FROM THE BOOKSHELF Cake Decorating for Beginners Rose Atwater

Cake Decorating for Beginners

By Rose Atwater - Published by Rockridge Press Photography by Sarah Atwater and Rose Atwater

by J.J. Carney

Have you ever dreamed of decorating cakes like a pro? From advice on the tools you’ll need to putting the crowning touches on an iced masterpiece, Cake Decorating for Beginners by Rose Atwater will show you how to achieve Instagram-worthy results.

Atwater’s love of baking and decorating cakes began when she was just 12 years old. A cake decorating kit she received as a Christmas gift was the catalyst that set her on the path for becoming the talented cake artist she is today. She began decorating cakes and dreamed of growing up to own her own bakery.

The Meadville resident continued decorating cakes for occasional church events and family members into her teens and twenties, although she felt she wasn’t very good at it. After marrying, having kids, and becoming a stay-at-home mom, she still had the desire to decorate cakes.

In 2009, her brother became engaged and, for reasons she doesn’t understand, asked her to make his wedding cake. At first, she said no, but he persisted, and she gave in. She had no idea how to decorate a professional cake and little experience. With seven months to learn, she began researching and practicing by voluntarily baking cakes for family, friends, and anyone else who would allow. Before the wedding date arrived, she began sharing her creations on social media, which prompted people to begin ordering cakes from her.

In the book’s introduction, Atwater said, “With every cake I made, I learned something new and got even more excited about seeing my dreams come true. I truly felt like I was finally doing what I was meant to do and using a gift God had given me.”

As she was researching and learning decorating techniques, Atwater became frustrated because there was no single resource to provide the information she needed. Because of this, she began her blog, “Rose Bakes,” so she could help others avoid the frustrations she faced. As the blog grew, she found that there were many new cake decorators who encountered the same challenges. “That’s when I knew I’d found my sweet spot–doing something I was passionate about and helping others do the same,” Atwater said. You can visit

her blog at www.rosebakes.com.

Cake Decorating for Beginners begins with a comprehensive list of required equipment and products that make decorating easier. Atwater explains the different types of food color, how to choose and mix colors, and shares insight on pre-made decorations that can take a pretty cake to a pretty fabulous cake.

The book features recipes, including Basic Vanilla Cake and Double Chocolate Cake, that can be used for layered cakes, sheet cakes, cupcakes, or carving. The step-by-step photos illustrate how to level, stack, fill, and frost cakes with ease.

For the icing on the cake, literally, Atwater shares her go-to recipes and shows how to add color to them. When frosting a cake, every decorator desires a perfectly smooth coat. This is achievable with her easy-to-follow directions. She also includes techniques for adding texture to frosting to create visuallyinteresting cakes.

There are many facets to piping frosting onto cakes. One has to know how to achieve the proper consistency of frosting, choose the appropriate tip, hold the piping bag at the perfect angle, and use the correct pressure to apply to the bag. Atwater covers all of this and more in the “Piping Basics” chapter. She even includes tips on how to write on cakes, which can be quite difficult.

Also included is a chapter on fondant, which covers the types of fondant and how to handle it. Fondant can elevate a cake to a higher level, and Atwater provides the instructions for mastering the art of decorating with it.

The final chapter of Cake Decorating for Beginners just might be the sweetest. It tackles the subject of chocolate–as decoration or a complement to other ingredients. According to Atwater, “There’s nothing more decadent than a chocolate cake with chocolate filling and chocolate frosting.”

The photos, both colorful and stunning, are by Atwater’s 16-year-old daughter, Sarah. They’re quite impressive provide the visuals needed to master the techniques described.

With this book and the proper tools, you will have everything you need to create your own cakes that will wow your family and friends. edm