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Cooking Books -> Cakes
Classic and Contemporary Christmas Cakes
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by:
Hurst, Nadiene
Hurst, Nadene
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Publisher:
Charles E Tuttle Co
Published: December 2000
ISBN: 1853918334
Format:Hardcover
Pages:112
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Book Description
Amazon.com
For the English, sugar paste (fondant) cake decoration is truly an art. Nadiene Hurst and Julie Springall are professional cake decorators in England, specializing in royal icing and sugar paste. They both teach and write for a variety of
cake-decorating and bridal magazines. Each of the more than 20 exquisite Christmas cakes photographed and described in Classic and Contemporary Christmas Cakes was done by one or the other.
Step-by-step instructions with photos follow ingredient
lists so comprehensive they include even the tools and materials necessary to re-create these elaborate cakes. Each cake begins with either a traditional Rich Fruit Cake or an alternative Light Fruit Cake, and you can choose whichever you prefer. The
recipes for both are in the back, and they are scaled so that you can make as many cakes as you need, as large or as small as you'd like. A recipe for royal icing is followed by instructions for covering cakes and cake boards and for piping
decorations.
Some of the cakes described are timeless. The Crown of Holly, the cover recipe, is beautifully draped with a two-tone yellow sugar paste and a mass of holly leaves and berries made of gum paste. Midnight Snowflakes is simple enough
for beginners; covered with dark blue sugar paste, snowflakes made of royal icing are carefully piped on top. It may sound difficult, but there's a template for the intricate snowflake pattern in the back (there are templates for almost every design and
decoration shown in any of the recipes).
For a traditional Christmas gift, you could make a project out of Yuletide Slices. Small slices of fruitcake are covered with marzipan and sugar paste, and then each one is decorated differently. The
authors suggest making two or three different designs and then arranging a few of each in gift boxes. The designs include simple ones like Stars, Trees, Ribbons, and Bells, and more elaborate ones such as Taffeta and Holly, Fruits (made of marzipan), and
Christmas Rose (made of gum paste).
There are also modern cakes like the brightly colored Three Kings, which is topped with gold stars springing out on wires, and Festive Drapes, a magnificent creation decorated with gold holly leaves, pearl pears
made of marzipan, and red taffeta drapes made of sugar paste. The recipes are certainly complex and time-consuming, and you'll need to find a good cake-decorating supply store for the tools and materials, but the final results will amaze and astound and
be well worth the effort involved. --Leora Y. Bloom
North Carolina Builder/Architect
"Classic and stylish, but always conveying a festive theme."
Book Description
A combination of both classic and contemporary designs to suit any
Christmas table. Simple, stylish, these cakes feature winter themes, religious themes and more. A cake to suit every decorator.
* Features cakes designs for all abilities
* Beautiful four color photography
* Comprehensive
step-by-step instructions, detailed patterns and templates
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