The Art of Cake Decorating – A Beginner’s Recommendation for Cake Decorating Books

I am new to the art of cake decorating. However, it’s something I’ve been interested in since I was a little girl and baked my first cupcake.

Since picking up my icing palette and fondant, I’ve discovered that sugar crafting is a creative outlet that has the ability to delight not only myself when decorating cakes, but also the recipients. It’s a fun, exciting and challenging hobby that I find continually stimulating and my head is full of ideas for cakes to come!

Like I said, I’m a newcomer to the world of cake decorating, so I took a few introductory courses. These were very helpful, but I found trial and error served me best. Nothing is more rewarding than sitting down and trying to recreate details of cakes I’ve seen online or in a magazine. After taking some basic courses in sugar crafts, I went to buy myself some cake decorating books who turned out to be a great source of inspiration for me. Not just in terms of exciting and visually stunning cake decorating, but also in the techniques and tips the pros use to create their towering masterpieces.

If you’re considering getting into this wonderful and fulfilling hobby, here are four cake decorating books which I have found useful so far:

1. “Cakes for dreaming” by Colette Peters

This book tops the list, simply for its “wow” factor. This is a fantastic collection of quirky, whimsical and artistically detailed cakes. Although the book is aimed more at the skilled baker, it is a great source of inspiration with its unusual color combinations and techniques. It really is a feast for the eyes and something to aspire to.

2. “Cake Chic” by Peggy Porschen

Peggy’s cake work is contemporary, yet classic. With its surprising details and sophisticated lines, this book showcases her effortless flair when creating cakes as if they were fashion outfits. A wide range of ideas and recipes ensures that there is something for everyone in this cake decorating book.

3. “The Complete Book of Sugarpaste Cake Decorating” by Sylvia Coward

A good simple cake decorating technique book is worth its weight in gold. This practical and simple book is ideal for beginners. Covering a wide range of techniques which are presented in project form, it is easy to follow and starts with a number of basics which will be ideal for the beginner.

4. “The Well Decorated Cake” by Toba Garrett

This book deserves a mention here. Ms. Garrett presents easy-to-follow chapters with wonderful direction that helps boost your confidence. I was able to expand my skill base at a realistic pace with this book and the results were definitely worth it!

Well, there you have it, four cake decorating books that I have found to be very helpful as I began my journey into this fascinating hobby.

I hope you find them as useful and enjoyable as I do.

Since I started my candy course, I have found that nothing has been more helpful to me than these books. I would recommend, if you can, taking some basic starter skills courses that will allow you to implement some of the slightly more advanced techniques described in those books above.

There’s no substitute for practice, so even if you’re just getting started, get yourself some cake, some fondant, and fire up your imagination!