There are all kinds of resources available if you are looking to create and decorate a special occasion cake. One excellent resource that many people designing a special cake will use is a cake decorating book.

There are many benefits to using these books including:

• Sweet tasting recipes
• Guidance at every step to ensure you perfect sweets
• Ideas for tasty new projects
• Experienced designer tips to ensure your success
• Inspirational photographs of tasty treats

Whether you are taking classes for cake decorating or you’ve already completed a cake decorating course, these types of books will give you the answers you seek and refresh your memory with all you have learned. The books are designed to relax and inspire you to get up and bake your next creation. Here are seven books you can check out from your local library or purchase at your local bookstore:

Authors Karen Tack and Alan Richardson

When you’re looking for a cake decorating book that is easy to understand and follow with dramatic color pictures that is sure to tickle your senses and get your mouth salivating, consider this book. The book has instructions to bake up cupcakes and design them to complement any occasion such as weddings, Halloween, baby showers, bridal showers, Christmas and more. You can find a motif for any occasion where you looking to add some zeal.

The techniques covered are simple. For starters, you’ve got frosting using zipper lock bag, candles, chocolate and more. Some recipes use ready made cake mixes; while others are homemade recipes. The book is designed for both novice and more advanced cake decorators who are looking for new things such as colors, designs and flavors.

Author Lindy Smith

Are you looking for a book that gives you a taste for both traditional and modern decorative cakes? Then check out the Cakes To Inspire and Desire book authored by Lindy Smith.  In it, you’re going to find instructions arranged by cake shapes along with a special skills category that’s sure to delight your senses and give you further ideas. Smith also presents 15 festive cakes with pictures.

Author Paula Spencer

Want a straightforward, in-depth guide on how you can start your own cake decorating business? Consider purchasing the Start a Cake Business book. It will guide you through all the things you must do to get started including set-up considerations, setting up your office, advertising, food safety, putting together a portfolio, pricing and recipe selection. However, you’re going to be treated with an extra chapter that gives you recipes and tips as well as a reference and web address section.

Author Dede Wilson

Another great cake decorating book is by wedding cake specialist and television cooking show host Dede Wilson called Wedding Cakes You Can Make: Designing, Baking and Decorating the Perfect Wedding Cake. With this book, you can plan out and create a wedding cake with a sensible budget. If you’ve got some basic baking experience, you can use this book to effectively bake a unique wedding cake. It’s got a variety of cakes to pick out and make including Lemon Blackberry Cake or Chocolate Covered Caramel Cake. She provides her insight on how a love for baking is essential along with timelines. There is much you can learn from her book from the conception of the business until the cake has been delivered to its destination.

Authors Kaye and Liv Hansen

Mother/daughter team Kaye and Liv Hansen have authored this book to give people an illustrated step-by-step guide to decorating basics, easy cakes and tiered designs. The Hansen women have a special skill in chocolate accents with segments in different chocolate methods.

All their cake, filling and icing recipes are based on the belief that each cake should “taste as good as it looks”. For that reason, the woman use butter cream, glaze, tinted chocolate and flavored whip creams.

Author Colette Peters

Colette Peters puts together her knowledge for professional and baking enthusiasts to use so that they can become better familiar with specialized tools and gain experience using gum paste and/or fondant. Each of her creations is elaborate and she uses, not only fondant and gum paste, but also marzipan, royal icing and much more. Have you ever wanted to try a lopsided multi-tiered look for a special occasion? With her 150 colored pictures and lots of tips and trades, you can make that and more. Don’t dream you can do it, just do it.

By The Wilton School of Cake Decorating

When you’ve never baked or even decorated a cake in your life and really want to try then consider the Wilton Cake Decorating for Beginners Guide to help you out.

• How to furnish your kitchen with the equipment you need
• Baking
• Leveling
• Preparing the cake board
• Stacking your cake
• Tips on decorating with different shape designs
• Tips on creating and spreading frostings

These techniques are then combined into a number of projects.

Image source: Flickr users The Icing On The Cake