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Rock any party

Module 46

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46. Module 46: Starting the event

Table of Contents

46. Module 46: Starting the event ................................................................................................................................ 1

46.1 Getting Started .................................................................................................................................... 2

46.2 Evaluating the Occasion ..................................................................................................................... 3

46.2.1 What Are You Celebrating?............................................................................................................ 4

46.2.2 Who Will the Guests Be? ................................................................................................................ 4

46.2.3 What Interests or Preferences Should Be Considered?................................................................... 4

46.3 Determining Size ................................................................................................................................ 5

46.3.1 How Many Guests Are You Expecting? ......................................................................................... 6

46.3.2 Doing the Math ............................................................................................................................... 6

46.3.3 If All Else Fails ............................................................................................................................... 7

46.4 Choosing a Design ............................................................................................................................. 8

46.4.1 Knowing Where to Look ................................................................................................................ 8

46.4.2 Level of Difficulty .......................................................................................................................... 9

46.4.3 Pro Tip .......................................................................................................................................... 10

46.5 Gathering Supplies ........................................................................................................................... 10

46.5.1 Baking Supplies ............................................................................................................................ 10

46.5.2 Cutting Supplies ............................................................................................................................ 11

46.5.3 Frosting Supplies .......................................................................................................................... 12

46.6 Cutting Pieces................................................................................................................................... 13

46.6.1 Cake Prep ...................................................................................................................................... 13

46.6.2 Mapping out Your Required Shapes ............................................................................................. 14

46.6.3 Cutting and Shaping ...................................................................................................................... 15

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46.1 Getting Started

Artistic design and expression can happen in a variety of mediums, and cake decorating is just another outlet

for those creative visions you may have floating around in your head. Sure, you can’t hang your baking

creation on the wall, or display it in any museum, but make no mistake that people regularly do, and will,

admire a sophistically designed and decorated cake.

You know this to be true, because you’ve been the admirer yourself a time or two in the past. You’ve walked

into a wedding and found yourself mesmerized by the multi-tiered creation at the center of the dining room,

or you’ve gasped in awe at the intricately decorated superhero cake created by a friend for their child’s

birthday.

You’ve recognized the artistry in cake design before, and that is why you are taking this course now. Because

you are hoping to try your hand at this new artistic endeavor; you’re hoping to begin creating cakes others

will deem almost too pretty to eat.

In this module, we will introduce you to the basics of sophisticated baking and cake design. We’ll walk you

through what you need to know about selecting a design and creating a cake large enough to accommodate

the number of people you plan to have at your event. With this information, you will be prepared to begin

executing the steps necessary to produce a final product you are proud to both display and eat.

What you’ll learn in This Module:

Evaluating the Occasion

Determining Size

Choosing Design

Gathering Supplies

Cutting Pieces

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46.2 Evaluating the Occasion

There really are any number of potential occasions that could call for a well-designed cake:

Birthdays

Weddings

Retirement parties

Graduation parties

Bachelor and bachelorette parties

Baby showers

The list goes on and on. Realistically, any event you feel like celebrating is an event that deserves a cake to

mark the occasion. The only question then becomes: what type of cake is best for the event ahead?

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46.2.1 What Are You Celebrating?

Obviously, the type of event you are celebrating will be one of the biggest factors in the type of cake you

decide to make. A bachelorette party, for instance, probably calls for an entirely different design than a 7-year

old's birthday cake might. And a retirement cake probably doesn’t need to be as intricate as a wedding

confection.

So first, establish what it is you are celebrating, and what type of cake might be appropriate for that event.

46.2.2 Who Will the Guests Be?

The next thing to consider is your guests and what might most appeal to them. With young children, cupcakes

are sometimes a better option than a stand-alone cake. And children might also be more impressed by character

designs, while adults might appreciate intricate geometric designs.

So think about who will be coming to this party, and then select a design catered to them.

46.2.3 What Interests or Preferences Should Be Considered?

This is perhaps the most important question to ask—what does your guest of honor love the most? Or what

type of cake would this particular celebration call for? For instance, a party celebrating your favorite little

football fan might be best punctuated by a football themed cake design. While a baby shower might call for a

carriage design.

Know your guests of honor and then consider the celebration at hand. Coming up with the right design won’t

be a difficult task at all, so long as you keep those factors in mind.

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46.3 Determining Size

Before you ever begin baking, you need to know exactly how large your cake should be. Obviously, you want

enough for all your guests to be able to enjoy at least one piece. But you don’t want so much cake left over

that you’re stuck eating the remainder of your creation for days to come. Nor do you want to waste time

creating additional tiers, or seeking out larger pans, that won’t turn out to be necessary on the day your event

arrives.

Determining the right size for that cake creation of your dreams can involve a bit of math and guesswork. But

putting the effort in before you start baking will ensure you have the perfect sized cake to keep all your guests

happy and fed.

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46.3.1 How Many Guests Are You Expecting?

This is a simple question that often has a less than simple answer. You know how many people you’ve invited,

but you can’t always count on everyone to RSVP as they should. And depending on the event, you also can’t

guarantee that everyone who RSVPs will still show up on the big day—people forget, life gets in the way, and

emergencies happen. On top of all that, there is also always the potential for additional, last-minute guests to

consider.

As a general rule of thumb, estimate your total guest count as best you can based on those you expect to arrive,

and then add a small buffer of 20 percent to that guest count; just in case. After all, while you don’t want to

be bringing half your cake home, it is always better to have too much cake than not enough.

Based on the 20 percent rule, if you are assuming 100 people will show up, craft a cake suitable for serving

120. In this way, you’ll have enough of a buffer to ensure everyone who does arrive can have a taste—while

also probably securing seconds for those who just can’t get enough of your delicious creation!

46.3.2 Doing the Math

The good news is that most cake recipes will include an estimate of how many people the finished product

will serve. The bad news is that it’s unlikely that estimate will exactly meet your needs. For instance, you

might find a recipe that says it serves 25, but you need a cake that will serve 50.

Obviously, this is where a bit of math will come in handy. Doubling or tripling your recipe may seem easy

enough, but what if you need a cake that serves 60, you’ve found a recipe that says it serves 25, and the pans

promise 15 servings?

You see how things can get complicated, right?

First, don’t stress. This isn’t rocket science, and if you wind up with more cake than you need—it won’t be

the end of the world. So always round up, and make the calculations as easy as possible for yourself.

In the instance mentioned above, triple the recipe (so you have enough for 75 people), and plan on using 5

pans. Depending on your design, you may end up cutting some of that cake away anyway—so having excess

will work out in your favor, and is something you should plan for when it comes to a cake design that does

require a lot of cutting. Because again, remember, it’s always better to have too much cake than not enough.

Whatever you do, just make sure you are increasing or decreasing the recipe ingredients proportionally. So if

you increase from 2 eggs to 3, multiple the rest of your ingredient amounts by 1.5 as well. This is the only

way to ensure you still have the right combination of ingredients to create the same tasty end result. ‘

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46.3.3 If All Else Fails

Keep in mind that serving counts are only estimates. Just because a recipe says it is made for 20 people does

not mean it is incapable of serving 30—you could always cut your pieces bigger or smaller prior to serving,

depending upon the number of people you need to feed.

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46.4 Choosing a Design

Hopefully by now, you have an idea in your head of the type of cake you hope to create. You’ve envisioned

Godzilla climbing the Eiffel Tower for your partner’s big promotion celebration, or Channing Tatum in cake

form for that bachelorette party you’ve been planning.

Now, the trick is going to be in selecting a design that fits that image in your head, and then determining how

to make that design happen.

46.4.1 Knowing Where to Look

In today’s digital age, there are countless cake design options at your fingertips. Once you know what you are

looking for, Pinterest, and even a simple Google search, can lead you to tutorials for cakes either identical to,

or similar in concept to, the one you are hoping to create.

So spend some time scouring the web for a cake design that will help you to bring your idea to fruition. Search

tips might include:

Remembering that you don’t have to find your exact concept—you just have to find something

similar

Looking at a variety of cakes for inspiration when it comes to detailing

Paying attention to any comments left on tutorials that might help you to determine how realistic

finishing this cake would be for you.

As you become more skilled in sophisticated baking and design, you’ll find you rely less on less on the design

tutorials others have created, and are instead able to stand on your own two feet as a cake designer—

improvising and creating as you go. But for now, know that there is no shame in seeking out inspiration and

guidance from others who have created similar cakes to the one you are hoping to now produce.

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46.4.2 Level of Difficulty

Of course, it’s important to consider both your skill level, and the level of difficulty involved, when seeking

out these tutorials and inspiration cakes online. Always ask yourself, will the design you’ve found require:

Multiple pans?

Special molds?

Skilled cutting?

Intensive frosting techniques?

An understanding of expert-level construction concepts?

For most people, learning cake design takes time—it is a skill developed with practice, where it is often best

to start simple at first and then work your way up to more complicated designs.

Of course, it never hurts to test your own abilities and to try new things in the kitchen. But if you are creating

a cake for a specific special event, be careful not to choose a design that exceeds your level of ability at this

stage in your cake design journey.

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46.4.3 Pro Tip

If this is your first time attempting a specific design, have a practice run before the event. That’s right, set

aside time a weekend or two before you will need the finished product, and test out your design from start to

finish.

In this way, you’ll be able to identify problem areas you need to work on before creating the official cake.

You may even come to realize the design you chose is either beyond your skill level, or simpler than you had

hoped—allowing you time to return to the drawing board and select a design better suited to your needs.

Worried about the extra cake? Bring it to work. There has yet to be a break room in the world where a delicious

cake could survive. Even if your first attempt turns out terrible as far as aesthetics are concerned, it still

probably tastes pretty good. And most people will be more than happy to take it off your hands.

46.5 Gathering Supplies

You’re getting ready to start cooking, but first—you need to make sure you have all the necessary supplies.

Sophisticated cake design requires a bit more than your average grocery store cake might. And the more

intricate your design, the more supplies you will likely need.

46.5.1 Baking Supplies

Obviously, you need all the basics for baking your perfect cake:

Ingredients

Bowls

Measuring cups and spoons

Mixer

Parchment Paper

Spatula

Cake board

But in addition to all that, specialized cake design also often requires a variety of pans. You’ll need to know

what shape it is you’re hoping to make, and then choose a pan based on that.

Sometimes you’ll be able to find a cake pan or mold in the exact shape you are looking for. But more often

than not, you’ll have to get creative and cut your own shapes and pieces—recognizing that certain pan types

might produce a cake better suited for cutting down into specific shapes. For instance, using one round pan

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and one square pan, you can cut the finished round cake in half and mold it to the edges of the square cake to

make a heart.

46.5.2 Cutting Supplies

Elaborate cake designs are rarely ever presented in the same shape they were initially cooked in. You usually

have to cut and mold pieces to create your perfect design. A car cake, for instance, might involve baking 4

sheet cakes and then cutting out up to 12 different shapes to then build together.

Accomplishing those cuts requires precision—a basic kitchen knife will rarely ever do the job. And often, it

will be recommended that you work with cold or frozen cake, as that tends to cut with cleaner edges. All of

this means that a sharp knife is essential. Some bakers even recommend working with X-Acto knives.

You may find you also need knives of several different sizes. Bigger knives can obviously make more basic

cuts (such as cutting a cake in half, or trimming the edges), while smaller knives allow for better details and

for cutting smaller shapes that might be used as accents for your cake.

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46.5.3 Frosting Supplies

Frosting is a big part of the artistry in cake design, and as such—the supplies involved can get pretty extensive,

depending on what it is you are hoping to achieve. At the basic level, you will need decorating bags and

specialized tips to make various designs. But as you expand your cake decorating knowledge and skill level,

you might find you also need things like:

Off-set spatulas

Bench scrapers

Piping

A turntable or lazy Susan (for easier access around the cake)

Fondant rollers

Gelatin veiners and mats

Sugarveil

Airbrushing tools

The list is pretty endless, and can grow even more extensive based on the type of frosting you decide to work

with. So don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to stock your cake design supply kit to the brim right out the

gate. You have time to grow your collection, and to learn how to use the various tools involved as you go.

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46.6 Cutting Pieces

Now we get to the exciting part of cake design! You’ve done all the planning and baking, but this is where the

real artistry begins! It starts with cutting your pieces in order to craft the perfectly shaped design you’re looking

for.

46.6.1 Cake Prep

In a perfect world, you would be able to find cake pans or cake cutters already in the exact shape you’re

looking for. In this world, you’re probably going to need to get a bit more creative than that.

The good news is, again, there are a lot of online tutorials and inspiration boards that will help you to determine

exactly what shapes you need to create your dream design. This might be as simple as cutting a square cake

in half at the diagonal to create two triangles for a mountain cake, or as involved as needing to cut 15 small

ovals, rectangles, circles and squares to piece together for a train cake.

Over time, you’ll become more comfortable with mapping out your own designs without the help of online

tutorials. With practice, you’ll be ale to better envision exactly how to piece together various shapes to create

the finished product that perfectly resembles a car, or a dinosaur, or whatever else it is you’re hoping to create.

In the meantime, follow the advice of those who have created something similar before, and know what shapes

you will need before you ever start baking. As you prep for that cutting, cool or freeze your cakes so that they

will be easier to work with and will accommodate smoother cuts. Also, ensure you have the right tools for

cutting; those we discussed in module 1.4.2.

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46.6.2 Mapping out Your Required Shapes

Some people have enough of an artistic eye that they can simply determine how to cut various shapes by sight.

They can look at a square cake and know right away how to turn it into a rainbow, or a flower, or a star.

Most of us, however, aren’t quite that skilled or steady-handed. And for beginner cake designers, it’s almost

always best to create cardboard templates of the shapes you will need ahead of time, so that you can use those

as a guide in order to ensure the most accurate and precise cuts are made.

So before you ever begin cutting, map out exactly what shapes you will need and what size they should be.

Then, draw those on a piece of cardboard first, or print them from online and tape them to the cardboard. From

there, cut along the lines with scissors until you have a template you can use.

The beauty of this is that if you mess up initially, you can simply try again until you get the desired shape

correct—without having to throw out an entire cake in the process.

Once you have all your shapes transferred to cardboard and cut out, you can then use those as stencils on the

cake to act as your guide when you begin making actual cuts.

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46.6.3 Cutting and Shaping

Once you’re ready to start cutting:

Use a very sharp knife and apply pressure at the tip, slowly pushing down through the length of

the knife until it has completely penetrated the cake

Make clean, even cuts—don’t attempt to “saw” the cake

Work slowly to ensure accuracy

Measure pieces up against each other as you go, in order to make sure they will all fit together in

the final design

Exaggerate details more than you might think is necessary, keeping in mind that frosting or

fondant may fill in smaller detailed cuts

Shave off edges that don’t match perfectly

Cutting and piecing shapes together will allow your design to begin shifting into something tangible right in

front of your eyes! But more involved designs can also take a bit of patience as you work to determine how

all those pieces best fit together. Start simply at first if you can, and then slowly work up to those more intricate

designs.