Quick and Easy Party Cakes

Book excerpt: Think store-bought is the only way to go for a party cake? Think again-even beginning cake decorators can achieve professional-looking results at home by using these simple yet creative recipes and proven techniques. There are more than 90 distinctive cakes in all, ranging from the elegant Layered Rose Wedding Cake to the charming Florentine Fairy Cake. Select from seasonal and holiday-themed confections; cakes for children that feature playful themes like the Three Naughty Kittens and Snakes and Ladders; a celebratory Champagne Bottle cake, and even an amazingly lifelike Ballet Shoes cake that practically dances off the table! Detailed recipes for several types of cakes and icings are provided, along with a host of decorators' tips for getting great results.