Wedding Fairs

Over the last few weeks we've attended a couple of wedding fairs....

Not only do we make rather yummy wedding cakes we also cater to the growing number of brides-to-be who would like to make their own wedding cake by running a new tiered cake class.

The most popular cake we had on display was our wonderful purple 4 tier buttercream cake...it seems a lot of people are buttercream lovers like me!!! This cake can be designed to suit the colour scheme of the wedding and the type of piping can also be varied.

We also took our new modelled teddy bride and groom cake toppers out with us.  They attracted quite a lot of attention and behaved themselves very well.

Finally the cupcake bouquet was also very well received.  A great idea for a table centrepiece that can also double up as favours for your guests (or even dessert!!)

If you would like to find out more about our wedding cakes or our wedding themed classes please do get in touch.  Spaces are very limited for both so it's never too early to get in touch :D

Beginners Sugarpaste Class

Many people struggle to get started covering their cakes using sugarpaste (fondant) and, if that's you, you will find this class invaluable.

Even if you have only ever eaten sugarpaste and not worked with it before we will show you everything you need to know about working with and using sugarpaste.

During this lesson we show you how to cut, fill and crumb coat your cake and preparing it for the sugarpaste. 

You can then choose the colour of your cake, colour up the icing and then see just how quick and simple it can be to cover your cake.

To decorate your cake we will then make a giant sugarpaste bow which will wow your friends and family when you get home!!

This is turning out to be one of our most popular classes.  The next class with spaces is Saturday 4th May at 2pm.  Only £40 if you bring your own cake or £45 with cake provided.

Full details can be found on our website

Here's some of the students cakes;

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Celebration Cake Classes

In 2008 when I first decided to set up my business my goal was to help other parents, like myself, who wanted to learn how to decorate cakes for their childrens birthday parties.

Over the years the business has evolved but I still am passionate about reaching people who would like to do no more than please their children each year. 

A birthday cake is an important part of a childs birthday.  My own children start planning the next one the day after their birthday.  These days though requests are often quite complicated and many parents are put off trying to decorate a cake themselves.

The new range of celebrations cake classes are designed with parents in mind although anyone who would like to learn how to create celebration cakes is welcome to come along. 

The first class from our celebration cake range was the Mermaid Under The Sea Cake.

As this was the first time this had run as a class I was very worried about how it would work...but it was possible one of the most enjoyable classes I have ever run.

So much colour, lots of laughs and some really fabulous cakes.

We covered the cakes using buttercream and made decorations out of sugarpaste.   We then made the mermaid out of sugarpaste - most of the students had never done any modelling before and so the results were even more amazing!

The next class is running on Saturday 4th May and I really can't wait.

Here's the pics....

To book any of our classes please head to http://www.thecakeworkshop.com
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Wilton Cake Decorating Classes

Finally we have received our new certificates from the USA and so can start running the Wilton Cake Decorating Classes again.

To run the Wilton Classes you must be an authorised school and teacher.  In the UK at the current time there are only 3 listed schools.  

The Wilton classes have been running for many many years and are taught worldwide.

Infact it was just over 6 years ago that I started my own cake decorating journey by signing up to a Wilton Class.

The Cake Decorating Basics Class (class 1) is designed for beginners and those who already decorate cakes but would like to learn more about piping with buttercream.

The four week course runs each week for 2 hours.  The Basics class will guide you through piping stars, dots, writing, roses, pom pom flowers, swirls, rosettes, shells and so much more.  Over the weeks your confidence with piping will soar and you will be truly delighted by what you can achieve.

Unlike our own brand classes you do need to bring your own cake, icing and equipment to the classes.  The course fee does though include the equipment pack (worth £35).  You will also receive a course book and a certificate at the end of the course.

We have been running this class since 2010 and have designed our own classes so that they all compliment each other.

To enrol on the Wilton Method of Cake Decorating Class you do not have to have any previous experience with cake decorating.  Everyone is welcome.  You just need a desire to learn and a good sense of humour (we like to have a good laugh at The Cake Workshop!)

The first classes up in Cumbria will be starting in April.  Full details can be found on our website but, as always, you are more than welcome to contact me directly if you have any queries.  If you can't see a date that suits you please let me know and I will see what I can do.

Places are limited though so please book early.

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vicki@thecakeworkshop.com

Big Wig Ball

Today is the Big Wig Ball taking place in Carlisle in aid of CLIC Sargent.

Having seen that this event was being organised a few months ago I offered to donate a cake decorating class to the raffle prizes.  I then decided a few weeks later that it actually might be a good idea to donate a cake too...and so that what's I did.

CLIC Sargent is not a charity I was familiar with before hearing about this event.  But as a mum of 4, fortunately healthy children, I am always keen to get involved with charities working towards helping children and young adults.

The theme of the ball was flamboyant and so I decided to create a bright cake.  Having looked at the CLIC Sargent website I saw that their logo is of a five petal flower and so I decided to combine the bright colours with the flower...and below is the cake I ended up with.

I dropped the cake off at the hotel this afternoon whilst the girls were busy setting up for the ball tonight.  The room looked stunning with black tablecloths and chair covers and pink sashes.  The cake really stood out from it's position in the corner and so I'm hoping they liked it and that it gets a little bit of attention tonight.

Fingers crossed they raise lots of money for a worthwhile charity.

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Beginners Piping Class

Last Saturday saw the 1st Beginners Piping class of 2013.

Joined by four ladies we spent five hours (it was meant to be four!! but we chatted a bit!!) learning everything you need to know to get started with piping.

Three of the ladies on the class had experience decorating cakes but not piping.  The forth lady had no cake decorating experience at all.  All 4 though left with stunning cakes that should have made them proud.

The class started at 10.30 with a cup of tea and a chat about what people were hoping to gain from the class.  We then got started and cut, filled and crumb coating the cakes.  This is the part of the process that doesn't really get seen once the cake is decorated but is so important as it gives you a good grounding to pipe on to later.

Once covered we moved on to the piping!! After a little bit of a practise on our mats we got started!

Roses!!! I love the fact that we jump in at the deep end!  The roses are simply stunning but are a great way of learning about pressure, direction and consistency of your icing.

It's not always easy though and a little bit of patience is required.  But as a once frustrated piper myself I understand that it's important to take the pressure off and so cups of tea were flowing whilst everyone got to grips with piping the roses.

Once everyone had enough roses for their cake we moved on to the petal design.  I think that everyone was quite surprised by how straightforward the petal design was but how effective it looked.

30 minutes later...and with a few achy hands we added the roses, piped some leaves and stood back to admire the cakes.

They all looked stunning and the great thing was that they also all looked very different even though we had used the same techniques on all of the cakes.

It was a lovely group of students and I hope that they enjoyed themselves.  I certainly did...although my poor feet were aching for hours afterwards as it's certainly not a sit down and relax type of class :D

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Giant Cupcake Class

Friday saw the ever popular giant cupcake class make an appearance for the first time this year.

The 3 students had varying degrees of experience with cake decorating but 2 had never piped before or worked with sugarpaste (be prepared to be amazed at their cakes!!). 

We spent the three hours making the decorations out of sugarpaste, making a chocolate shell to sit the cake in, crumb coating and cutting the cake, piping buttercream swirls and then adding the decorations to the cakes.

Here's what Lynn said after the class "I had the best time ever on Friday. Loved it! I couldn't believe how good my finished cake looked as I am not very creative. Everyone has commented on how amazing it looks and now think I am so talented! Ha."

New dates for this, and all our other classes are being added to the website all of the time but if you can't see a date that suits you please let me know and I will do my best to find another date :D

This cake went home for a birthday cake...doesn't it look fabulous?

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