I'm JUST starting out--as in, took my first wilton class last month! I'm making my first 'real' cake (as in not for the class) for my daughter's first birthday this month (and I can't believe it's already been a year! lol).

It will be a relatively simple cake (I think. . .) I found on wilton.com.

But my question is this: I want to practice lots, and learn lots (and this website has been a HUGE help) but I don't want to have to make a cake every time just to practice. But I still want to practice, and gain the skills involved in creating cakes. (ie:not just use my practice board) Confused yet? what's the best way to do this? I know Styrofoam cakes are good for fondant, but what about buttercream frosting or other types?

Or am I just going to have to suck it up and start giving cakes to my neighbors as I practice?

thanks for you input!

Dummy cakes are great for practice. Ice it, decorate it, take a picture and scrape it down.

Or practice on real cake and bthe most popular person in your neighborhood!

I always practice on dummy cakes.Whether its fondant or bc, it works well. And its easy to clean and use it again.

You can use the dummy cakes and I wrapped mine in plastic when I was doing buttercreams to pratice with scrap it off back in the bowl and start all over again.

I have one HUGE warning for you as a beginner........

I started taking this seriously in October... I was a size 5. As of Christmas, I am a size 8.....

For Christmas, my lovely husband got our whole family a membership to the local YMCA..... I love my husband... but cake and icing will go to your butt

I'm ashamed for laughing at littlerockflower... you're an evil genius.

You can decorate cake pans, great for piping borders, drop flowers, vines, scolls, writing etc. Just scrape frosting back into the bowl and do a bit of washing up.

Dummies and cake pans work great. Some other stuff you can play on your wilton board.. But remember, people love cake, and is not the same doing a dummy than a real cake..Everytime you do a cake you practice your icing skills(wich on a dummy they tend to get lost cause you dont deal with crumbs), then you can practice cake flavors and decorating techniques. And people around you will love you for the cakes!..Practice makes perfect!..Have fun!
Edna

Hey, that is a great idea. I have this seriously skinny neighbor that never seems to gain a pound. But I can just look at a cake and gain 10 pounds. I'm going to practice on her!! Ha! Ha!

Jamie85364:

Buttercream and cake scraps not look appealing??? You've got to be kidding. Never, Ever!!!

this is the way I do my cakes..I do a crumbcoat first..put in the fridge, let it harden up and then a second coat goes on

I've been at this for 2 years now and those cake scraps and bc haven't lost their appeal yet. I give away all that I can and freeze the rest. I have lost 5 lbs over the last few weeks just by FORCING myself to stay away from cake!! lol-granted, I gained 10 lbs since the summer so needing to lose those 5 was aggravating to begin with!!!

I just got some dummies because then I am not spending money making cakes and they can all be reused as can the coating. Also, even though I keep giving them away, I sneak a bite here and there and I need to stop being tempted!

I love cake...been doing this for ten years and still not tired of it!
I say the gym helps, but my cholesterol!.Yikes!!!
Edna

.......have a TERRIBLE time getting the edges of the cake to hold the frosting. Any secrets for that?.......

Sounds to me like your icing consistency is too stiff. Thin that icing w/more liquid.
Unless I'm misunderstanding you.....is the icing running off? Maybe it's too thin
For practicing and home cakes (NOT for class work) use SugarShack's recipe OR IndyDebi's. Both are in the recipe section of this site.

thanks kakeladi, I'll try both those recipes!

I've always loved to bake from scratch especially cakes. My decorating skills aren't the greatest but I'm currently taking the Wilton classes. I present my first decorated cake this weekend. I've also been wanting to lose some weight so I might be doing some dummy cakes. Got to stick to those New Years resolutions.