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INTRODUCTION

Putting this book together it struck me once more how incredibly versatile a cake can be. Cakes are used to celebrate all sorts of important family and social occasions including weddings, birthdays and holidays and virtually all cultures have cake in some form or another. There are hundreds of recipes and flavors, some going back centuries and, as for ways to decorate a cake, there must be thousands if not millions of ways. Whether you enjoy cake or not, it really is a unique and special foodstuff that can be used to celebrate practically anything.

In this book, I’ve tried to put together a collection of cakes for high days and holidays. Special days when you might have a group of friends or family around.

I wanted to give you designs that would make your friends both gasp in amazement and giggle with delight when they see the masterpiece you have created. If you’re new to cake decorating or a little nervous then I hope that the lasting memories, pictures, and gratitude that should follow your cake’s unveiling will outweigh any stress that goes into its creation.

Read through a recipe before you begin as sometimes suggestions are made along the way which you might like to take into account before you begin. Also try to plan ahead to make things easier for yourself. A sponge needed in two weeks time could be baked today and frozen until required. A fondant model for the top of the cake can be made well in advance and kept until needed. Actually I should really do what I write. I’m going on holiday next week. The week after I come back I have a wedding cake to do. It’s quite a fun one–bride and groom on top–and the bride’s horse scrabbling up the side of the cake. I keep telling myself to get on and get the horse done before I go away but…

Anyway, less of my incompetence! I hope you will enjoy using this book time and time again. Whatever the celebratory reason that leads you to create a cake, I hope you have a fantastic party and that your cake is the center of attention.

Fondant wishes!