Ready to dive into the newest buttercream trend? Go beyond buttercream flowers and create a garden of lifelike succulents and cacti! Cake designer Liz Shim shows you how to create realistic buttercream succulents and cacti to arrange on cakes, cupcakes, and more. With Liz’s step-by-step guidance, you’ll master a variety of new techniques for piping lifelike plants and creating earthy tones in buttercream.
Class Sessions
Buttercream Basics & Coloring
12:20
Meet Liz Shim and follow along as she demonstrates a quick and simple buttercream recipe. Then, dive into coloring as Liz shares how to mix earthy greens and purples. She also covers ways to mute brighter, artificial looking color. After that, find out how to fill your piping bag and create variegated colors for a dual-tone effect.
Piping Succulents
29:53
Learn different techniques for piping succulents as well as how to avoid common mistakes. If you get lost, you can always rewatch the techniques until you get them right.
Succulent Glass Terrariums
10:42
Get started on your first project: a succulent glass terrarium. Discover how to make "dirt" from chocolate cake, and green "moss" from graham crackers. Then, arrange the dirt, moss and succulents in your terrarium.
Buttercream Cacti
18:07
Move on to cacti as you learn a variety of techniques to pipe these prickly plants. After that, troubleshoot common mistakes for each style of plant. Plus, practice your buttercream blooms by piping flowering cacti.
Terra Cotta Cactus Cupcakes
6:32
Liz guides you through your third project: Potted terracotta cactus cupcakes. Start by making "sand" with graham crackers or brown sugar. Then, cut the cupcakes in half, and layer them with buttercream and edible sand in food-safe pots. Arrange the cacti on top of the potted cupcakes and mix in some succulents to finish them up.
Arranging on a Naked Cake
12:22
Finish class by arranging your cacti and succulents on a naked cake. Liz explains how to use ground peanuts as pebbles to naturally decorate empty space, and confidently incorporate desert plants of different shapes and sizes.
Your Instructor
Liz Shim
Liz Shim discovered her love of edible art as a teenager and went on to graduate from the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu program at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. Today, Liz is the owner and head designer of Eat Cake Be Merry, a cake studio serving the New York City area. Her work has been featured in magazines such as Brides, The Knot, People and Martha Stewart Weddings. Liz's cakes also have been named America's Most Beautiful Cakes by Brides magazine on multiple occasions, and she's been named one of Martha Stewart Weddings' Top Pastry Pros in America.
Download and print this PDF as a helpful supplement to your Class video.
Bonus Materials available for download after purchase.
FAQs
How do I know what the Class covers?
Every Class has a free Preview video you can watch, to give you a flavor of the Instructor and the skills or project that will be covered. In addition, the Overview tab includes a thorough written description of the Class. And finally, each Class Session has a brief written summary of the content in that Session, including the length of each Session video. You will get a good feel for the Class content by reviewing these resources.
Do I have to be a Member of Creative Cake Design to purchase a Class?
No you don’t. While Premium Members will receive regular offers for special deals on Creative Cake Design content, Classes are not reserved exclusively for Members. If you buy a Class as a non-member, we’re sure you’d also enjoy having access to our full library of great cake decorating ideos and articles as a Member, so give it a try.
How do I purchase a Class?
First you should decide that the Class is what you want. Review the Class Preview video and the various written descriptions of the Class and each Session before you purchase, so you have a good understanding of the Class content. When you’re ready to purchase and gain access to the Class, simply click the “Add to Cart” button, and proceed through the Checkout process.
How do I access/view my Class?
Once you’ve paid, you can access/view your Class by going to the MY ACCOUNT section of Creative Cake Design. The MY ACCOUNT link is in the upper right-hand area of the website. Within your MY ACCOUNT, a section labeled “My Content” is where the class you purchased will appear, including a link to watch the video of your Class. You’ll also receive an email confirmation after your purchase, which will include a link to view your Class. You can access your Class as many times as you wish, and you’ll never lose access to your Account information. Just be sure to “Log In” for access to MY ACCOUNT.
Do I have to take the Class right away?
No. Any Class you buy will be accessible to you always. You can view your Class whenever you want, and you can view individual Sessions in whatever order you like.
Is there a limit on the times I can view my Class?
No. Your access never expires. You can view any Class you purchase as many times as you want, whenever you want.
Can I view a Class on my tablet device or mobile phone?
No problem. Most newer-model smartphones or other mobile/tablet devices with an internet connection are able to play the Class videos. Simply Log In to Creative Cake Design, and you can view any Class you’ve bought through the MY ACCOUNT section. Or, you can click on the “View Class” link within the email confirmation you’ll receive upon your purchase.
How do I get access to the Bonus Materials for the Class?
Until you purchase a Class, the Bonus material (any extra videos, download materials, etc.) will not be accessible. Once you purchase a Class, and go to view your Class, each individual Bonus element is accessible by simply clicking on each item. You’ll find the Bonus Materials directly below your main Class viewer frame. You can access the bonus materials as many times as you like and/or save them to your device.
How does the Class Q&A Resource benefit work?
Once you purchase any Class, within the Class viewing page, you’ll have access to post a question, comment or tip in the Class Discussions. This is not a “live chat,” but Creative Cake Design contributors will answer posted questions and provide tips regularly. You can also view other Class participants’ questions and input to take part in this virtual dialogue among others who have taken the Class and are willing to share tips, answers, or ideas.
Can I print out Class details?
For any Bonus Material that is a PDF Download, yes you can. Just click on the icon/button for the Bonus element you want, and print with your local printer.
What are PDF downloads?
These are simply documents, plans, or written materials that are formatted in a way to print out and retain for reference. By simply clicking on the icon/link for any PDF Download that is included with a Class, you can print that document on your own printer or simply view the contents on your computer/mobile device.
Are there any system requirements to view the Class video content?
Your Class video content is best when viewed on a computer manufactured in the past couple of years with a good broadband Internet connection (not dialup). We also highly recommend using the latest version of Firefox, Safari, or Chrome as your Internet Browser, though recent versions of Internet Explorer will work as well. The recommended screen resolution is 1024 x 768 or larger.
Why do you need my email?
We need it to acknowledge your purchase of a Class, and send you a confirmation of your transaction. Also, in order to maintain your permanent access to the Class videos, you’ll need to Log In to creativecakedesign.com. We guarantee that we will not share your email with any third parties. You may receive email updates from Creative Cake Design from time to time, with details of new Classes and updates. You can easily unsubscribe when you receive any email.
Can I get a refund if I don’t like the Class?
Because you’ll have full access to all the materials and content that is presented in the Class immediately, we can’t offer a refund after purchase. Please review the Class Preview video and the various written descriptions of the Class and each Session before you purchase, so you have a good understanding of the Class content.
How do I contact Creative Cake Design?
If your question is about the Class content, please use the the Contact Us Link – and you'll receive feedback from the Class Instructor. Even your fellow Class participants may jump in to offer tips and advice from their experience. If you have other questions or need help, you can email us at creativecakedesign@program-director.net or call us toll-free, at 1-833-363-1239. Service Representatives will be available Monday-Friday, from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Central time, excluding normal holidays.
This site uses cookies and other technologies to track your use of the site that will allow us and our service providers and partners to enhance your experience and deliver relevant content to you. By agreeing to or closing this notice, you understand and agree to such use and data collection. For more information about our privacy practices and your choices, please visit our privacy policy and cookie notice.
