Polka Dot Handbag Cake Decorating and Baking Tutorial

Tutorial Preview

Polka Dot Handbag
with Paul Bradford
Skill level: Easy
HD Lessons: 5
Decorating time: 2 hrs approx.
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13:17

1. Carving & Ganache

One of the great things about this design is that the shape is really quite simple with just a few choice cuts you can get a great handbag shape with little stress.

Paul then shows you how to get that neat finish with the ganache that’s critical if you want to get the icing nice and smooth also.

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20:25

2. Covering and Trim

Once broken down into short easy to follow stages you will see how to cover the cake and where to allow the joins. The trim on the bag allows you to cover the join and at the same time start to add the decoration to the bag.

 

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07:55

3. Decorations

Adding the bow and button bring the cake to life and the polka dots given it that distinctive look.

 

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07:30

4. Handle

What handbag is complete without a handle?…. Oh a clutch bag… Well this isn’t one of those! In this lesson Paul shows you how to do the handle and its not that hard really!

 

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02:06

5. Finishing Touches

Well your almost done! Did you have fun? Let us know in the comments if you enjoyed it and don’t forget so show us your pictures on our Facebook page too! In this last lesson Paul talks you through those all important finishing touches.

 

Before you start why not get a quick overview of what you will be learning. In this quick video you get a good look at the finished results to help inspire you to find the time to make this cake!

This cake is rated Easy so no excuses there! It also takes around 2 hours to decorate.

Click here for printable tools and ingredients list

Grams to lbs

Inches to cm or vice versa

other US to metric and Metric to US

  • 10″ Round cake
  • 12″ Round cake drum
  • 6″ Round cake card or drum
  • 600g Ganache
  • 1.25Kg Navy sugarpaste (or your preferred colour)
  • 1Kg Ivory sugarpaste
  • 10g Red sugarpaste
  • 20 gauge white wires (x2)
  • 1m Red polka dot 15mm thick ribbon (or colour of your choice)
  • florist tape
  • PME Lustre glaze
  • Micro posy picks x2
  • Sprinkle of icing sugar
  • Pallet knife
  • Smoothers
  • Pritt Stick
  • Rolling pin (large and small)
  • Serrated knife
  • Sharp knife
  • Scraper
  • PME Stitchy tool
  • Ruler
  • Pastry brush
  • PME Ball tool
  • Round cutter 1cm
Paul Bradford

Paul Bradford

Paul Bradford´s mission is to ‘Empower people to achieve their cake decorating dreams’ by providing a range of cake decorating courses and online tutorials through their website, which currently teaches 195,000+ students.  

Comments

  1. BlossomEdward

    Great work. And Great tutorial . Paul Bradford a blessing for cake decorator beginner around the globe . Keep it up ‘

  2. Patricia Lim

    Amazing what one can achieve with loads of patience, well done Paul & thanks.

    Warm regards.

    Patricia.

    • Paul Doffman (Staff)

      Google Translate: stay cute bag, thank you very much for sharing your conocientos.

      No problem glad you enjoyed it!

  3. mary0007

    Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. I have a question please tell me what is the brand of the spray that he used last to shine the fondant. Where in in the USA
    I could buy it?

    Love learning from Paul.

    mary

  4. Sandie

    Thanks so much for this tutorial. You inspire me to keep learning and practicing.

    • Andy (Staff)

      Thanks for commenting Sandie, hope you consider joining our premium membership in the future to access hundreds more of our courses! x

  5. weemogie

    absolutely brilliant tutorial.thank you so much.x

  6. c.sacala

    thank you so much i have just signed up and think this is absolutely brilliant i like making cakes but am only a beginner and this is a great help thank you for all your hard work christine.

  7. alyssasanele

    Could you please tell me what the name of the spray you used to make the bag shiny at the end?

  8. Carol Ferguson

    Thank you so much, I have just made the handbag cake for my sister and it is fab, I will defo be signing up very soon, Paul is so easy to follow, I am making cupcakes and some celebration cakes but its just a hobby which seems to be growing….

    • Andy (Staff)

      That’s fantastic Carol, glad the Handbag cake course was an inspiration to you and look forward to seeing you as a member at the school – if you need any assistance or have any questions let me know on [email protected]

  9. kemicrown

    Wonderful tutorial, thanks God bless u. Thanks so much for sharing

  10. Emmakaren73

    A-Mazing, will definitely be giving this a go…such easy to follow instructions!

  11. Rooney

    Thanks Paul you gave me some great ideas & tips & in return I got great reviews on the handbag cake I made for my daughters 15 birthday your an inspiration keep it going.

  12. colleenhewes

    fantastic tutorial. for beginners like me the step by step videos are soooo helpful. Going to practice this cake for my Granddaughters 21st handbags are her passion

    Thank You

  13. lucinda68

    What was the item used to sturdy the handles? It looked like a tube.

  14. floraline

    great tutorial .Paul Bradford a blessing for cake decorator around the globe.

  15. lanto

    Thank you , I’ m learning so much. I’ m from Madagascar and we don ‘ t havé sugarcraft school here so thèse tutotrials are big chance for me. Tanks again.

  16. mary kennedy

    this was great got my daughters 30th coming up and this cake will be perfect for it was great to be able to watch being made rather then trying to follow out of books i have thankyou

    • Danielle (Staff)

      Hi Mary,

      Thank you for the great feedback – I agree I find watching a tutorial a lot easier to follow than reading it from a book! I am very glad it has come in handy for you! Enjoy making the cake for your daughter:) Kind Regards, Danielle x

  17. CarolannW

    Brilliant!! I a sooooo gonna make this! Thankyou for the step by step tutorial. You rock!

  18. jackie72

    love love love your tutorials, thank you for sharing. Just starting out as a hobby & can’t wait to try this

  19. adeshola

    whaooo am glad i came across this site…thank you so much. i wanna ask, what type of spray do you use? is it like oil? thank you

    • Danielle (Staff)

      Hi Adeshola,

      Thank you for the lovely feedback. I am so glad that you are enjoying the site. It is PME make clear spray glaze. If you search online you should be able to find it!
      Thanks D xx

  20. OLUBUKOLAESTHER

    whao am so happy for coming across your school,thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with us .please i would like to know the make up for sugar paste because my sugar paste used to crack and i dont enjoy working with fondant.please kindly put me through.

  21. AnnieMc

    great i loved this tutorial, one question would it not be easier to cover cake in one piece rather then applying in separate piece, or does it make a difference to how cake would look?

    • Danielle

      Hi AnnieMc

      I am so glad you enjoyed this tutorial! No Paul believe’s it easier, and you get a smoother finish if you cover it separately. I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and gave it a go yourself! x

  22. Sonia0305

    Hi love the. Video love making cake and decorating always wanted to know how to do a handbag can’t wait to try it out

  23. Thomas2010

    Its brilliant, carnt wait to try it. Thank you Paul, a great tutorial.

  24. tinuks12

    Thanks for this great work, am sure going to try this for my upcoming 30th birthday in April. Am glad I found your site, thank you

  25. Marcela Ribeiro Crispi Itoi

    Thank you for all generosity on the part of you !!! ameiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

  26. nessa1137

    great work!!! thinking about signing up… what kind of knife is that called (the one with the orange handle)

    • madeitwithlove

      Hello Nessa1137

      I hope you don’t mind me jumping in with an answer for you. Danielle directed you to an answer I gave ages ago on this particular knife. My answer back then wasn’t really very helpful. These little knifes are used by florists and can be purchased in the Range (if you are UK based) or in florists or floristry suppliers. The handle colour varies but they are all the same tool. Look out for them also on market stalls and in many discount/budget stores where you’ll see them as inexpensive multiple buys. Well worth stocking up on!

  27. Cassandra2015

    Thanks so much for adding this to the free content. I need to make a handbag cake for a 21st birthday and was dreading having to figure it out myself! The green boards Paul uses – where can you buy them? I’ve never seen sugarpaste stick as little as it does on there… thanks Cas x

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