HMB Guest Teaching: Worsley College - Level Fill and Cover Shirt Cake Design
In tonight's lesson, I will be showing the students how to level, fill and cover their pre-made Madeira cakes and then teach them how to finalise the cake with a Shirt design.
It is my evening to teach the students, and I love this one in particular as it helps the students realise that they are capable of so much. I know they are a little apprehensive, so I have decided that we will all go through the first stages together, and then when it comes to the covering, I can assist them individually as this is when they will need to concentrate a little more.
I have advised them that I have made a batch of edible shirt buttons just in case we run out of time, and they need to finish their cakes off quickly. We cannot be sending them home with a buttonless shirt now, can we?
I start the lesson by showing the students how to level the cake using a cake leveller, which they can find at any cake suppliers or from Amazon; I inform them that they are not expensive and that they should be able to obtain one for about £5. Linzi then advises that she has recently been to a cake shop and they wanted the best part of £10 for the item. I told her that was expensive and offered her other suppliers of where she could buy it from. I advise the class that a cake leveller is a great tool to have and will save time and cake in the future; I also inform them of the wonky cake cutting I have done previously without one.
www.helpmebake.com
Some of the students have seen them but weren't sure how to use them; they are now impressed by how easy they are to use and are now going to invest in one.
Once the cakes have been level and filled, I then demonstrate how to roll out enough icing using the ribbon method.
www.helpmebake.com
Then I cover the cake using icing fondant and show the class how to trim off the excess and cut it close to the board. They are getting a little worried at this point, but I reassure them they can do it, and I will be on hand if they need help once the cake is covered. I then show them how to finish the cake off using the shirt design. They are really pleased with how simple the technique is. I then let them get to it.
After a few deep breaths, I can see the layer of concentration that has filled the room and how there are only a few whispers between them. They are doing extremely well with the icing and are now making the leap to icing the cake. I can hear a few frustrated breaths and a few noises; I quickly interject and stand close to Linzi; she isn't fully happy with her icing and is not sure it is going to look right; I stand beside her and gently talk her through what she is doing, her frown then begins to turn upside down and she is now becoming delighted at the fact she is now icing her cake, and it looks perfect.
I then move onto Christine and Leanne, who are making a square shirt cake and now adding pockets, buttoned pockets and additional decorative designs that I have shown them.
Billy has also decided to do a bright shirt and is now covering his with yellow icing fondant. I love that my students are so diverse and love adding their own personal touches to their creations. That, for me, is a wonderful feeling as they think outside the box and add their own flair to the cakes!
Cath and Sue are happily creating away at the back of the classroom and have brought their own button mould along with them.
Cath with her button mould design.
Here are some of the other wonderful student's creations.
I am pleased with this lesson as the class have now gone away with a newfound knowledge of cake decorating and are more inclined to have another go at this at home.
In tonight's lesson, I will be showing the students how to level, fill and cover their pre-made Madeira cakes and then teach them how to finalise the cake with a Shirt design.
It is my evening to teach the students, and I love this one in particular as it helps the students realise that they are capable of so much. I know they are a little apprehensive, so I have decided that we will all go through the first stages together, and then when it comes to the covering, I can assist them individually as this is when they will need to concentrate a little more.
I have advised them that I have made a batch of edible shirt buttons just in case we run out of time, and they need to finish their cakes off quickly. We cannot be sending them home with a buttonless shirt now, can we?
I start the lesson by showing the students how to level the cake using a cake leveller, which they can find at any cake suppliers or from Amazon; I inform them that they are not expensive and that they should be able to obtain one for about £5. Linzi then advises that she has recently been to a cake shop and they wanted the best part of £10 for the item. I told her that was expensive and offered her other suppliers of where she could buy it from. I advise the class that a cake leveller is a great tool to have and will save time and cake in the future; I also inform them of the wonky cake cutting I have done previously without one.
What is a cake leveller or cake levelling wire?
A cake levelling wire or cake leveller is used to level a cake; it has segments on the side of the tool for you to set your required height and then it is slid in a side to side motion slowly through the cake in order to slice it. It can be used for levelling a cake to make it straight and...
Some of the students have seen them but weren't sure how to use them; they are now impressed by how easy they are to use and are now going to invest in one.
Once the cakes have been level and filled, I then demonstrate how to roll out enough icing using the ribbon method.
How much icing/fondant do I use to cover a cake? (Ribbon Method)
In order to ensure you have enough icing rolled out, you can use a handy trick. Get a piece of ribbon and place it on the end of you cake board (before using buttercream or jam etc.) then place the ribbon across the edge then up the side of the cake over the cake, down the other side of the...
Then I cover the cake using icing fondant and show the class how to trim off the excess and cut it close to the board. They are getting a little worried at this point, but I reassure them they can do it, and I will be on hand if they need help once the cake is covered. I then show them how to finish the cake off using the shirt design. They are really pleased with how simple the technique is. I then let them get to it.
After a few deep breaths, I can see the layer of concentration that has filled the room and how there are only a few whispers between them. They are doing extremely well with the icing and are now making the leap to icing the cake. I can hear a few frustrated breaths and a few noises; I quickly interject and stand close to Linzi; she isn't fully happy with her icing and is not sure it is going to look right; I stand beside her and gently talk her through what she is doing, her frown then begins to turn upside down and she is now becoming delighted at the fact she is now icing her cake, and it looks perfect.
I then move onto Christine and Leanne, who are making a square shirt cake and now adding pockets, buttoned pockets and additional decorative designs that I have shown them.
Billy has also decided to do a bright shirt and is now covering his with yellow icing fondant. I love that my students are so diverse and love adding their own personal touches to their creations. That, for me, is a wonderful feeling as they think outside the box and add their own flair to the cakes!
Cath and Sue are happily creating away at the back of the classroom and have brought their own button mould along with them.
Cath with her button mould design.
Here are some of the other wonderful student's creations.
I am pleased with this lesson as the class have now gone away with a newfound knowledge of cake decorating and are more inclined to have another go at this at home.
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