Advice needed to start baking classes - Cake Decorating Community - Cakes We Bake2024-03-29T12:30:53Zhttps://cakeswebake.com/forum/topics/advice-needed-to-start-baking?commentId=4635016%3AComment%3A336728&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThanks Dawn for giving me so…tag:cakeswebake.com,2011-04-25:4635016:Comment:3418212011-04-25T07:28:58.171ZJudith Diashttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/JudithDias
Thanks Dawn for giving me so much input. I appreciate it. Have a nice day & God Bless.
Thanks Dawn for giving me so much input. I appreciate it. Have a nice day & God Bless. Dawn... you must be related t…tag:cakeswebake.com,2011-04-21:4635016:Comment:3377962011-04-21T07:01:08.035Zjeri chttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/jeric
<p>Dawn... you must be related to Kerry Vincent... a nice mean!!! Kerry always says it how it is... I think that is what I admire about her!</p>
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<p>Dawn... you must be related to Kerry Vincent... a nice mean!!! Kerry always says it how it is... I think that is what I admire about her!</p>
<p> </p> Oh - and heads up. There is…tag:cakeswebake.com,2011-04-21:4635016:Comment:3378452011-04-21T04:52:33.174ZDawn Beckerhttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/DawnBecker
<p>Oh - and heads up. There is always at least one student each new class that doesn;t want to follow the rules and gets upset because it doesn;t work. Case in point: I tell all my students they are required to bring decorator's icing to class - nothing else. It's great for learning. After they learn they can do wheatever they want to do. Always, Always, Always there is one stident that will bring her crumbcoated cake and really soft buttercream or cream cheese icing and then wonder why…</p>
<p>Oh - and heads up. There is always at least one student each new class that doesn;t want to follow the rules and gets upset because it doesn;t work. Case in point: I tell all my students they are required to bring decorator's icing to class - nothing else. It's great for learning. After they learn they can do wheatever they want to do. Always, Always, Always there is one stident that will bring her crumbcoated cake and really soft buttercream or cream cheese icing and then wonder why she can't make a rose on her first try. </p>
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<p>You cannot be afraid to tell them the truth.</p>
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<p>UH - I told you to bring decorator's icing, you didn't, I can't help you. </p>
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<p>Also - you can't be afraid to tell them they are doing something wrong and to start over. I'm pretty mean in my classes (a nice mean). I tell them in the first class - you are paying me money to learn. You will get your money's worth. But to do that, sometimes I have to tell you it's wrong and to start over. I actually get compliments for that. They leave knowing they are doing it right or where they need to practice. No one leaves unsure - they leave with confidence.</p> Infact today morning I was ju…tag:cakeswebake.com,2011-04-20:4635016:Comment:3367282011-04-20T05:56:47.149ZJudith Diashttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/JudithDias
<p>Infact today morning I was just thinking of the points that you have explained & was about to post the same...........but you cleared them even before I could voice them......telepathy I guess.........thank you for your advice Dawn.</p>
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<p>Jeri -agree 100% wit you..........if your cant eat the cake the decoration & the effort is not worth it. Thank you all for the input on this subject.</p>
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<p>Infact today morning I was just thinking of the points that you have explained & was about to post the same...........but you cleared them even before I could voice them......telepathy I guess.........thank you for your advice Dawn.</p>
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<p>Jeri -agree 100% wit you..........if your cant eat the cake the decoration & the effort is not worth it. Thank you all for the input on this subject.</p>
<p> </p> I tell my customers and stude…tag:cakeswebake.com,2011-04-20:4635016:Comment:3367162011-04-20T03:36:11.579ZDawn Beckerhttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/DawnBecker
<p>I tell my customers and students this:</p>
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<p>Some people can bake awesome cakes but can't decorate worth a crap.</p>
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<p>Others make beautiful cakes, buy they crumble like sawdust in your mouth.</p>
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<p>I want both!</p>
<p>I tell my customers and students this:</p>
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<p>Some people can bake awesome cakes but can't decorate worth a crap.</p>
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<p>Others make beautiful cakes, buy they crumble like sawdust in your mouth.</p>
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<p>I want both!</p> Dawn... more great info! My…tag:cakeswebake.com,2011-04-20:4635016:Comment:3364212011-04-20T03:06:04.055Zjeri chttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/jeric
Dawn... more great info! My thoughts are... encourage them to learn to bake first... if you can not bake a fantastic tasting cake the decorating means nothing. If you can't eat it... it is not worth the effort in decorating it. :-)
Dawn... more great info! My thoughts are... encourage them to learn to bake first... if you can not bake a fantastic tasting cake the decorating means nothing. If you can't eat it... it is not worth the effort in decorating it. :-) Do they want a baking lesson…tag:cakeswebake.com,2011-04-19:4635016:Comment:3363212011-04-19T23:13:51.877ZDawn Beckerhttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/DawnBecker
<p>Do they want a baking lesson or a decorating lesson? Be sure to understand what they are talking about first. The two classes are very different. We all know that the layman doesn't always use the right verbiage. Its up to us to translate. </p>
<p>If they want a baking a class - then be prepared to teach more than cakes. That's really a quick class with a lot of down time. If what they actually want is a decorating class (my hunch), this is better and you can teach for quit awhile. I…</p>
<p>Do they want a baking lesson or a decorating lesson? Be sure to understand what they are talking about first. The two classes are very different. We all know that the layman doesn't always use the right verbiage. Its up to us to translate. </p>
<p>If they want a baking a class - then be prepared to teach more than cakes. That's really a quick class with a lot of down time. If what they actually want is a decorating class (my hunch), this is better and you can teach for quit awhile. I used to teach. The first class they were to bring just basic decorating kits (Wilton's class one kit works just fine). I would put together a batch of doctored cake batter while they watched and took notes. I used magic strips, parchment, the whole nine yards. I talked about the difference between commercial cake pans and those manufactured for the home baker (the tilted sides and non-stick coatings).</p>
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<p>While it was baking I taught how to make a batch of decorator's icing (butter-free BC - great for learners) and talked about BC with butter (my preference). Then we started learning piping on the practice board.</p>
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<p>When it was finished. I taught the importance of cooling racks and when and how to flip it out of the pan, etc.</p>
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<p>I always had another cooled cake ready and taught torting, filling and crumbcoating. Then I would show how to ice the cake.</p>
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<p>All this in about 2.5 hours.</p>
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<p>The next class they were to bring their own cake, filled and crumb-coated and a batch of icing to learn to ice the cake themselves.</p>
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<p>While this sounds like a Wilton course, it's not. I just use it for a guideline. I teach much more and dispel a lot of Wilton class myths. You can have classes on CTs, BCTs, fondant work, gumplaste flowers, etc. You can take it much further than Wilton courses.</p> well said Jeri..........Thank…tag:cakeswebake.com,2011-04-19:4635016:Comment:3349452011-04-19T06:20:43.883ZJudith Diashttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/JudithDias
well said Jeri..........Thanks to Mimi, Fran & Neryl........I look forward to more advice from the experts here.
well said Jeri..........Thanks to Mimi, Fran & Neryl........I look forward to more advice from the experts here. Mimi... best info ever!!! T…tag:cakeswebake.com,2011-04-19:4635016:Comment:3346982011-04-19T05:37:45.314Zjeri chttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/jeric
<p>Mimi... best info ever!!! Teaching classes takes a lot of preperation ahead of time and your advice is wonderful!</p>
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<p>Mimi... best info ever!!! Teaching classes takes a lot of preperation ahead of time and your advice is wonderful!</p>
<p> </p> Thank you Fran & Mimi for…tag:cakeswebake.com,2011-04-18:4635016:Comment:3335192011-04-18T05:46:08.395ZJudith Diashttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/JudithDias
<p>Thank you Fran & Mimi for the advice. Atleast now I know what details I need to look into before starting. Thanks once again & wish me luck</p>
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<p>Thank you Neryl for the link. I appreciate it.</p>
<p>Thank you Fran & Mimi for the advice. Atleast now I know what details I need to look into before starting. Thanks once again & wish me luck</p>
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<p>Thank you Neryl for the link. I appreciate it.</p>