Hi there!

I'm relatively new to the baking scene, (two and a half years avid baking, and about six months of working with fondant/large cakes), and I'm just wondering how y'all got enough practice making larger cakes without clients?  

I'm 1200 miles away from any family and I don't really have a lot of friends to do birthday/event cakes for and it's not like my boyfriend and I can eat a three tiered cake every week.  I bring in a lot of baked good to my day job but it's hard to get the larger scale practice I need.

I've thought about doing dummy cakes for practicing but for some reason the idea kinda turns me off.

Any suggestions for a novice?

Thanks!

*Mod removed self promotional information

There is this organization called http://www.icingsmiles.org/  maybe you can look into....?

Good luck!

CIAO!

I went to her website and her work is very good!  Most cakes i see for Icing Smiles are beyond spectacular.  That being said, I had the honor of being asked to bake cupcakes for a sweet little girl, and although people seem to order my cakes and like them, I would say I am still "practicing."  Children love everything.  I agree, do not be dissuaded.  Contact Icing Smiles!

the point is missed, I am not dissuading anyone of doing IS. I am expressing my opinion that they should not be used as practice cakes. Plain and simple. I did not go to her site to look at her cakes, I did not assume she was a substandard baker. I was expressing how I think in regards to getting practice. 

i do not think the organization would share your opinion--

she happened to learn about this as she tried to find places to practice her craft--

and of course every last one of us did a new technique for a paying cake---

perhaps cautioning her to be careful, advising her to give it a lot of thought because of your opinion--to me would have been very appropriate of you--

but to decide/imply that she is not welcome to participate because her intentions are not lofty enough is flat wrong imo--that her intent is to 'use terminally ill children'--omg that's so awful to say--

so her motive was not pure says you -- wow -- judge & jury -- kinda hard nosed for a charitable person--

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know what? some cakers do not like to compete because they like to have the buzz of knowing they are working toward someone's special event/occasion--op sounds like this type of caker--dummy cakes do not inspire her--not that she might not never compete --just saying--

you yourself obviously get great inspiration from doing these cakes--i sincerely thank you for your generosity--

please, leave the door open for others to do the same without blaming them in advance for the way they learned about the cause--

i feel sure the organization will appreciate that--

and as I stated multiple times this is all IMO (In my opinion). I am not standing as judge and jury. We are all grown adults here and are allowed in a public forum to express the opinions of our own thoughts and prerogatives. Which I did. And stand by. 

Go for it and don't worry what other people say!!! As long as you do the best you can do I am sure that is acceptable and besides that it sounds like your cakes look great. I only do cakes as a hobby and I don't do fondant. There are many people who do buttercream and you can not tell they are not fondant because they get it so smooth!!! Hang in there and don't let others discourage you!!!!

AYike! I wasn't expecting a brawl here... Just looking for some ideas...

I respect your opinion cakespirations but in my own defense, my cakes aren't crap. I don't think they look like "practice" cakes. I guess I should have said I'm looking for a place to hone my craft rather than practice.

Thanks for the defense from everyone else.

And back on topic, how did you guys get practice? You were all beginners at some point and the idea of wasting cake/ingredients makes me balk.

ASorry cakespirations, I didn't mean to accuse you of slandering my cakes. I understand your thought process in saying that practice cakes may not be "good enough" for terminally ill children and I guess I just didn't explain myself well enough. I just want to make cakes and make myself better and practice was the word that I thought best suited that. But practice does imply room for improvement thus impling bad cakes. I'm sorry this got way out of hand. Can we shake hands and move on?

In another effort to stay on topic, where did you get the most practice cakespirations? A lot of family/friends cakes? Did you do donations in your area?

I'm open to all suggestions and so far this thread turned into the exact thing I wanted to avoid.

AI think Cakespirations heart is in the right place with wanting Icing Smiles kids to have outstanding cakes. I just signed up a few week s ago & they do have a vetting system where they look at your portfolio &decide if your work is up to their standard to be one of their children's bakers. If it isn't, they put you on a list to donate cupcakes/cookies to their corporate sponsors. So no worries all around.

Unless I'm trying out new recipes, I practice new decorating techniques on dummies or have donated to our local fire station, but call first! :)

ACompetitions... That is were I tried out new techinques and practiced.

Also if you are trying to build a business, donate a wedding cake, maybe to a couple in need. I have also done multi tired cakes as a donation for different charity events (ex. a mardi gras cake for a ball that was raising money for homless vets). Or donate a cake to a daycare or church event and instead of them paying, ask to leave your business cards.

I have to say, I love icing smiles... I'm on my 3rd cake for them. Please sign up, they are always in need of more bakers.

I firmly believe education never stops... there is always something new we can learn, that's what I LOVE about being a cake decorator!

Good luck!!

AHi. I am a major newbie. Not looking to start a business. Have no time to even bake any extra cakes than I need for home events - which I could buy. But it is sorta therapeutic I find. Reading posts for fun I saw a reply to growing cake biz. It said to bake cakes for every and any event you can family friend church etc. I think that's a great idea - especially - church. They are always having events or know those in need. I myself may just do this for practice.

Think of the following .... A nursing home. A home for kids. (I used to work at a residential treatment facility.) A homeless shelter. Really any group in need I'm sure would Love a practice cake or any cake. It is the thought that counts. Bakes sales at school etc. Let these groups know they are thought of and cared for too. I think also - get in touch with our Military in your area. I bet some serviceman / woman would love a donated or highly discounted? wedding cake to thank them for their service. Or not terminally ill children but any with special needs. A parent "might" would Love a cake made for their child that especially when time, money, and patience, are always on short supply. (I say might because they might also be determined to do it themself come hell or high water - i speak from exoerience. ;) Or again a Military family w a child w special needs. Think of all the places I mentioned. Picture their faces when they see your finished work - they will be touched, amazed, and I'm sure request more.

Good luck! And again just a suggestion.

This thread went no where fast.  Being deleted.