Wilton Cake Decorating Class at Michael’s Craft Store

by Tonya Staab
Published: Last Updated on

I’m sharing my experience from the Wilton Cake Decorating class offered at Michael’s craft stores and you can see photos of my cakes.

I have always wanted to learn how to decorate cakes. On one of my almost daily trips to Michaels recently I noticed they were offering Wilton Cake Decorating Classes so I immediately signed up. There are 4 courses being offered so I’m going to share some of the cakes I made so you can see how my skills improved with each one.

Course 1 Wilton cake decorating class

In week one the teacher gave us an overview of how to use the various tools. She also showed us how to make buttercream frosting from scratch and how to fill and frost a cake. 

A review of the Wilton cake decorating class offered at Michael's craft store.
Wilton cake decorating class number 1.

Unfortunately, I ran out of time to finish decorating and roll the icing so that it was beautiful and smooth. I’m very happy with how my first attempt turned out though.

During the next class, we tried different piping methods on cupcakes.

Piping flowers, hearts, and balloons on cupcakes.

As you can see, we tried different piping tips, mixing colors, and creating images and words.

My final cake for this course was an Angelina Ballerina cake at the request of Miss M. I even got a Certificate of Merit to prove that I finished.

an Angelina Ballerina cake decorated at home.
An Angelina Ballerina homemade cake.

Course 2 Wilton cake decorating class

Over the first few weeks of Course 2, we learned how to make butterflies, birds, and flowers using royal icing. At our final class, we brought a cake. After learning how to make a basket weave pattern around our cake, we decorated our ‘baskets’ with the royal icing pieces we had previously made.

A handmade cake that looks like a basket full of flowers.
A homemade cake that looks like a basket full of flowers.

Course 3 Wilton cake decorating class

Instead of piping flowers, or making royal icing flowers, the beginning of this class started with fondant. As you can see, the first cake is decorated in only fondant. We learned to roll, cut, and color it.

Wilton cake decorating class learning to work with fondant.
A cake that looks like a gift package.

We took a little of everything we had learned from piping to coloring and cutting fondant to make our final cake for course 3.

a homemade layered clown cake in bright colors.
A homemade clown cake.

My favorite part of this cake was learning how to blend colors in a piping bag to make the clowns. I absolutely love how these turned out.

Colorful clowns made out of icing to go on a cake.
Bright and colorful clowns made out of icing.

Michael’s cake decorating class information

Course 1: 4 weeks. $22.50 (half price) + supplies. 2 hours each week. There is a kit you can purchase with the basic supplies needed for course 1 – from memory it is about $27.  Then there are extra things that are suggested such as a turntable, roller (I purchased a clay roller for $3.99), extra disposable icing bags and clown picks.  I had quite a few 40% off coupons so used those over days to purchase all of the supplies I needed plus a case to keep everything in.

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11 comments

Tonya Staab February 12, 2010 - 5:52 pm

Bre, your cake was adorable. I think we learn fondant in the next course – or maybe the one after that. I can’t wait.

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Tonya Staab February 12, 2010 - 5:54 pm

Well I COULD do a styrofoam cake, but then I wouldn’t get to eat it and aside from decorating, eating is the best part :). I wonder if that is why I joined so I could justify baking so much cake and then HAVING to eat it too :).

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Tonya Staab February 12, 2010 - 5:55 pm

That’s a great idea Sue. I think I will do that over the weekend.

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Bre February 12, 2010 - 1:20 pm

Doesn’t cake decorating seem so easy peasy when we imagine it in our lil’ heads?!?!
But it ends up being a pain in the rear!!!!
I don’t know if you remember my attempt at a fondant cake when I was full on preggers with Cash.
It was a lovely disaster…lol!
But like you, I’ve always wanted to take a cake decorating class. One day I will!
Enough of my blubbering…your rainbow cake is ADORABLE!!

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amber February 12, 2010 - 3:56 pm

I started these classes with a friend who wanted to take them. I really was not interested but thought it would be something to do and they were 1/2 price that month. I really enjoyed them and ended up taking through level 3. It has become a somewhat hobby now!

Great job on your first one, can’t wait to see more!

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Brooke February 12, 2010 - 5:29 pm

I took the classes just over a year ago. They were so much fun. I made lots of friends and learned a lot. Our teacher suggested a Styrofoam cake so you could reuse it and not have to bake one every week. My husband thought that was a terrible idea and I did end up baking, but a lot of the girls didn’t and it seemed to work for them.

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Tiramisue February 12, 2010 - 5:44 pm

What about making cakes in advance when you do have time and then freezing them – they are much easier to cut and decorate when cold. Sue

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Melanie February 18, 2010 - 3:54 pm

I have thought about taking that class for years! Now there is a store about 5 minutes away from our house so maybe this is the year to do it. Although I still have sewing, photography and knitting classes as priorities ahead of this one. Let me know your final thoughts when you are all finished.

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Tonya Staab February 20, 2010 - 10:51 am

You should totally do it Melanie, if anyone would be a whizz at this, it’s you, the baking queen :). I’d love to do sewing and photography classes too, but there don’t seem to be any in my area – that I’ve found yet. I’d love to do embroidery as well. So many things, so little time. Miss you.

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philjames February 28, 2010 - 7:42 am

Not bad for a first attempt! Keep trying as you will only get better as you practice the techniques and Wilton classes are one of the best available.

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cake business February 28, 2010 - 9:55 pm

Next time I go to Michaels, I’ll check it out. But I guess the schedules are at times when I work (that’s often the case..). Anyhow, thanks for the tip.

Heather

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