed cupcakes with snowy scenes and polar bear faces. Use white buttercream and sparkling sugar for snow, and create evergreen trees and adorable polar bear decorations to bring winter to life.

Presentation and Photography

I'll share some tips on how to make your cupcakes look their best in person and in photos.

Sharing Your Creations

I'll share some things I've learned about sharing baking creations on social media and how you can get started.

What Is Sculpture Painting for Cake Decorating?

Module 3

Transform cakes into botanical masterpieces with Kwun, renowned cake artist and creator of butter & blossoms. Learn her unique palette knife technique to sculpt stunning buttercream flowers. Combining artistry with cake decorating, you’ll create edible blooms that are as beautiful as they are delicious.

11 lessons (1h 46m)

First, I'll explain and define sculpture painting to help you understand this kind of sculpture technique.

Buttercream and How to Frost a Cake

The most important part of a cake it's the buttercream! That's why I'll teach you my best tips and tricks to make the most delicious buttercream during this lesson.

Do tools make the baker? I'm pretty sure tools, techniques, and practice can help you improve your cakes. In this lesson, you'll see which tools you need and what to use them for.

Tools and Techniques

How to Make Petals and Leaves

Now, you'll see how to make the layer cream and petals in different sizes. Next, I'll share my best tips and trick to make easy beautiful leaves.

How to Mix Colors to Get a Natural Look

Painting the flowers and the greenery certainly should have a natural coloring. I will show how to mix natural colors in a basic and easy way, and the good result is not to buy many colors to create your piece of work.

You'll learn how to make easy flowers like Daisy. They are pretty cute flowers; I believe you can make it just practice in ten mins; Daisy normally uses the filling flowers to make the overall work look complete and perfect look.

Easy Flowers 1

Easy Flowers 2

Now, I'll show you how to make Poppy flowers. These flowers can be the basis for many flowers just understand how to assemble and position the blade and complete with the pollen.

14m

Pansy and Wild Rose

Pansy all-time favorite flower, isn’t it? This lesson is more challenging; you'll see how to assemble the petal with two layers. The position and the round shape of the petals will be the key. You'll learn how to make the pollen and paint some colors present, which are the signatures of the Pansy flower. Wild roses are another flower for practice assembled in two layers to show the side view of flowers; it is the idea when you want to present the different sides of flowers, not only the front view, that will make your work look more interesting. Let me show you how to do it!

This is the most challenging flower for this project! After you practice with many flowers, it’s time to make the rose. Rose has many layers, and the position of each petal is the key. You'll learn to gently place each flower and beware of not touching the previous petals to avoid spoiling the other petals.

Rose

How to Design a Combination of Flowers

Don’t forget, before starting, to make a design or a quick sketch on your paper or tablet or anything easy for you before painting on the cake. Deleting is difficult; otherwise, you must spread the cream and start over again. Let me show you how I sketch before I start!

Combining Flowers on a Cake

Setting everything you need close to you before starting is the temperature in your room. If it is too hot, it might make your buttercream easier to melt you need the air-conditioning room or work next to the fridge. I'll teach you how to make an incredible edible cake in this lesson!

First, I will show you how I establish the concept for my designs. From gathering inspiration to organizing them into a mood board, you’ll see each step I take to plan out my projects.

Module 4

Join cake artist Liz Shim and learn to design playful, edible animals using buttercream. With techniques featured in top publications, Liz will guide you through piping, coloring, and sculpting to create delightful cupcake designs. Transform buttercream into works of art that are as fun to make as they are to eat!

17 lessons (2h 49m)

The Design Process

Sketching the Cupcakes

In this lesson, I will walk you through the steps for simplifying your ideas and sketching them into cupcake-friendly designs.

Now I will guide you through how to assign colors to your designs. Whether you want the color palette to be realistic or more whimsical, I will show you how to put together a cohesive combination.

Assigning Colors

The Tools and Ingredients

Now that you have established what you want to make, let’s look at the tools that can help you achieve those designs.

Tips on Baking Cupcakes

Cupcakes are the base of our treats, so we will dive in and see how to best prepare them in this lesson.

Making the Buttercream

The buttercream will be our main decorating medium. For this reason, now I will walk you through the entire process of making a silky, stable, and delicious buttercream.

In this lesson, I will show you the best coloring agent for buttercream and how to mix up your desired shades.

Coloring the Buttercream

How to Use a Piping Bag 1

In this lesson, I will teach you how to prepare, fill, and handle a piping bag. The first step will be to cut the bag according to whether you're using a coupler or an individual tip. Next, I will show you how to attach and switch piping tips. Then, I will teach you how to fill the piping bag. I will introduce a helpful plastic bench scraper tool and show you some tips on how to handle it.

How to Use a Piping Bag 2

Now that I've discussed how to control the pressure and speed when piping, let's see how to create different textures. After, I will show you how to apply all the techniques and piping tips I've covered to create the sketches.

Preparing the Cupcake Surface

Before we begin to pipe our animals, let me show you how to prepare a smooth, flat surface on the cupcakes.

The Bear

Now that you have the cupcakes prepared, let’s begin piping! We will start with making a cute bear cupcake.

In this lesson, you will learn how to pipe an adorable sloth cupcake.

The Sloth

11m

The Lion

Now we will move on to learning how to pipe a lion cupcake.

The Tiger

In this lesson, you will learn how to pipe a tiger cupcake.

Let’s take a look at how to pipe a giraffe cupcake.

The Giraffe

Properly storing and transporting your decorated cupcakes is so essential. Let me share with you some tips for success. Also, accidents happen, but there are always ways to fix them. I’ll show you how to troubleshoot when issues arise.

Caring and Repairing

In this lesson, I will show you how to create an eye-catching display for your cupcakes to shine on.

Styling Tips

Module 5

Learn to create beautifully realistic gum paste flowers with cake artist Nasima Alam. Discover the techniques and materials needed to design custom sugar flowers that will transform any cake into a stunning edible bouquet. Impress your guests with your artistic creations from start to finish.

18 lessons (3h 54m)

What Will We Do In This Module?

First of, I will tell you about the project of this module, which will be creating a bouquet of sugar flowers and then assembling them onto a dummy or real cake.

Description of Materials

For this lesson, I will show you the list of materials and tools you are going to need for the entire project.

15m

Design Your Cake

I will show you how I sketch my cake design, using the mood board as inspiration for colours and textures. I will also share with you how to use Pinterest to create a mood board based on a theme or a chosen colour palette.

Using the final sketch design, it is time to begin deciding on the choice of colours for the sugar flowers. We will then look at food pastes for colouring the gum paste and I will teach you how to begin to mix tones for the types of flowers and the foliage.

Colour Palette

Open Peony Resources

I will show you an example of the sugar open peony and we will compare it to an image of a real one. We will look at the materials and tools we will be using.

Open Peony

For the peony, we will colour the gum paste with food gel and then roll, cut out, wire, thin, vein and ruffle each petal.

Classic Sugar Rose Resources

For the sugar rose, we will gather inspiration from photos of some real classic roses. Then, I will show you the materials we will need.

Classic Sugar Rose 1

For creating the classic rose, first, we will create the bud, colour gum paste, knead, roll and cut out the required number of petals.

20m

Classic Sugar Rose 2

Now, we will continue to thin, vein and attach the petals to the bud. The final layers will need some time to dry and firm, before attaching to the main bud.

15m

David Austin Rose Resources

We will look at the example of the sugar David Austin Rose and also look at a photographic example of a real one. Then we will go through the tools and materials required.

David Austin Rose 1

In this lesson, we will work on our David Austin Rose. First, I will create the centre bud on the polystyrene base and then roll, cut, thin, vein and dry the outer petals.

19m

David Austin Rose 2

We will continue working on the David Austin Rose, once the centre bud and the outer petals are ready and dry, it's time to attach them.

Sugar Leaves, Berries and Filler Flowers

Before assembling our composition, I will show different types of leaf cutters and veiners. Then we will make some easy wired berries.

19m

Assembling Open Peony and Leaves 1

Your peony leaves will need some time to dry fully. First, we will add the stamens to the centre bud. I will show you how to assemble and attach the wired petals.

20m

Assembling Open Peony and Leaves 2

We are going to finish assembling our peony and then we will continue working on the leaves.

Dusting and Setting the Sugar Flower Bouquet

Using different shades of petal dust, I will show you how to add depth and realism to your floral bouquet. Then, we will set it by lightly steaming them using either a kettle, hot water in a pan or a cake steamer.

15m

Attaching Sugar Flowers Onto a Tiered Dummy Cake

In the final lesson, I will assemble my sugar flowers onto my pre-covered and decorated dummy cake. I will look at the original sketch of my design with the floral composition and decide if I will alter or make any relevant changes. Finally, I will teach you how to attach and secure the sugar flowers and how to use the leaves and berries to cover up any visible gaps.

19m

Social Media and Photography

Lastly, I’ll be offering you advice and tips on how to take quality photos of your work. Also, I want to share with you my knowledge and experiences from my Instagram social media account.

Module 6

Join Grace Pak, renowned cake artist, as she teaches you the art of designing and painting elegant fondant cakes. Learn techniques in composition, color, and texture to create intricate, edible masterpieces. Transform your cakes into hand-painted works of art that are as delicious as they are beautiful.

18 lessons (3h 22m)

Materials and Workspace Preparation

Let's start with the basics! In this lesson, I will review the materials needed to take this course and how to prepare your workspace. I'll also share with you tips and potential options for cost-saving alternatives. Let's go!

Basic Techniques: Navigating Color

In this lesson, I will discuss various edible coloring agents and touch on basic color theory. Using this knowledge, I will mix colors and create my own swatches from a reference image.

Basic Techniques: Working with Fondant 1

Wash your hands and get ready to play with edible clay! In this lesson, you will learn how to handle and color fondant. I'll also share with you different brands and what to look for when choosing one.

Basic Techniques: Working with Fondant 2

Now that we've covered a general overview of fondant, I will talk about a specific masking technique called draping. You will learn the pros and cons of this technique, as well as some common problems you may encounter along the way, followed by quick solutions.

Basic Techniques: Working with Fondant 3

In the third part of this lesson, I will move on to a second masking method: paneling. As with the previous technique, I will walk you through the pros and cons. That way, you can master both methods and choose your favorite.

Through various painting exercises, I will experiment with pressure control, coloring techniques, and achieving dimensionality. I will also talk about the challenges of working on a round, vertical surface—how gravity pulls the paint down, calling for different types of attention you may not be used to. Let's get started!

Painting Exercises

20m

Inspiration and Rough Thumbnail Sketches

Sourcing inspiration is a beneficial exercise when brainstorming your design. In this lesson, I will discuss where to look for inspiration, what to think about when gathering them, and how to combine them to put your ideas onto paper.

Composition and Layout

Composition and layout are crucial aspects in designing your painted cake, and they also play a key role in conveying a message and evoking emotion in the viewers. In this lesson, I will discuss some things to consider when thinking about composition and layout, including different options to experiment with.

Final Sketch

Making a detailed sketch of your cake is one of the most important preparations you can make before you progress to the actual cake. I will teach you why this is now, and explain what a good sketch should include. I'll also share with you some sketches I've done in the past for clients and complete a sketch for my course project.

Scaling and Repetitive Patterns: The Bottom Tier 1

It's finally time to transfer your sketch onto the cake! In this lesson, I'll show you how to scale your design according to the size of your cake, by creating guides that will give you excellent results. But remember, this is a hand-painted cake, not machine-made, so expect "imperfections" and embrace their beauty.

Scaling and Repetitive Patterns: The Bottom Tier 2

Now that I've transferred my design onto the cake, it's time to mix some colors and start painting! Get ready, because this can be a long process. With patience, I'm sure you will achieve beautiful results.

Painting with a Dark Background: The First Option

Painting on a dark background isn't easy with mediums that aren't opaque—like the food coloring—however, it can still be achieved! In this lesson, I will talk about one of two ways you can achieve this look by painting your spacer.

Painting with a Dark Background: A Second Option

Now, I'll show you a second method for painting on a dark background by moving to the middle tier, which is masked in a dark-colored fondant. Then, I will start to stack the tiers and get one step closer to the finished result.

Painting on a Light Background 1

You will learn some best practices for painting on a light background, which will most likely be the majority of your cakes.

14m

Painting on a Light Background 2

After completing the top tier, I will add the finishing touches so that the cake is camera and party ready!

11m

Planning and Timing

Before you start your project, let's talk about planning out your timeline for the cake. Remember, you have a limited time to work on your cake, so every minute counts!

Storage, Packaging, and Delivery

In this lesson, I will share with you how I store my cakes, package them, and transport them to various venues. And sometimes, I have to get creative while doing so! Let's begin!

Documenting Your Work and Sharing It on Social Media

To wrap it all up, I will talk about best practices for photographing your masterpiece and sharing it with the world, while paying attention to your personal or professional brand identity.

Module 7

Join cake designer Kate Kim as she teaches you how to create stunning, nature-inspired cake decorations using Italian buttercream. Learn basic piping techniques to design beautiful roses, berries, and apple blossoms that are as delicious as they are decorative. Perfect your skills to create cakes for any occasion that are both visually appealing and full of flavor.

17 lessons (2h 25m)

Tools and Materials

When you undertake Italian buttercream piping you need a few piping tools. In this section, I will explain which supplies you will need. For beginners I will highlight the tools you need to buy and for those who already have tools collecting dust in your cupboard, I will show you how to make the most of these tools.

Briefing with the Client: Getting Inspired and Colours

In this lesson, I pretended as if I was the customer and created a cake order. I will show you how I would create a colour scheme for a special day cake order.

Making Buttercream

I get a lot of DMs from aspiring bakers who want to know my buttercream recipe. Although my recipe only has small changes to those you would find online, there is a huge difference in piping. In this lesson, I will share my expert tips and knowledge with you so you have the perfect foundation for piping. One extra tip I will be sharing is how I create white icing from yellow butter!

Mixing Food Colouring to Create Perfect Pigment

Arguably the most important part of floral Italian buttercream piping is the colour. I will help you understand key technique points that will explain why some colourings do not look nice despite copying online recipes.

How to Use and Handle the Tools

I’ve separated this section into a completely different lesson as my years of experience teaching have shown me that my students find this part of the course surprisingly difficult. For instance, depending on the angle of the piping nozzle and the level of pressure you place on the piping bag, buttercream flower designs can be vastly different.

Piping Dots and Berry Piping

The first step to piping flowers is learning how to pipe a perfect dot similar to the shape of a pearl. This is much easier said than done and you might find this part quite difficult. Once you have learnt how to do this I will show you berry piping; this directly uses dot piping.

Rose Piping and Rose Buds Piping

Now you will learn how to pipe a rose. The rose is the most fundamental flower you’ll learn to pipe as it is the flower that will feature the most in your designs as well as giving you the foundations necessary to pipe other types of flowers.

Apple Blossom and Leaf Piping

Once you have learned to pipe flowers with considerable volume, you will learn how to pipe more blossomed designs. This design will be used to fill in empty spaces on your cake and will take your cake design to the next level. There is a huge difference between flower cakes that have greenery and those that do not. If you put greenery on your cake it brings the cake to life and looks much more realistic. In this lesson, you will learn how to pipe the leaves.

This flower piping is an upgraded version from the rose piping we learned earlier. If you can pipe roses well, piping the ranunculus becomes easier.

Ranunculus

Anemone

An Anemone's strong black stamen shows its strong presence. This flower can be placed alone on a cupcake or be used as a point flower on a flower cake. It goes well with dark colours.

Daisy Flower

Daisies have a simple shape but are not easy to pipe beautifully. If you put it on a cake, you can make it look more adorable by emphasizing the cute feeling. Let's learn a little more about this challenging piping technique.

Icing the Cake with Buttercream

For those who have had difficulty in the execution of creating a visually pleasing cake this lesson will teach you how to icing the foundation of your product- the cake itself. For instance, even if the icing on your cake is rough, I will teach you how to stylise this and use this to your advantage. With Italian buttercream icing, this kind of style is popular as it is reminiscent of the style of oil paintings.

Creating a Cohesive Arrangement of Flowers 1

There are lots of different arrangement styles when it comes to floral Italian buttercream piping. Earlier you learnt how to arrange your flowers in a crescent style but there are also other styles such as bouquet and wreath designs.

Creating a Cohesive Arrangement of Flowers 2

Now, I'll show you how to pick up some apple blossoms (using a flower lifter) and place them in them. This makes the design look full and gorgeous!

11m

Creating a Cohesive Arrangement of Flowers 3

Next is a Wreath-style arrangement with an empty center to use when wrapping the cake with flowers. This method requires more flowers than the Crescent style. For a fuller design, pipe as many flowers as possible. It is a design widely used for various events as you can put lettering in the center.