"CakeDecorating" news and stories

Still searching for a Halloween-themed dessert for your friend's party on Friday night? Or maybe your son/daughter just told you that they volunteered you to bring something sweet to their class party after the all-school costume parade (do they still do that?). Whatever the reason, those of you in need of a good, homemade Halloween treat should look no further than the Vampire Bat Cake that Lisa at My Own Sweet Thyme posted today.

She made her version (inspired by a cake in the 1988 Wilton Cake Decorating Yearbook) for a Boy Scout auction, but it would work just as well for a potluck or party. It consists primarily of a single layer of chocolate cake, cut in half, a cupcake (for the bat's face) and some careful frosting. Lisa has posted step-by-step instructions and pictures of how she assembled the cake, so make sure to head over there and check it out.

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As the resident cake baker in my circle of friends, I'm always trying to find something new and funky to make. I've been in a groove of no-cook fondant and marzipan figures, but this summer I got a challenge -- chocolate. Not being the biggest fan of chocolate cakes, I mostly stick to the many other flavors. However, my friend, she loves the dark and sinful treat. If she wanted chocolate, she was really going to get chocolate. Since she's also a skier, it would be served in a smooth, snowy package.

Death by Chocolate Cake, straight out of The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Chocolate, with white fondant, a marzipan skier, and some candles for wishing. Check out the gallery, peruse the recipe after the jump, and stay tuned for more information on the fondant and marzipan.

Ok. I am a baking geek. I love anything to do with the pastry kitchen and I have a long history of cake decorating. So how could I have missed an organization like ICES?

The International Cake Exploration Society is exactly what it says. It's an international organization dedicated to all things cake. I recently attended a meeting of the chapter in my area, almost by accident. I was invited by my boss to help her with a demonstration. Before that I had never heard of this association. The meeting was interesting, a day of demonstrations of different decorating techniques.

ICES has all kinds of events you can attend. It depends on the chapter near you and how active it is. The society also has several national events. Membership fees are pretty reasonable and they get you discounts on entry fees to all ICES events. You get a few other perks, but mainly it's a good way to meet up with other cake enthusiasts and to keep up with everything going on in cake world.

If you're into cake decorating, this is worth checking out. It's one way to get connected to your peers and to good ideas.