Tropical Sunrise Wedding Cake Decorating and Baking Tutorial

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Tropical Sunrise Wedding
with Raewyn Read
Skill level: Intermediate
HD Lessons: 14
Decorating time: 2 Days
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08:07

Highlights

Here we have carefully selected the key parts from the entire tutorial and condensed it into on 8 min long video. More than enough to get you started without taking up your time!

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1. Preparing the flowers part one

To kick things off Raewyn shows us how to paint all the sheets of wafer paper, in preparation for being cut out to form the petals and leaves of the flowers. The templates are available for download in the templates section.

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2. Preparing the flowers part two

In this lesson, Raewyn starts to assemble some of the flowers using the templates available in the section below. She simply cuts out squares, stacks them into a little pile and then cuts into them around the template to create multiple leaves and petals in one go. She then shows us how to attach them using piping gel and different ways to dry them.

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3. Preparing the flowers part three

Here Raewyn goes on to assemble more of the flowers, with slightly different techniques for each one. All very simple and quick to do with truly impressive results.

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4. Preparing the flowers part four

Here Raewyn demonstrates even more techniques to create stunning flowers.

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5. Preparing the flowers part five

In this lesson Raewyn shows us how to make the peony flower using the templates available in the templates section. Once you have it all made up it’s time to move on to steaming them and tuning their shapes.

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6. Steaming the flowers

Here Raewyn shows us how to steam and shape the flowers. Raewyn simply uses a kettle but of course you can purchase a steamer like this one. Or you could put tin foil over a boiling pot of water and put a small hole in it to allow the steam to come through.

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7. Preparing the cake

In this lesson, Raewyn shows us how to cut, stack and add support to the tall cake. Later on the cake is going to be ganached, so you want to make sure that it’s neat – as once it’s covered in sugarpaste there is no going back. A simple way to make sure of this is by using a large metal scraper and going around the cake, making sure it’s even.

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8. Ganaching the cake

Here Raewyn demonstrates how to ganache the cake and end up with a wonderfully smooth finish. Raewyn adds dark chocolate ganache to this cake but, of course (for children especially) you may want to use milk chocolate ganache. If you’re unfamiliar with ganache then watch our in depth tutorial on using ganache. You’ll need a large palette knife to apply the ganache to the side of the cake and don’t hold back. You may find it handy to have a turntable for this section to save you having to constantly manoeuvre around the cake.

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9. Covering the cake

In this lesson Raewyn demonstrates how to cover a tall double barrelled cake with ease. Raewyn uses the technique where you wrap the rolled out sugarpaste around the rolling pin and then go straight onto the cake with it. You can go over the cake with a little bit of shortening or water before applying the sugarpaste too, which helps it stick. The good thing about shortening is it allows you a little time to adjust where you’ve placed the sugarpaste.

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10. Painting the cake

Raewyn is using water colours and the overall technique is very relaxed – there’s no strict shape or design. All you need to watch out for (unless you like the effect) is avoiding drip marks.

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11. Finishing touches

Raewyn adds the second tier and goes onto to create a draped flower arrangement, which looks just lovely. Raewyn cuts up and uses plastic straws, as opposed to using posy picks, which she finds makes things easier.

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12. Other ideas

Here Raewyn shares some other ideas you can try your hand at when making this cake. We’re sure you have some of your own great ideas and we’d love to see what you come up with.

Please share your pics with us on our Facebook page as well as Raewyn’s.

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13. Pro Lesson

In this lesson, Paul shares some insider information about the cost to make this cake, as well as pricing, portions and other vital information for any professional cake designer.

Raewyn Read introduces us to her exquisite Tropical Sunrise Wedding Cake, which we’re sure you’ll agree is like a dream come true! This is a double barrel cake plenty of servings. It uses moist chocolate sponge cake and a delicious dark chocolate ganache. Raewyn shows alternative ways to use wafer paper, by making pretty and edible flowers.
This cake is perfect for any large event, especially a wedding, and could be adapted to suit any season – imagine the glorious hues of autumn. The design incorporates different skills and techniques such as ganaching, covering a tall double barrelled cake, making wafer paper flowers, water colour painting and – in true Raewyn Read style – this tutorial is full of brilliant tips and tricks. This cake is perfect for those looking to progress from beginner to intermediate and would make a fantastic addition to your cake resume.

We’d love to see your take on the Tropical Sunrise Wedding Cake  – so share your snaps with us on our Facebook page!

Raewyn Read

Raewyn Read

Raewyn Read is an award-winning, international cake decorator and instructor who discovered her passion for cake decorating when she made her youngest daughter's first birthday cake, utilizing the strong base of art and design knowledge she had honed through many years of creative pursuits. She is able to create using a variety of mediums but is mostly known for her figure modelling and original design concepts which have lead to her participating in numerous collaborations, including the award-winning Starry Night collaboration, and teaching cake decorating classes all across America, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia, including her own studio in Sydney.
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