Kathy Suchy Richards - How to Make a Wedding Cake Even if You Cant Bake

by Kathy Suchy Richards Copyright 2011 Kathy Suchy Richards Smashwords Edition Introduction As a hobby, I have been making birthday,anniversary, wedding, and other occasion cakes for family andfriends since 1969! In the last few years, due to the increasedcosts of weddings, several people have made inquiries of me as tohow to save money on weddings! I have shared some innovative ideas to reducethe wedding expense including how to have a great looking weddingcake at low cost. As more and more people have approached me withquestions on how to save money on wedding cakes, I decided to sharethe information with the public through this book! This book will show you how to make beautifulwedding cakes that do not require you to heat up your oven and willsave you a lot of money. If you can bake, my delicious and easywedding cake recipe from mixes and my buttercream frosting recipeis included in this book. I hope you will find this book informative.May it enlighten your mind with more creative ideas to makebeautiful, low cost wedding cakes! Please be sure to read the chapter The Cakesin the Beginning. Enjoy the Journey!!! Dedication and Thanks To Mom, Dad, Don, Candy, Donnie, andScott Special thanks to my parents, Frank andFrances Suchy for my creative talents and all their patience as Iexperimented with all kinds of cake creations. My love of bakingand creating cakes began at preschool age in the 1950s.

I firstbaked cakes in my childhood metal stove heated by a light bulb!Its been a journey! This book is dedicated to all my family,extended family, and friends who have allowed me to be part oftheir celebrations of life with cakes. They have given me thecourage and confidence to push my cake baking and decorating tobring forth creative talents and ideas that would have remaineddormant. I have enjoyed the journey and look forwardto new creative adventures in the future! Many Thanks to my Editors Donald R.Richards, Candy Denesia Richards Barnett, Amy Batchler Richards,Lori Novotny Richards, Lorna Ross, Felissa Carter-Moore Supplies Needed Cakes Wax Paper Scissors Clear tape, glue gun, or glue stick Straws, dowel rods, or wood skewers Foam or plastic plates, card board circles,or corrugated card board boxes that can be cut into circles. Optional Items Needed: Freezer Paper Ribbon Cake stands Flowers: Artificial, real, icing, pastilles,fondant, etc. Fabric, bridal netting, table cloth(s) orsheet(s), beads on strings Canned white icing or spray can icingavailable in grocery stores Alternative Cake Stands You can utilize some unusual items tocreate amazingly beautiful cake stands!! You can purchase cake stands from craftstores, department stores, or order online. Be creative and utilizeitems in your home, borrow from a friend, or purchase items fromdollar stores, grocery stores, or department stores to use as cakestands.

Cardboard boxes, soda cans, jars, stacked books, and cookiejars make excellent cake stands. EXAMPLE: Select three bowls or study boxes ofdifferent heights or stack books at different heights. For an 8 inch cake, select a bowl 5 inches to8 inches in diameter. For a 5 inch cake, select a bowl 3 inches to5 inches in diameter. At the Reception: Arrange the bowls, boxes, or books on thecake table. Gently drape white fabric or other colorfabric over the bowls.

Carefully, place the cakes on top of thebowls. You can use table cloths, sheets, satin, lace, or othermaterial. White or another color bridal netting material drapedover the fabric adds a special touch. Wedding Cake Support Base for Cake Tiers orTopper A sturdy base may be neededto place the wedding topper on top of the cake. You will use thissame procedure to create a sturdy base for a cake tier. Cut a circle from sturdy cardboard, foamplate, plastic plate, or purchase pre-sized cake board circles forthe ornament base support.

The support base circle is cut to 1inch smaller than the diameter of the cake. Secure the ornament or cake tier base: Insert a straw into the center of the cake.Using scissors cut the straw just above the cake line. Remove thecut straw. Use the cut straw as a cutting guide to cut 4more straws. Insert one cut straw into the center of thecake. Position the cardboard, plastic, or foamcircle on top of the straw support. Position the cardboard, plastic, or foamcircle on top of the straw support.

At the reception Place the cake topper ornament or cake tieron top of the support. Arrange flowers, ribbons, beads, or anydecorations onto the cakes. Flowers on the Cake You can use real flowers, artificial flowers,or candy flowers. Candy flowers also known as fondant, pastille, orfrosting flowers can be purchased at craft stores that sell cakeproducts or online. Cut a circle of freezer paper, wax paper,foam plate, or plastic plate to cover the top of cake within theborder decorations. Position the circle on top of the cake. Position the circle on top of the cake.

Ifusing freezer paper, place the shiny side down onto the top of thecake.