Creavitity With Cupcakes At The Sugarshack
I’ve always fancied myself as a bit of a whiz in the kitchen, and baking cakes, cookies and different kinds of breads have always been what I enjoyed the most and excelled at. My breads are never too dense or heavy, my cakes always rises without peaks and cracks, and my cookies retain their moisture and are always soft and a joy to eat. I might sound like I’m being little big headed but it’s a something I’ve worked on over the years with hours of practice in the kitchen, trying different recipes and tips, and trying to absorb as much information as possible to create the perfect breads and sweet treats.
Where I have always lacked however is in the “finishing” of my cakes. Not finishing in the sense of eating them (I never have a problem with that!), but finishing in terms of decorating and presentation. Sure I can make the buttercream and icing but never seemed to get the hang of piping to perfection or making my cakes look as good as they taste. Let’s face it, regardless of how good something may taste – the attraction lies in its presentation. Of course my family don’t care what my cakes and muffins look like, they’ll eat them regardless; what I really want is to be able to make cakes that I can give as gifts for Christmas or make for people birthdays that will “wow” them.
Determined to perfect all aspects in the art of baking; I decided to take Groupon up on one their offers with The Sugarshack for a two hour intensive cupcake decorating class for £24 instead of £60. It was a great deal and one I that would help me greatly, so I thought I’d give it a go!
The Sugarshack teach all kinds of bakery skill from the necessary to the novelty. The professional connectionists who teach the classes are ‘City and Guilds Adult Education’ and ‘Sugarcraft and Flour Confectionary’ qualified – some of the best qualifications in baking. So armed with my apron (you do need to take your own) I headed to the Northwest of London to for some pearls of baking wisdom.
The class lasted for two hours and began with a brief introduction into how to make buttercream. Even though I know how to make buttercream, there were so many little tips I was picking up as I was going along; for example using powdered colourings opposed to liquid ones in coloured buttercreams, and being shown how to mix colouring into buttercream to good effect.
We then went through a piping tutorial, which I paid close attention to – as this is where I feel I lack the most. We learnt to pipe leaves and roses, as well as basket weave designs, stars and ropes. We then made sugar paste butterflies and flowers, which really set off the cupcakes. The lecturer gave each of us a fair amount of one-on-one time and our small class of 8 really seemed to appreciate that – I certainly did anyway.
After an afternoon of swirls and rosettes the class concluded and we got to take home our own decorated cupcakes, all included in the total price. Although all the materials are provided for you I recommend you take a pen and pad and takes notes on what they say, it really is worth taking in all the knowledge they are willing to share with you.
It was a really fun and informative workshop; using step by step cake decorating techniques and simple tools giving you the skills to start making your own cupcake creations. I definitely recommend taking this class if you like baking or even if you just want to enjoy an afternoon with a group of friends. It really would make for a great activity based day out!
Be sure to check out The Sugarshack’s latest deal at Groupon deal for a Two Hour Cupcake Decoration Class for £24 (£60 Value). That’s 60% off!
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