A Career Baking Cakes?

by Nanci
(U.S.)

Question

I am thinking of starting a new career in cake baking but don't have much experience. I love to cook and bake and I have always had an interest in the culinary arts. I have a full-time career now but I have time on the weekends. Any advice?

Answer

Hi Nanci,

My first thought for you is to find a local bakery that needs some part time weekend or evening help. The best place to learn the ropes is in the workplace. You might get lucky like I did and have a couple of great mentors along the way.

You didn't mention decorating cakes. Assuming you do want to decorate as well, my advice is to take a course on cake decorating either at your local craft shop or cake supply store. I took one starting out and it really helped me with the basics. Then depending on how you best learn, books can be really helpful. Go to my Wilton Wedding Cakes Page to see some of the books that I have used and recommend.

Practice is the best, so take a skill (like butter cream roses and practice them like crazy) believe it or not you will be able to whip those out like nothing.

There are a lot of things to consider before getting into the business of baking and cake decorating. Here is a tip form Anne Heap of The Pink Cake Box. You may find the interview that I did with her interesting as I did ask questions about her business and specifically for her advice to people like yourself. Click on this link to go there. Amazing Cakes!

Hope this helps and if anyone out there reading this would like to add to this please do. Just fill out the comment form below this post. Thanks to all of my readers for visiting my site, for your support and for lending a helpful tip.