Customer Reviews

Sweet And Simple Party Cakes

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I just started my journey with fondant, and this book was fabulous! I think the designs are simple, but pretty. They give you great ideas, walk you through everything, step by step. Not too technically difficult, but more than covers all the basis. Anyone with imagination can apply the techniques and create their own masterpiece. Totally worth the money to those wanting to LEARN. If you already know your way around fondant, you may want to look elsewhere.

I absolutely LOVE this book. It is good for the beginner/intermediate decorator. The designs were cheery, beautiful, and easy to replicate. It was well written and easy to understand.

Out of all the books we have purchased on Cake Decorating, this one had the easiest to follow deisgns for beginners. Great Book

I love this book, especially the fruit cake recipe i am british living in the USA).....I had to make some mini ones (the size of which was not in the book) so i telephoned the author as she was happy to help me out! I got the contact info from the book). The pictures are beautiful and give you lots of ideas.....I would recommend this book.

Simply put...........another beautiful book from one of the best cake decorators, May Clee-Cadman! Once again, she has compiled a most visually enchanting book of cake decorating from cupcakes to party cakes and with enough instruction and photography to help a beginner feel energized! Those who are experienced will find inspiration, but might not feel challenged.

This newest entry in cake decorating has been broken into 3 major segments of decorating of "Pastel", "Whites", and "Brights". If for no other reason, the beauty of each project is undeniable; you would have to be truly hardpressed to find fault or dislike of any of the cakes. The photography is as always, sharp, clear, and close-up. Some of the projects are rather self-explanatory whereas others require more details and that is where the step-by-step photo tutorials come in beautifully.

Now, yes, you should have some basic cake decorating abilities if possible, but if not, then with time, practice, and patience, you can achieve every single one of these delicacies and you will be much the wiser when done.

Her contents are:

INTRODUCTION

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK:
The sections for this area with begin with the equipment needed, the 4 basic recipes from which to choose, the icings and fillings venue, how to put a cake together, and how to make the cupcakes and mini-cakes.

TECHNIQUES:
Equipment and tools, lining and prepping pans, cake recipes and charts, fillings and icings, prepping the cakes for icing, icing the cakes, assembling the tiered cakes, decorating with fresh flowers, finishing touches (such as bead piping and ribbons), icing the cupcakes, and the most fun of all, making mini-cakes (great for weddings and parties!).

PASTEL CAKES:
Champagne Bubble Cake (an 3 tiered ivory cake with champagne-colored rose flower separators and tiny little royal icing champagne bubbles piped on the rounds. A variation of pink fondant with red roses is also given).

Butterfly Kisses (2-tiered round cake with swags of tiny delicate flowers with 3-D butterflys bursting from the sides and top of the cake! A variation with cupcakes is also provided).

Dotty About You (great baby girl or childrens cake with multi-colored polka dots and a feathered topper as well as mini cakes).

Blue Buttons (a charming baby boy's cake with blue buttons and stars and teddy; cupcakes and cake with buttons and flowers and ribbon variation given)

Lavender and Hearts (a stacked wedding tier of mini-cakes with lavender flowers piped on the sides and fondant hearts as well; cupcakes with large blossom flowers variation given)


WHITE CAKES:
Wedding Ruffles (a 4-tiered champagne-colored cake with alternating tiers of rose ruffles that have a "diamond" jewel in each center and which the remaining tiers have piped roses with diamonds; cupcake variations as well).

White Christmas (single tier ivory cake with white piping and fondant wreath centered and ribboned; variaton with mini cakes also shown but bedecked with a crimson ribbon and gold holly leaves).

White Chocolate Roses (white chocolate curls wrapped around a 2-tiered cake and white chocolate rose set atop the layers; variations with a heart-shaped, single-tier cake with pink roses offered as well as a chocolate curl cake, and chocolate cupcakes with white chocolate roses).

Cascading Blossoms (2-tier white fondant cake that has a tight shower of small white blossoms on the top tier, then are lightly cascaded on the lower tier; matching cupcakes variation included).

Birthday Parcel (a square cake with light, delicate piping and a large fondant bow covering the cake; mini cake and cupcakes variations also included).

BRIGHTS:
Wedding Sunflowers (I loved this presentation! A 3-tiered cake with gumpaste sunflowers attached to the sides of the tiers).

Retro Circles (totally 60's retro cake with brown, white, and blue circles on a square cake; groovy baby!! Mini cakes variation included).

Rouge (the cover photo of 2 tiers of white fondant and "bursts" of red sparkles and flowers)

Candy Stripes (a round white cake with pink strips and a large yellow gumpaste flower; variation of cake with bird nest and chocolate given).

Cupcake Treats (a multi-tiered cupcake stand of silver liner cupcakes with white frosting and sparkling pink roses and stars).

Ready-to-Wear (this was the most beautiful cake in the book! A 3-tiered, ivory stripes on white cake with large silk flowers and diamond embellishments on the tiers; variation with other decorating embellishments were also given; by far, the best project in the book!)

Templates

Suppliers

Acknowledgements

Index

As per usual, May has done a superb job of presenting fabulous ideas to challenge beginners. This would be a most wonderful addition to a beginners library. Peace!

I think this is an incredible book. It helped me a lot. There's a lot of images and the recipes are clear. You must have it.

I'd recommend this book for beginners or intermediate cake decorators. It also has cupcakes and mini cakes ideas, and very clear instructions, easy to follow.
I love all the projects in this book, and get inspired every time I read through it, which is very often. I have yet to try the recipes, but would like to try the carrot cake. I also bought the other book from this author, and would recommend it to every one starting out.

I love this book. I worked in a bakery while in graduate school and picked up a few things. Have started doing cakes from home and this is the first cake book I have bought. It is easy to understand while I am not quite new at cake making, making cakes by yourself at home is different than in a bakery, but with this book it seemed less intimidating. The pictures are clear and the instructions and variations are also wonderful. I already made a cake from the book and it was a big hit a a party for a group of 14 year old girls!! Would buy other books from this author!

Love this book! Borrowed from my SIL and had to get one myself. Fantastic ideas and straightforward.

This is a really good book for a beginner like me. Never iced or decorated cakes before but this book makes everything possible. At first glance and the first flip through its wonderfully photographed pages I already felt inspired. They trully ARE easy to follow; the rest is just technique and practice practice practice. I felt confident trying out the designs from the start.