Hi, I am a complete beginner at cake making and decorating and would really appreciate some tips on best practise! I have made one or two cakes so far and have taken 2 one day courses to learn some techniques but would love to learn some of the techniques that everyone here uses. I have heard alot of people talk about freezing or refrigerating and allowing cakes to settle so would love to hear more about this!!! I have a childrens birthday cake to make next week so would be good to have a heads up!

Thanks Sarah

I dont know whether you do fondant or Buttercream, I only do fondant so can only give any tips for that. But some might cross over.
Letting cakes settle for at least 12 hrs before decorating.
I use a madeira cake recipe quite heavy that will hold up to the weight of icing.
I bake at a lower temp than the recipe stated like 150C instead of 170C takes a bit longer but find less burning and the cake is still lovely and moist.
Using thick butter cream to damn the edges of your filling. I do mine about a centimeter back from the edge and make it thicker than the rest of my buttercream as it holds in the filling and helps minimise bulging.
I have frozen cakes well wrapped in cling wrap and foil let them thaw completely before decorating and tey were fine.
I havent refrigerated cakes so i dont know about that.
They are just some basic things I do cant think of anything else at the moment HTH.
HanX

WELCOME TO CC SARAH!

This is a nice place to look for your answers: http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-forums-search.html