First Baking Attempt's

From Day One, my first Wilton cake decorating class inspired me to fire up the oven and rescue the dusty kitchen aid mixer from my grandparents’ basement. I was so into it, I found that baking simply to fulfill my weekly class requirements wasn't enough for my growing addiction to confection creation. Like a true addict, I started making baking excuses. For instance, who doesn’t need camouflage cupcakes on Veterans Day?

The following week I searched Pinterest (AKA the best platform for supporting creative genius) and came across this tutorial. 

"Close up" of the best looking one.

Like every good "pinner" with a kick-ass hobby, I dedicated a new board to “Cakes," and spent most of my evenings into the wee hours, pinning all things cake related. I decided to give this polar bear cake tutorial a try. I think he came out cute, but his eyes look a little crappy; seriously, when you mix brown frosting with a round tip...it almost always resembles poo (not the adorable bear “Pooh,” but actual poop). I can’t be the only who thinks like this?

​

After I had learned the pulled-dot method in one of the Wilton classes, I decided to try making a petal ombre cake I saw online. I watched this super helpful video at least 18 times while making my cake. It wasn’t 18 times because I liked it so much—it’s because youtube bakers are the “fastest" bakers on the planet, benefiting from speeding up their videos. I totally could have used one of those fast-forward buttons for myself that day though because my daughter was hanging off my leg the ENTIRE time I decorated this cake. Now, I do most of my baking after the kids go to bed; you bake and you learn ;)

The petal ombre cake was my first totally-from-scratch, not-from-a-box yellow cake. Unfortunately, I wasn't really pleased with how it came out taste wise. My kids had no complaints, but, like most kids, they'd eat dirt, if it was covered in frosting; so, I can’t exactly use them as my official cake testers. And my husband—believe it or not—doesn’t like sweets. I know it’s crazy, but I still love him…more cake for me! 

Where are your favorite places to search for recipes or tutorials? And who do you use to help you “judge” your cake-baking success?