Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn cake decorating
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Cake decorating turns buttercream, fondant and sugarpaste into piped borders, modelled figures and sugar flowers, and the finished piece gets eaten. Beginners' courses start with crumb coating and covering a cake, then move on to piping, and sugarcraft guild branches carry on with demonstrations and workshops.
Gentle£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoorsWith othersUK and US
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What a beginners' course covers
The basics come first. Wilton's three-hour Cake Decorating Basics class covers levelling and stacking layers, a crumb coat, tinting buttercream, using piping bags and tips, and Wilton Method piping of borders, simple flowers and swirls. South Thames College's ten-week course adds covering cakes in fondant, modelling cake toppers, carving sponge into shapes, and boxing and transporting cakes safely.
Sugarcraft guild branches are a way to keep going. The Shropshire branch of the British Sugarcraft Guild meets on Wednesday mornings in ten-week blocks, starts each session with a demonstration and welcomes absolute beginners. The Bognor Regis branch meets on the first Thursday evening of the month, except January and August, with demonstrators and workshops through the year.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| South Thames College, Tooting, London | Ten Thursday mornings, 10.30am to 1pm, from 23 April 2026; you supply your own baked cakes and materials | £112.50 (19+ fee) |
| City College Norwich | Six Thursday evenings, 6pm to 8pm, from 10 September 2026; piping, colour, painted and textured finishes; basic baking knowledge needed | £165 |
| British Sugarcraft Guild, Shropshire branch, Wellington | Wednesday mornings, 10am to 12pm, in ten-week blocks; demonstration, then members make their own version | Not listed; ask the branch |
| Wilton Sweet Studio | Cake Decorating Basics; one three-hour in-person class for beginners; you take home a decorated six-inch cake | $109 |
| North Seattle College | Six Saturday afternoons, 1pm to 5pm (October to November 2026 run), one session by Zoom; buttercream, piped flowers and borders | $325, plus a $100 supply fee paid in cash to the instructor |
North Seattle College asks students to bring an apron and a packed lunch and to tell the instructor about any food allergies. Wilton's page does not name the class venue, so check where it is held when you book.
How to start
- Look for a beginners' cake decorating course at an adult education or further education college, or a community college in the US.
- Check whether you need to bake and bring your own cakes, and whether there is a separate fee for ingredients or supplies.
- Ask about a local branch of the British Sugarcraft Guild, where members learn from demonstrations and share techniques.
Where to go
- South Thames College: Cake Decorating Fundamentals, beginners (Tooting, London) UK
- City College Norwich: Introduction to Celebration Cake Decorating UK
- West Sussex County Council: British Sugarcraft Guild, Bognor Regis branch UK
- Wilton Sweet Studio: Cake Decorating Basics US
- North Seattle College: Cake Decorating for Beginners US
We opened these links on 12 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
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Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Do I need to bake my own cakes for a cake decorating class?
Often, yes. South Thames College asks students to supply their own baked cakes and materials, and City College Norwich asks for basic baking knowledge. Check before you book.
What do you learn in a beginners' cake decorating class?
Usually levelling and stacking layers, a crumb coat, colouring buttercream and piping borders and flowers, and on longer courses covering a cake in fondant and modelling toppers.
Can a beginner join a sugarcraft guild?
Yes. The Shropshire branch of the British Sugarcraft Guild welcomes absolute beginners as well as people with some experience.
How much does a cake decorating course cost?
In the UK listings here, £112.50 to £165 for a six- to ten-week course; in the US, $109 for a single three-hour class to $325 for six Saturdays. Watch for extra supply fees, such as North Seattle College's $100.
Where this comes from: South Thames College, Cake Decorating Fundamentals, Beginners Course; City College Norwich, Introduction to Celebration Cake Decorating; West Sussex County Council, British Sugarcraft Guild Bognor Regis Branch; Shropshire Star, Creating art is a sweet sensation for Telford sugarcraft group; Wilton Sweet Studio, Cake Decorating Basics; North Seattle College Continuing Education, Cake Decorating for Beginners. Opened 12 November 2026.
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