What Does A Cake Designer Do
Creativity is the number one requirement to become a successful cake designer. It is a constant requirement to think outside of the box and to push the limits of creative cake design. Customers expect to be impressed with the final product. As such, cake designers are constantly developing new design ideas.
A cake designer starts with the basics – baking the cake. This process involves mixing ingredients using commercial quality baking equipment and tools. The cake batter is then transferred to pans where it is placed in ovens and baked for the appropriate amount of time. After the cake is allowed to cool, the designer begins to assemble the end product.
This can often involve placing one or more pieces of cake on top of one another to get a desired look. Cake stands and other similar products may be used to help achieve a desired multi tier presentation. Once completed, a cake designer is then able to decorate the cake.
To decorate a cake, he or she uses various specialized tools including moulds, spatulas, decorating pens and stencils. Frosting or fondant is placed on the cake and then moulded into a certain shape. Cake designers manipulate the frosting or fondant to create a custom designed cake based on instructions provided by the customer.
How Do I Start A Home Based Bakery
How to Start a Home-Based Baking Business
Chill The Cake Layers
Taste of Home
Cold cakes are easier to frost. If you have the time, pop your cake layers into the freezer to firm up30 minutes should do the trick. Once chilled, stack and frost as normal. The cake will be sturdier and the chill will help contain some of the crumbs.
And whatever you do, never, ever frost a warm cakethe icing will melt right off.
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What Does A Cake Decorator Do
There are certain skills that many Cake Decorators have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed Artistic ability, Color vision and Physical strength.
Where Can A Cake Decorator Work
A cake decorator typically works for a pastry shop, bakery, grocery store or restaurant. This can also include companies that may offer private services, such as boutiques, as well as wholesale bakery items, such as superstores. Besides designing and decorating cakes and pastries, they stock supplies, maintain sanitation in their work area and take orders from customers. Some cake decorators may own their own businesses and work out of their homes.
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What Qualifications Do I Need To Be A Cake Decorator
Youll need : the ability to work well with your hands. to be thorough and pay attention to detail. the ability to work well with others. excellent verbal communication skills. knowledge of manufacturing production and processes. the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure. maths knowledge.
Working Hours And Conditions
Working Hours
In a full-time position, you would usually work a standard number of hours per week. In a commercial bakery, this could include shifts and weekends.
As a self-employed cake decorator, your work would probably be somewhat seasonal, and you would likely be busiest at times such as Christmas, Easter, and during the local wedding season.
Conditions
In a bakery, you might work in a cool room to stop the icing from melting. You may need to wear a uniform including a hat.
Some self-employed cake decorators may have their own premises, or may work from home.
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What Tools Do Cake Decorators Use
The tools used by cake decorators to apply icing in elaborate designs include piping and pastry bags, which allow for delicate placement. Decorators use edible ink and food coloring for lettering and will work with fondant and marzipan to mold into flowers or special holiday characters. Tools like spatulas, uniquely shaped baking pans, and sharp blades are used to shape and form the cakes.
What Is Cake Decorating
The first cakes were actually small round sweet pieces of bread. They were usually made by baking a mixture of flour, eggs, fat, sugar, and leavening agents. Flavors, like vanilla or fruit, were also added at times. It wasnt until sometime around the 17th century that these pieces of bread began to resemble the cakes that we know today, however. Around this time, bakers started adding icings and frostings to cakes.
Cake icing is often one of the most important aspects of cake decorating. Once the cake has been baked, the icing can be shaped and molded into decorative designs. Other objects, like shaped candies, can also be added to decorate cakes as well.
Today, decorated cakes are often used to celebrate all sorts of events and milestones. For example, birthdays, along with weddings, usually arent complete without a decorated cake. Other events, like retirements, graduations, and new additions can also be celebrated with a decorated cake. Some individuals even add lavishly decorated cakes to holiday celebrations.
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Do Cake Decorators Make Good Money
Cake Baker Salary The highest paid 10 percent earned more than $39,830 while the lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,320. These relatively low salaries reflect the fact that nearly one third of bakers are employed part-time. The highest paid bakers are employed by bakeries , the Department of Labor reports.
Cake Decorating Tips I Wish I Knew When I Started Out Cake Decorating That Changed My Life
*This post contains affiliate links which means I get paid a few pennies if you buy something using my link but it doesnt cost you anything extra*
When I first started cake decorating, I knew literally nothing, not even what cake tools I should have. I do not have one of those fun stories where I grew up baking with my mom and grammy in the kitchen. I didnt know how to bake, I definitely didnt know how to bake from scratch, I definitely didnt know what fondant was. I just knew, cake decorating was a job that real people had and I wanted to learn how to do it.
My first PAID wedding cake circa 2009. I think I charged a whopping $150. The whole thing fell apart during delivery. The heavy sugar flowers cut through the box cake on the way to delivery. They were just stuck into the cake. No straws).
I had to tear the whole thing apart in the kitchen of the venue and reconstruct it from cakes purchased from a grocery store bakery. Crazy thing? Bride wasnt even mad and didnt even ask for a refund. You would NEVER see that these days. I wish I could hug that bride today. If she would have yelled at me I think I would have given up right then and there.
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Cake Decorator Job Description Sample
With this Cake Decorator job description sample, you can get a good idea of what employers are looking for when hiring for this position. Remember though, every employer is different and each will have unique qualifications when they hire for their Cake Decorator position.
Summary
We are looking for a Cake Decorator to join our baking department. You will use freehand techniques as well as kits and tools to decorate cakes and other baked goods. Some designs will be standard creations for our display case, while others are customized according to client specifications. You must be able to take direction and adhere to strict food preparation guidelines. Proper handling and storage of equipment are required at all times. You will also be responsible for cleaning the decorating area before you start and after you are done.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Speak with customers to define cake specifications and design needs
- Use select ingredients, colors, and accessories to decorate cakes
- Stock and manage display cases
- Organize and reorder supplies, labeling where appropriate
Requirements and Qualifications
- Prior experience in a bakery setting cake decorating experience strongly preferred
- Excellent customer service and communications skills
- Creativity and familiarity with decorating tools and techniques
- Able to work a variety of shifts
- Valid food handler permit
What Will Be Expected Of Me
If you want to become a cake decorator, youll need an artistic eye and creative flair, so you can create unique designs for each customer, then follow through on these with a fantastic product.
Youll have to have a steady hand, a keen eye, and attention to detail as your work will have to be uniform in shape, colour etc.
Because youll be using a variety of tools including airbrushes, some mechanical ability is expected as well, so that you can set up and then strip down equipment after use.
Stamina is important because could be on your feet for much of the time, possibly working in a cool room, to keep the icing from melting.
And dont forget that numeracy is vital for the cake decorator, so you can measure out ingredients accurately, or work out designs using mathematical techniques.
Finally, good colour vision is critical!
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Pt Experienced Cake Decorator
Love & Buttercream is seeking an organized, personable, and enthusiastic team member!
We are looking for a motivated, personable, and artistic PART TIME Decorator to create custom cakes, wedding cakes, sugar cookies, cake pops, and more. Love & Buttercream is an all-from-scratch bakery, featuring everything from cookies to wedding cakes. Our new team member must be available on Thursdays and Fridays, and Saturdays are preferred. This position offers 20-28 hours per week . 1-2 years of experience with cake decorating is required. Our new team member should have a great work ethic, be diligent and timely, and have a creative and visionary mind. Love & Buttercream prides itself on creating a team-focused atmosphere. Our new decorator must be a great team player, and must be able to take direction from our Manager and Owner. We are looking for someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure 100% customer satisfaction. If you’re passionate about desserts, and are seeking a fun, fast-paced work opportunity, this may be a great fit for you!
Requirements and responsibilities include:
Please send a resume, along with the reasons you are interested in this position to Katie at , with the subject line PT Experienced Cake Decorator”
Consider Taking Business Courses To Open Your Own Business
If you have little-to-no formal education in culinary and pastry arts, kitchen management or culinary business administration, consider enrolling in business administration courses online, at a community college or a university. You may pursue a business administration certification or diploma to earn skills in accounting, human resources, operational management and other important facets of running a business.
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Tips To Become A Better Cake Decorator
All young people come to a point in their lives where they must decide on their career and what they want to do with their life. It is far more preferable to make money from a profession one enjoys, but for many, finding such a career is difficult. I believe cake decorating is one that does not go into that list. I see endless possibilities to express oneself and feel motivated for doing something enjoyable while making a living. A coincidence brought me to the pastry kitchen when I was 17. I fell in love from the very first day with the whole concept of pastry in general. With all respect to chefs, I noticed that it was very different from cooking. It was a craft where an artist can perform visual art in greater freedom than many other related professions. Visually, you can only do so much with food, but with cake, the skies the limit!
Pastry art and cake decorating is the combination of artistry, carpentry, architecture, engineering, chemistry, painting, sculpting, and computing. Then of course theres baking, cooking and more.
Where Do Cake Decorators Work
Cake decorators work in bakeries, grocery shops, or as their own bosses. Some open their own shops specifically for wedding cake designs. Others work out of their homes. Any bakery that sells cakes will have a cake decorator on staff to create personalized designs for events like graduations, birthdays, and anniversary for the cakes they sell. Corporate groups and hospitality services also need bakery services and decorators.
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How Do I Start A Career In Cake Decorating
What Are The Disadvantages Of Being A Cake Decorator
There are many major disadvantages to starting your own cake decorating business. It is critical to consider how fast your availability must be, for you may always need to be available. Your equipment can get damaged and break down over the years, which are reasons to be concerned about repairing it.
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What Does A Professional Cake Decorator Do
Professional cake decorator duties may vary depending on where they work, but some of the most common responsibilities include:
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Using best practices to apply frosting, fondant and other bases
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Applying flowers, characters, symbols, words and other designs using piping bags and tips
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Performing quality assurance to make sure all pastries look identical and cleanly decorated
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Collaborating with the baker and manager to determine seasonal recipes and designs
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Creating custom orders for patrons, such as decorations with certain patterns, types of frosting, messages and colors
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Completing special orders, such as large batches or special event orders for weddings
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Maintaining a clean workspace
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Cleaning and organizing all decorating tools
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Keeping track of inventory and order supplies
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Training newly hired and less-experienced cake artists
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Helping bake pastries, cakes, cookies and other baked goods
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Once You Learn How To Decorate A Cake You’ll Be Whipping Up Gorgeous Celebration
For special occasions, theres no better dessert than a delicious and perfectly decorated cake. While many of us enjoy visiting our favorite bakery for an elegant treat, it is absolutely possible to get stunning results right at home. All you need to learn how to decorate a cake are a few basic tools and a bit of patience.
Now, bake up your go-to layer cake, and lets get frosting.
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