Thanks for your interest in My Cake School!!
We all have something in common here, and that is a love for CAKE, or at least, cake decorating. For me, it is both! Here I am falling in love with cake for the first time…birthday cake #1! If only I could still get away with just grabbing a piece out of the middle :0)
Mmmmmmm…… c-a-k-e!!!
Now, let’s jump ahead about 13 ish years…..
Do you know what I made? I’m not sure that Mom knew, but she took a picture of me anyway with the smiling mound of cake and jelly beans :0) — It was the Easter Bunny!! A proud day for me. (By the way, this is the same kitchen that I film our videos in today!)
Well, many years, a husband and a couple of daughters later, I was determined to find a stay-at-home business. I knew that I wanted something that would allow for a little creative expression…but what? I thought of everything– and made lots of lists of possible job ideas….photography, floral design, party planning, children’s book writing?? (of course I had no experience with any of these!) — Then it hit me–
CAKE!!
I can do cake!!! (I’d already mastered the Easter bunny blob cake..how hard could it be?)–
With much practice on my family and the better part of a Wilton 1 Decortating class under my belt, I took my first order. Then magically, more orders came! Business grew steadily by word of mouth until a typical Saturday morning looked something like this…
This is me sleeping with my eyes opened! (I really am.) –Let me take this moment to tell you NOT to make this many cakes all at once. Bad idea!
I ran my cake business from home for several years, running on no sleep, and sleeping at inappropriate times (that could be a post all by itself!)…but I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. I loved the creative outlet, the excitement of coming up with new designs–and I loved being a part of so many celebrations!!
About five years ago, I decided to take my cake life in a different direction. I wanted to teach decorating, but wanted some flexibility in my schedule. I wanted to cover lots of techniques too…and to teach however I wanted. I also knew that there were lots of cakers and potential cake decorators out there who would love to take a class or two if only they could find the time! That’s when the idea of My Cake School was born! Cake videos and conversations on caking are available around the clock–all you have to do is turn on the computer! We post weekly tutorials in the blog, which are open to everyone…or you can become a member of our site and access ALL of our videos, forums, and recipes! And all while in your pajamas :0) What could be better?
I hope that you enjoy the site— let’s talk cake!
Melissa
Hi Melissa, I’m really loving everything you have here and I really appreciate it. Ive had the decorator’s bug for quite some time now myself, and the Wilton course just made me hungry for more, especially with all of the cake & cupcake shows on tv. I just graduated from LeCordon Bleu last month, after enrolling last year to gain more knowledge in the world of baking and desserts So right now I’m trying to develop my own little niche, and find out how to get inspired from current trends and colors, which has been sort of difficult.
But thanks again, and like some of your followers have mentioned its money well spent!!!
Hello “GlamMa”! Thanks so much for your nice comment. That is wonderful that you just graduated from LeCordon Bleu. I’m so glad that you joined us and hope that you find some interesting techniques that you’d like to try out. Please stay in touch and let us know how things are going! :0)
Hi Melissa! I have been a member almost a year and I’m just now seeing this backstory! I LOVE My Cake School, the concept is brilliant! I have been decorating for 10+ yrs now, just as a hobby, and I’m working very hard now to make it a (hopefully soon) full time job. I would love to be my own boss! Your cake videos help me learn all the techniques I’ve been wanting to learn, but had no one to teach me. My skills have come leaps and bounds from where I started. Thanks so much!!!! :)
Hello there! Thank you so much for your nice comments–they mean a lot to me! Wishing you lots of luck as you move towards having a full time cake business. I can tell that you are really motivated and excited about decorating– Keep us updated on how things are going! ;0)
Hi Melissa! just found your page anf what you’ve done is beautiful, i myself is making our daughters 30 birthday cake (that parts ok) but it will be my first time decorating. Just woundering if you have any easy ant good advice when using icing.
Hi Susan–Glad that you found us! Have you seen our blog tutorial on the “petal effect”? –Here’s a link: link to mycakeschool.com
It’s an elegant look that is not difficult to master with a few practice runs on some waxed paper :0) —
I’m going through a textured buttercream phase lately and so if you look on my home page on the photo carousel, you’ll see other styles such as the stucco look of the frosting on my orchid cake, and the vertical line texturing of my anemone cake (done with a spatula). I’m assuming you aren’t a member and so you won’t be able to open the orchid & anemone tutorials, but you can get a lot just from the visual of the photo.
Finally, for a smooth look, I like to use the Viva paper towel method or “hot knife method”. A quick google will give you info on these– but I think the texturing techniques are probably the most forgiving when first starting out! Good luck!!
…sei proprio brava…ho scoperto per caso il tuo blog e ora non ti lascio più….che torte meravigliose!!!complimenti
Hi, I just became a member recently and was wondering how I could share my chocolate cake recipe with everyone else!! =)
Hi Brittany–That sounds great! If you visit the forums, you’ll see a section for Recipes. Can’t wait to see it ;0)
Hey Melissa, I was surfing the internet and found your website and I’m loving it already. I assume the only way to get all the benefits of your website . . . I must pay the membership?
I have so many questions, but for starters . . . how much did you charge for your cakes when you first started out? I have been doing this for a while but it is hard to charge people properly. I want to complete my bochure, so that everything is layed out and I want have to explain the standard price each time. Thank you for your time!
Hi GlamMa, I have been thinking about signing up at LeCordon Bleu but have been a little reluctant. I love to bake but have very little experience & no formal education. I love to learn & pick things up a lot more quickly if I am taught in a “hands on” environment. I am hoping you can give me a little information regarding your experience with LCB & whether or not you found the experience invaluable. My dream would be to open a little bakery in our city. There is def. a market for baked goods and money to be spent on specialty cakes/cup cakes/cookies etc in my area. Thank you so much, Kristi
Hi Melisssa. Your cakes are so amazing. For years I have been baking and have many persons interested in my desserts. You and I have much in common except you are doing what you love and I am still wondering how to get started as a business from home. Can you direct me in the right path so that I can get started so many tell me that I need to get my recipes patent but I don’t know how. I am also interested in learning more about decorations. God bless you and congratulations on your success. Willetta.
Hi Melissa, love your site & after drooling over your pics & gorgeous decorating techniques for over a year, am planning to join today! I have a question & hope you can give me some advice. Would you recommend using a pound cake recipe for cupcakes? Thanks, Sandra
Hi Sandra, we have never tried pound cake batter in cupcakes, so I’m not sure. I think they might be a little flat.
Hi Melissa, I was just wondering if you will do a tutorial on “Making MMF”. I have tried 3 times now and I just cant seem to get the right conssistancy. The first time it ended up way to DRY, I had to add water and it was a mess. My second attempted I used less powder sugar but it ended up way to soft and sticky. I just cant get it right! Any advice?
Hi- I am new to this blog and have just recently joined. I was wondering how often you post new tutorials ? I would love to see some tutorials on design transfers to a cake. ( Like stenciling, Frozen BC transfers, Color flow -and actual painting on fondant or buttercream. ) Tips on doing sheetcakes would be great too- I often struggle with ideas to fill the space on the cake without it looking to busy or disconnected.
Thanks,
Renee
Hi Renee–Welcome! We aim for posting a couple of videos and a couple of blog tutorials a month. (Alternating between blog tutorial and video tutorial every week when possible.) –
Here are links to our stenciling and frozen buttercream transfer videos~
link to mycakeschool.com
link to mycakeschool.com
We often paint in our tutorials (using a little coloring gel mixed with a small amount of vodka for a watercolor look, or petal dust mixed with vodka for a thicker “paint”) — We don’t have a tutorial specifically aimed at painting though–and we hope to do this soon! Thanks for the other suggestions! I agree that a sheet cake tutorial would be a good one. Enjoy the site!
Hi Melissa and BeBe,
I am so happy that my sister decided to get me this subscription for my 27th birthday. At first, I was a little mad that she didn’t get me the gift I asked for or a monetary gift, but now I am so overjoyed that she got me this subscription. I will honestly say I have been a member since July 22nd and this is my first time actually viewing some of the tutorial videos tonight while at work on graveyard shift. I am off for the next couple of days and I have already picked out some cakes I am going to make… the vertical ruffle, the rosette cake, and the leopard print!! I read your bio and I can totally relate to the sleepless days and nights being that I am a plant technician at a local plant, where I work a rotating day and night shift and I also have a very active 4-year old son!!! Cake decorating has become my passion and one day hopefully I can solely focus on this as you are doing now!!! Great Job and Thanks for this website!!!!
Hi Deanna–Thanks so much for your nice post. Even if it wasn’t the gift that you had in mind originally, ;0) -I’m glad that you are enjoying it!! There is a ton of info here, between the tutorials we’ve posted and the advice & input that you’ll find from our members in the forums, etc. It sounds like you have a very full schedule not to mention keeping up with a little one! I think a lot of us here can relate to crazy hours and not nearly enough sleep! ;0) – Best of luck to you as you learn and work towards your goal of doing cakes full time!! Keep us posted on how things are going! xox
Melissa & BeBe,
I have to tell you that I really love being a member here! I have learned so much already! I have taken all of the Wilton courses and now with your tutorials, I am able to continue to learn new cake decorating techniques. I will be purchasing my BFF a membership for Christmas. She’ll love it!
Thank you so much, Ann! So happy to hear that! ;0)
hola! Estan muy lindas todas sus fotos,donde puedo comprar los push ups de cupcakes! Gracias
ESPERO SU AYUDA.
SALUDOS!
Hi is this school also for beginners
Hi Raven–Yes, it is for everyone! We do have a section of videos devoted to the basics of decorating. If you click on the “Video Tutorials” tab, you’ll see thumbnails of all that we have to offer.
hi Melissa, im new on your sight saw the poinsettia with fondant so signed up right away. but cant find it im still learning your sight so maybe i have to go to a tutorial on it. suppose to do a cake for 50th aneversity new at that. so looking forward to seeing more. turkeys, were wonderful. my grandson wanted to do a cake with the fondant and all got me sooo hooked. made every type of flower there is except poinsettia. sincerely lubbyann. son gave me that silly name
Hi Patricia, here is a link to the poinsettia tutorial. It is in the tutorial section under the heading Gum Paste and Fondant
link to mycakeschool.com
Hope you will enjoy the site.
I live in the Houston Texas area. Do u make the leopard on the inside cake to sell or do u just teach? Does anyone know we’re I can order a cake that?
Hi Melissa,
Like you..I love cake and just realized a couple years a go..I love decorate the cake too. I came from Indonesia, my family in my side are businessman but no one think about make cake or something creative. They want cake they bought from bakery..hahaha.. I’m the only one tried to bake cake and pastry.
Since I moved to America and married with my husband, he support me. And this is me….want to learn and learn. I really want to sell my cake, only I still don’t know how…anyone can help me ?
@Karla~ I’m sorry, we only teach how to make the leopard print cake. I wish I could help! —
@Yvonne~ Thanks for your comment, it is nice to hear from you! It sounds like you have found your passion in cake decorating. Are you wanting to set up a business from your home? Let us know what questions you have and we will try to help point you in the right direction. Feel free to post in our Forums, so that even more people will see your comment and be able to offer advice.
hey i will really like to know if you have a bakery store where you sale ur cakes because an having a baby shower and i will love 1 of ur leopard printed cake plis write back to me asap thank you….. <3
Hi letty, I’m sorry, we do not sell our cakes. Ours is an instructional cake decorating site.
hi Melissa I think I left my comment in the wrong blog, but my question for you is if you have any ideas on a violin or cello cake. I have a 14 year old son who will turn 15 in February, he loves music,the utah symphony and plays cello and violin , I am dying to make a cake that shows his personality. Thanks!!
Hi Veronica– It sounds like you have an extremely talented son on your hands! ;0) — That is great that you are making a special cake for him. Do you like to make cake toppers? Since I do, that would be my first thought– to maybe make some fondant music notes around the sides of the cake and then mold a violin or cello from rice cereal treats for the body of it, cover with fondant, mold more fondant around a lollipop stick to form the neck, pipe or draw on strings, and anchor with a lollipop stick.
You could also make a gum paste cut-out of the instrument and decorate (anchoring in back with a lollipop stick adhered with a strip of gum paste).
We don’t have a tutorial on a carved violin or cello cake–but I know that there are some out there! Let me know if you have any questions or need help finding a carved cake tutorial!
hola Melissa< espectacular tu pagina, tienes un arte inmenso, me gustaria saber donde estas ubicada y al principio de tu pagina tienes un cake de leopardo q me encantaria saber como puedo aprender a elaborarlo.
gracias por tu atencion.
hi, your website is amazing! and even though im not a member, the few tutorials i am able to access are of immense help. im new to baking, just completed my baking course in september and trying to find a niche for myself. i would love to be a member of your school but i’m hampered because of the payment system. i’m in Nigeria and we dont have paypal, we have visa,mastercard though. so how can we get around this hurdle? because id so very much like to join. thank you.
Thank you Bebe for answering my question about airbrushing my fondant red, I decided to just tint my MMF red. My cake turned out beautifully at least to me. Lol! I uploaded my cake photo to mycakeschool. I just love the website. thank you so much Bebe and Melissa. I would love to see how you cover a square cake w/fondant and also frosted with buttercream.
Sincerely,
Nilda Sierra
Hi Nilda, I just looked at your toolbox in the member gallery and it is fabulous, I wouldn’t want anyone to cut it. Your work is beautiful!!
We are actually working on a video this week about covering a square cake with fondant.
We appreciate your nice comments about the site.
Hi! I wanted to know if I can use the hot knife method using The Fluffy Buttercream Frosting? Thank you, Nilda
Hi Nilda, yes you can use the hot knife method with the Fluffy Buttercream recipe. Chill the cake briefly before using the hot knife. I want to caution you that if the frosting is a color such as blue or dark pink you could have a problem with streaking or dark color spots appearing. We usually only use the hot knife method with white or light colors. We most often use the Viva paper towel method…..any paper towel or napkin can be used that doesn’t have a printed impression on the paper.
Hi Melissa and Bebe!
I’m a newbie here, but so far I love your page, It’s totally worth it!!. i join last night and I made a Leopard cake and I have not cut it yet but I made some extra cupcake and they taste and look great!!…
Looking forward to learn a lot more for this page!
Veronica De Dominicis
P.S: If you need any help translating someone questions or tutorials I speak Spanish too so feel free to ask!
Just joined up and am SO glad I did . I just love watching your tutorials . Not a lot of house work being done these days cause I’m watching you on my iPad !
Hi how can i pay by cridet card
Hi Wafaa, we can email you an invoice that can be paid with a credit card through Paypal, as their guest without joining Paypal.
Your site is amazing! I found you through a pin on Pinterest. I’ve taken all of the Wilton classes and loved them. I sell my cakes from time to time, mostly to family for birthdays, but I definitely don’t get to do as many cakes as I would like to. It is by far my passion and favorite hobby though.
HI Melissa! your talent is awesome! love your ideas, you make everything look so easy, I love your website. I now I will learn allot from you, thx you in advance
Liz
Hi, melissa, im michell. I am working and single mon so i need an extra income i would like to learn cake decorating specialy fondant… how much i pay to learn fondant?
Hi Melissa, I was asked to do a Cowboy Theme Cake for a little boy turning 1 yrs. old and I remembered a Baby Shower cake you did with cowboy boots. I followed your tutorial on how to make them and they turned out beautifully. The cake was a hit. Thank you for being an exceptional instructor. I submitted a photo on the member gallery. Thanks again. :)
Hi Melissa. I just love your site. I have been a member for a little while now.
You and BeBe do a great job!!! I know you have to be so busy, but I was hoping you or BeBe, would answer a question for me.
Where can I purchase “Stone Stamps?” You used them on your Valentines
Day tutorial.
Hi Susan, Melissa bought hers at Michaels Craft store. They are not on the cake isle, they were on the isle with mosaic kits or polymer clay tools. Here is a link if you want to order online, link to amazon.com
Hi Melissa~ I am HOOKED!!! This is the most fun website that I have ever been on. I pore over each video and keep Amazon and Etsy up on other windows to add things/products to my cart as you mention them. I am so grateful that you started this business. It has brought me lots of entertaining ideas to do things that I never thought I could do because I thought they were too difficult. But you make everything look so simple, all be it they make take a little time. But the end product is worth it. It’s been about 10 days since I have been on the site and to be honest I can’t remember how I came across the site. But, this is the best $30 that I have ever spent. Again, I am so grateful. I look forward to continue my membership so that when I can afford to purchase all the items I can just right in. Good bless, sweet lady….
Kimberly, thank you SO much for your kind words. I need to print this out and read it when I’m having a bad day, haha. I really appreciate it and am so happy to know that you are having fun with the site! Cake decorating is such a rewarding creative outlet, there is always something new to learn! Have fun! ;0)
Melissa, I began my love of cakes through the Wilton school taught at a local store. Before the classes were over I asked someone at CC what the technique was she used on her cake. She then referred me to you and told me it was the petal effect method. Needless to say I found your site at Easter and made your Bunny cake – what applause I received from my family and teacher.
Less than 3 years later I am now a Wilton instructor. I must admit after my students have taken all classes that I can offer I then refer them to you. Since I am a new teacher several have just finished up. I talk about how you are a local girl and your Mom, the tutorials you offer, the forum where others will answer their questions, and how I still learn so much from you. I encourage them to sign up and for only 30$ a year – what a deal! I only want to know with all the referrals can I have m membership for free?!
Thank you for teaching us beyond what we can be taught in class. Your tutorials are in such detail and as such we can all easily follow. Love your accent and cannot wait to see what you can teach us next!
Colleen Brown
China Grove, NC
Colleen, thank you sooo much for your post. I really appreciate that you have been with our site for so long & it’s wonderful to hear that you are a decorating instructor now! Thank you for your kind words about our site, and for letting your students know about us too! So funny that you say I have an accent, haha ;0) xo
hi Melissa i just found your page on face book its very interesting and you have very good recipes , i’m looking forward to learning more from you . coz i really love baking but i just cant normally i use ready mix for baking which is taking back coz i cant bake from scratch i always mess up somewhere
thank you once more for your page
Hi Melissa, I started following you on FB and when I saw that deal for the Cake School I had to joined. I have been hooked watching and learning from all your tutorials. I from Puerto Rico but been living in North Carolina (Raleigh) for the last 12 years, and love it!. I can’t wait to practice some of the techniques I have seen and make even more amazing cakes. Take Care.
Welcome to our site, Genaro! I’m so glad that you found us & are enjoying our tutorials! ;0) I hope you’ll stop by often!!
@Noxolo~ I’m sorry that I missed your message before! Thank you so much for your kind words. xo
I AM VERY INTERESTED IN THE SUBSCRIPTION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AFTER THE YEAR OF SUBSCRIPTION CAN I CONTINUE WATCHING THE OLD VIDEOS EVEN IF MY SUBSCRIPTION HAS EXPERIED ? THANK YOU, I´LL LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
Hey Everyone !!
Have been trying so hard to join “MY CAKE SCHOOL”. When I click on the button to the right for joining, all that comes up is Paypal for payment.
Anybody know what I’m doing wrong ???
Hi Barb, You can click on the PayPal button to join mycakeshool.com through PayPal or we can email you an invoice that can be paid with a credit card without joining PayPal. Just let us know if you would prefer that method. Thank you for your interest in the site, we would be happy to have you join.
First of all, I love, love, love your website. Secondly, it is brilliant to be able to subscribe for a year instead of paying for individual classes. I started decorating cakes about a year ago when I attended a Wilton class. I have watched hundreds of hours of You Tube videos but I have so much more to learn. I can’t wait to make you witch’s hat cake. To the point: Can I join without using PayPal?
Hi Nancy, Thank you for your interest in the site. I will send you an invoice that can be paid with a credit card through PayPal, as their guest, without joining PayPal. Once you have made your payment, email us the Username and Password that you would like to use on the site and we will complete your registration. We also accept checks or money orders. If you would like to mail us a payment, let me know and I will email the address.
Let us know if you have other questions.
Just found your site via Pinterest. My daughters name is also Melissa Dimond. Just missing an a ! Love all your ideas and creativity.
Hi Kim! So glad that you found your way to our site. That is too funny about your daughter! xoxo
78 yr old recent widower. Just found the kitchen & started to learn how to cook/ bake. Love baking, can now switch on the oven & have made a Victoria Sponge. Looking how to ice a cake, didn’t know so many types of icing. Do not possess a mixer. Everything by hand for now.
@David Platt- We are so happy to have you! I think it’s wonderful that you enjoy baking and are learning to decorate. Keep us posted on how things are going, and have fun experimenting!
Could someone please contact me about confusion concerning my membership. I have tried to write a message and it goes to SPAM! There is confusion in my log in membership info. I am unable to use your site.
Hi Patricia, I am sorry there was a problem. I have sent you an email with your username and password.
I just fiund out of yr website thru my cousin …you are very inspiring ..I do sime baking hope to get more baking ideas and tips from yr videos .. Thanks to mycakeshool …
I just discover your website and loving everything on your site
I will come back for more great recipes ideas.
link to goo.gl
Hi! Just wanted to know can you use fat free milk or cream,will it change flavor or consistency?
Hi Lisa, Which recipe are you using? We do not use fat free milk in our cake recipes. You could use fat free or 2% fat if your prefer.
Hi! Thanks for responding, it was the chocolate buttercream frosting
Hi Lisa, You can use fat free milk in the buttercream recipe, it will crust a bit more quickly because of the lower amount of fat. This is not a problem as long as you are aware of it . If you were planning to smooth the buttercream using the Viva paper towel method, the buttercream would be ready to smooth more quickly than usual. You can also use cream with the opposite effect, causing the buttercream to crust more slowly because it contains more fat. It come down to a matter of personal preference. The buttercream with cream will have a richer taste.
Hi Melisa,I’ve always had the dream to be a cake decorator and baker.You are doing a wonderful job here and interested in this.I want to be a full member here so I can also be my own boss later.Thanks and God bless you.How much is the subscription fee to learn and get recipes as a fresh learner and lover of cake.Looking forward to hearing from u Melisa
Hi Melissa,my name is Monica and I love baking cakes but I do not have any experience in baking them from scratch. I only use the ready mixes that comes in a box and everyone always enjoyed them. I do substitute one ingredient for another to make the cake more moist. But I was wanting to know if you have videos for super new beginners that have no experience in the field before I decide to join. I really hope to hear back from you soon because I really do want to join. And of coarse I have been interested in starting to decorate cakes but I don’t know where to begin. Not sure what tools I would have to buy. Hope not so expensive to find cake decorating tools. And I only have a basic home oven, not a fancy commercial oven.
@Sarah Edwards- I’m sorry that I missed your comment earlier! Memberships are $30/year. We would love to have you as a member! Our Recipes section is already available to non-members, but as a member you would have access to every cake video we’ve made!
@Monica- Thanks for your interest in My Cake School! If you are interested in learning more about scratch baking, we have a couple of baking videos in our Free Cake Tutorials Section – One is “How to Make a Cake from Start to Finish (using the conventional method of mixing)” and the other is on the Reverse Creaming Method of mixing. These are helpful in covering the basics on following a scratch cake recipe. In our Recipes section, we have lots of scratch cake recipes as well as doctored cake mix recipes. As for cake decorating, we cover everything from the very basics to more advanced techniques in fondant, gum paste, buttercream, etc. – You can click on our Videos tab on the home page to see a listing of the different videos that are available to our members. The majority of our videos do not require special tools…and there are always alternative decorating methods to fit what you have available to you. I hope this helps!
I am impressed, I must say. Any additional suggestions or hints? I�m shocked at how fast your write up loaded on my cell phone. Your post is absolutely on point!