Sensational Buttercream Decorating: 50 Projects for Luscious Cakes, Mini-Cakes & Cupcakes

Carey Madden proves that cakes can taste as good as they look, and shows you how to make them look fabulous. This book is intensely detailed, but extremely accessible, written in a friendly, helpful tone that is assumes no prior experience in cake decorating but is not too simplistic for those with more. Madden begins with tools needed (beware: just as for any serious hobby, a significant investment in the right tools is required for the most versatility and best results) and a few good, basic recipes, including the essential meringue buttercream she uses for decorating (rather than the more common, but tasteless, royal icing). Next she walks the reader through slicing and filling a cake, color theory, icing methods, using pastry bags, and how to make different decorating motifs, such as flowers, leaves, dots, swags, and other designs. Sections are clear and easy to find; helpful tips and tricks fill in sidebars. The bulk of the book is fifty fantastic, fun, whimsical, and/or elegant projects, from easy to expert, with step-by-step instructions and color photos for each, either to try as directed or to get your own creative juices flowing. This is the go-to book for cakes that will be both beautiful and delicious.