Cake, Cake, and More Cake!

I am taking the Wilton Cake Decorating Basics class at Michaels. It is a BLAST. Since the cockles of my heart are warmed by baking and stuffing my face with frosting, you know I couldn’t wait to get going on this one  

A few weeks ago I said to myself, “I should take this class.” I’d been thinking about it forever, so I called the store to get more info. On my way home from work the next day, I again said, “Self, just do it.” In I walked to the store and up I signed for the class. They had a special deal going so the class was just $17.50 (for 4 classes), and Michaels always has coupons for everything, so I scored my class kit for 40% off! Talk about a bargain!

Our first class we learned several basics: how to cut, fill, and ice a layer cake, and some simple decorating techniques. We practiced on cookies. I forgot to take pictures and then my coworkers ate all the cookies the next day. Use your imagination

The second week we baked our own cake, filled it (I used strawberry jam), iced it, and decorated it. Here is my cute (if I do say so myself) fish cake!

 

Here, fishy fishy…

 

Those green dots? They’re air bubbles.

 

Just keep swimming…

For class number three (this week), we had to bake cupcakes and make our own batch of frosting. I was supposed to make the frosting for the second class, but we had a little power outage the other week and our first class was cancelled. Hence, we had two classes on two back-to-back nights. Make frosting at 9:00 at night before I get up early the next morning to go to work? I dontthinksothankyouverymuch.

Anyway. I  halved a chocolate cake recipe from the back of Trader Joe’s cocoa powder box (the cake is delicious and easy, as they claim!), and still had an enormous amount of leftover batter. I decided to get creative and try microwaving some batter in ramekins to make microwave chocolate cake. Give it a try! Spray a ramekin with cooking spray, fill halfway full with cake batter, then nuke it for about a minute and a half. Yummm (and FAST!)

 

My homemade heart attack in a bowl, brought to you by Crisco. Lordy, does it taste GOOD though! Now I know why I loved (and still do!) those gigantic frosting roses on bakery birthday cakes (hellooooo, Costco!). You know you do too. Don’t deny it.

 

And here are some of my finished creations! I colored the frosting myself too (apparently it was neon 80s’ colors night in my kitchen).

 

If you are considering taking the Wilton classes, I highly recommend them. The instructions are easy to follow, the kits have just about everything you need, and the instructor demonstrates everything step-by-step. It’s really fun and everyone is there to have a good time! Check it out