Customer Reviews

The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Cake Decorating

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This was one of the first books I purchased when I started decorating, and if I'd known then what I know now, I probably wouldn't have bought it.

Pros: If you like fondant, some of the best designs in the book, including a dragon wrapped around cupcakes, christening cake, Christmas cake, and heart cake, are all about sugarpaste. The instructions are written clearly, and the step-by-step inset photos show you exactly what to do. This book also includes a nice overview of different techniques, including fondant, royal icing, buttercream, chocolate, edible rice paper, and marzipan that allows a beginner to understand the difference between them all. Each cake is also rated on a scale of 1-3 for difficulty, and many have variation suggestions with photos, to give additional decorating ideas.

Cons: If you don't like fondant, this book doesn't offer very many appealing designs. One exception is the "Here's Looking at You" cake with eyeballs peeking out from under a buttercream iced box lid. However, of the 40+ designs in the book, only about 5 or 6 really stand out as something I'd like to make--including the designs with fondant, rice paper, and royal icing.

The patterns, recipes, and tips are helpful, but the design ideas just aren't that inspiring.

This book... Sorry to be so blunt... Is a total crapfest of candy covered monstrosities. 80% of the cakes are covered in candy pieces and many of the pages that require piping for the design offer an alternative "just stick candies on the cake." Yes, the book literally suggests this. It should be titled "Making cakes for kids parties... For dummies." or "How to make a cake that looks like you might know what you are doing." The designs are ALL gaudy except for about 3 cakes, and only a really young child would look right having these cakes at a party. I hate I spent my money on this. I am a Pastry Chef just starting out and I wanted to increase my knowledge and design ideas when it came to decorating cakes and I am glad that I know enough to dismiss many of these designs.

Don't be fooled by the pretty picture on the cover. The simplicity of that cake is not an art. It's a scapegoat in this case.

This book is very helpful for first-time cake decorators. I tried a few of the techniques used in the book and was very happy with the results.

I bought this for my beginner daughter and she is well pleased with it. She says it is real easy to understand and has many tips for new ideas.

I love this book. I borrowed it from the library and saw it advertised at a great price. It has some beautiful holiday and wedding theme cakes. It also has some clever whimsical decorations that children will love. The book also shows how to make numbers and the alphabet.

Love this book..Step by step you cant go wrong. Pictures go along with the steps...P.Soto, Boston Ma

This book is great, it has good and practical recepies and decoration tips. I love all the techniques that it contains.

THIS BOOK IS EASY TO FOLLOW STEP BY STEP DECORATING FROM THIS BOOK I LEARN LOTS OF THINGS THAT I DIDNT KNOW HOW TO DO I DIDNT EVEN KNOW HOW TO START TILL I GOT THIS BOOK I LEARNED ALOT .