Cakes to Dream On: A Master Class in Decorating

I normally write reviews for fiction, so this one is a little different and new to me.It needs to be said that I am in no way near being a master at cake decorating. In all honesty, I bought Cakes to Dream on: A Master Class because it was beautiful. The cover, the cakes inside, all of it, it's just amazing! My mom was a cake decorator for years, so for this review I asked her opinion on the book.The instructions: Very easy to follow. The diagrams and drawings are thorough, as they not only tell you what you need to do, they also show you. I learn from seeing much faster than I do from words alone, so the sketches, patterns, and diagrams are a HUGE plus.Practicality for the average person: For just the average, everyday person?? Not the most practical. These aren't cakes that you would be making for a kids birthday party. Part of what makes this book so amazing IS the fact that you won't see these cakes anywhere else. They are equal parts unique and amazing!! Being hardbound, if you bought the book at a regular store, it would be a bit pricey at $40. Luckily, I got through Amazon for around $25, and I consider that a steal!The recipes: These are the same recipes used in bakeries with some bonus variations.The best feature: While the photography is stunning, the cakes brilliantly unique, what sells me the most are the diagrams, sketches, and patterns. They are definitely the biggest selling point.Even if I had never planned to do any of the cakes out of here, I would still keep the book on my shelf just to show it off!!

These cakes are amazing. Stunning. Out-of-this-world gorgeous. The cake represented on this website, believe it or not, is one of the plain Janes of the bunch. This book is not for beginners! But it will be worth working up to being able to create cakes like these. They're not just cakes -- they're ephemeral sculptures. You'll find a cake appropriate for any theme or event. Some of the cakes are quirky and funny; others are elegant.Some reviewers said that they felt the instructions weren't comprehensive enough. Well, it's just that the step-by-step technique instructions are only given once -- in the first portion of the book, and they are plenty comprehensive. They just aren't reiterated with each cake. You have to read about the techniques first, and then you get the more detailed information for each cake.I am in awe of Ms. Peters' prowess -- these cakes really are amazing.

If you are a beginner in cake decorating, this is not the book for you. It's a bit advanced (as the title suggests) but it's a great goal to work up to! Ms Peters is sooo talented and creative! I've got half the cakes marked for making for special occassions. My only complant is that they are very small cakes, for the most part. If you want larger cakes, I'd suggest Colette's Weddings Cakes, and if you're a beginner, I'd suggest Colette's Cakes. Most of the tools she uses to make these cakes can be bought through [...] if you don't have a cake-making shop or a hobby shop that carries cake supplies in your town. The receipes for the cakes are absolutely delicious, too, a definite plus!

I have to agree with the very first, well written review. This book is beautiful and if you already know what you're doing, it can offer some helpful ideas for the cakes that she does. However if you are a novice or new to the cake decorating field, you'd be lost. I wish I would've waited until I had a little more experience with stacking cakes because even though this book claims to direct you through that process, it really does not do a good job with the childish illistrations it provides. The pictures of the cakes are beautiful, but the templates really do nothing because there is no instruction on how to use them to decorate your cake. I would advise that if you are looking for something that is more instructional and helpful, keep looking and pass this one up (for now). Splurge on this book once you've become familiar with all of the tools that she expects you to have and know how to use.

Love this book, so happy I purchased it! Cant say enough about Collette Peters. Shes amazing, her designs are amazing and this book was inspiring.

EN LA PORTADA PARECE QUE ES UN LIBRO DONDE TE ENSEÑAN HACER TARTAS TOPSY, PUES NO NO TIENE NADA K VER CON LO QUE PARECE SER. MUY DESEPCIONADA CON EL CONTENIDO DEL LIBRO.

Libro utile e pieno di tante idee carine e conpazienza anche realizzabili.Una chicca per gli amanti del Cake Designda prendere e gustare!

I love this book. Not all the designs are my cup of tea but there are sooooooo many that surely everyone will like some. My favourite ones are the one on the cover and all those using pastel shades.Stacking techniques and techniques to make crocked cakes are very well explained but also other useful techniques to make cakes look stunning. Very inspiring.

A fabulous book, full of inspirational cakes and exciting elements that could be put together in so many ways. , I have so many ideas from looking at these gorgeous cakes. That's what cake designing is all about, not replicating these genious cakes, but being inspired to create your own masterpiece.