One-Tier Party Cakes: 12 stunning cakes for special occasions

Can’t really reviewArrived damagedReturned for refund

I really like all the book. Is easy to read and very good illustrated. I recommend all people to improve your knowledge.

Author Lindy Smith has a passion for baking cakes, but it’s clear that she also has one for teaching. One-Tier Party Cakes is full of advice on recreating her cakes using a variety of materials and techniques, and she encourages you to make your own and share so she can see what you’ve done.Of course a cake has to taste amazing as well as look great, so Smith has given several yummy recipes for cakes as well as numerous frostings, fondant, pastes, and modeling chocolates. One of the nice things is that the cake recipes aren’t just the ingredients - you’re given a chart for different ratios and baking times based on the size of the cake you’re making. There are many suggestions along the way such as buying the best chocolate you can afford when making ganache or how to make sure flower paste is jusssst the right texture.Smith also explains some general frosting, leveling, and some fondant techniques with an eye on detail. Using pictures, she steps you through all of the gotchas so you have a perfectly level covered cake.The stars of this book are the 12 cakes Smith has shared. For each masterpiece, the inspiration behind its existence is shared and the reader is walked step-by-step through recreation of the making with lots of pictures of each step. Materials, instructions, and tips are given for each cake, and there are even a few templates for some of the larger art pieces. However, having said all that, your cakes are not going to look like Smith’s if you aren’t already somewhat experienced or have a natural art talent. (It’s clear she’s gifted in a number of different mediums outside of cake making). Also, following along and baking all 12 cakes wouldn’t be a cheap proposition in terms of baking materials or especially the supplies needed to create the intricate designs.However, even if you don’t plan to make any of the exact designs, there is a lot to be gleaned from this book, from tips on baking to working with the embellishments on top. I got inspiration for an upcoming birthday cake - it won’t be the same as the 50 cake in this book but I am inspired with my own ideas after seeing some of Smith’s techniques. Also, I wish I would have had this sooner. I recently made a ground and sky landscape cake and there were techniques in this book that would have enhanced the look of my cake.All in all, this is a great book, with lots of fun decorating ideas. Unless you're a professional baker, there will be new techniques for you to try.

Gorgeous cakes! Anyone could make these. Especially exciting for me were the recipes for fondant, flour paste, and all the other materials you need for these cakes. You can make all of this stuff yourself at home with relative ease which is great news for people with allergies (like us) who might not be able to easily purchase certain bakery ingredients in stores. For example, I cannot purchase store bought fondant because of my corn sensitivity: it all contains modified foodstarch or cornstarch, so being able to make it myself at home is a huge boon.The difficulty level of these cakes ranges from medium difficult to very difficult but they're all attainable because of the directions. I've attached photos of some of my faves. I feel like they are challenging in a way that feels aspirational rather than frustrating. So excited to try out this book!Also it's worth noting that even if you only made one or two of these recipes, the book would already pay for itself because the price for a quality decorator cake like one of these typically starts at $60 for a small cake.

This is a book that will allow you to surprise someone with a one-tier cake you’ve decorated yourself. There are 12 designs included in this book (see photo), namely:• Welcome Home• Heart Design• Dancing in the Rain• Dandelion Clock• Brenda the Brandhill Sheep• Sarah’s Miracle Baby Shower• 50 and Fabulous• Klimt’s Cat• Puffy the Puffin• Echinacea• Toadstools• Winter WonderlandOther than the designs, you get:• a comprehensive list of equipment and tools• instruction for lining pans• Madeira Cake and Delicious Chocolate Fudge Cake each with a table for different cake pan sizes and corresponding proportion of ingredients and baking times• Recipes for fondant, modeling paste, flower paste (petal/gum paste), pastillage, buttercream, white chocolate buttercream, chocolate ganache, professional royal icing• Additional edibles like sugar glue, gum glue, white vegetable fat, and cocoa butter (to be purchased)• Techniques for assembly and covering with choice of frosting, coloring fondant, modeling paste, and modeling chocolate including useful mixing tips, and storage and transportation.Each project starts with an introduction (some include inspirational quotes) and the inspiration for the project. Clear, colorful pictures document the important steps and techniques used in the project which makes the process easy to follow.The book is soft-bound and the pages are made of quality paper that is smooth and easy to wipe. It is really delightful and Ms. Lindy Smith is quite generous to share her specialty to all who aspire to create not only good cakes but gorgeous ones as well.

Another stunning book full of colour, from Lindy Smith. There are 12 projects each with very clear step by step instructions. This book concentrates on single tier cakes though most are double barrelled. It is particularly useful that Lindy shares her design process from inspiration to completed cake, so that you can follow the process to create your own designs. The first few pages contain basic recipes and fundamental techniques, the last few pages have templates to help you recreate the designs. All in all another lovely book.

Loved this book such beautiful cakes inside easy to read

This book is full of stunning photos of beautiful projects for cakes which are different to the norm. Each cake has step by step photos giving instructions on how to create it. I liked reading the inspiration behind each cake. Lindy also provides information about the equipment to use, techniques such as levelling, filling and covering cakes and recipes. This book does not disappoint