Safari themed Cupcake Decorating Class
There is nothing you do not know about your child's interests, behaviours and personality, but maybe you don't
know your child until you bring them to a fondant-handling, cupcake-decorating, perfectionist-inducing workshop.
Fondant rolling
Recently, I attended a Safari-themed school holiday cupcake decorating workshop run by the friendly and welcoming Kelly from The Baking Edge at Peppermint Green Cafe, 7 Delage Street in Joondalup.
The makings of Leo the Lion
Kelly's classes welcome both the young and young at heart and it's not only until you watch your little one meticulously fuss over their creations and pour their little hearts and souls over the finer details of their art that you realise how much attention and care they are truly capable of.
A tiger cannot change its stripes, but you can paint on a zebra's with edible paint
The class is set up with containers, placemats, name tags and aprons at the ready in the cafe. All the modelling equipment, tools, coloured fondant and edible paint are on your own table and minimal sharing of equipment is required.
A maker's workstation
With a few people to provide sculpting help and step-by-step instructions provided for each attendee, everyone is invited to work at their own pace rather than like a 'keep up with the chef, alas your whole dish is ruined'
Masterchef-style format. (Although, not that I was keeping count, but I did tell my niece to
hurry upppppp 4 times.)
Explaining the groundwork
Kelly started with an explanation of the tools on the table and showed participants with the final products of what we were all working towards. Of course, art is very subjective, and when the children were getting a little anxious that their creations weren't exact replicas of the ones on display, a mother's gentle and soothing reminder to her child were the exact words of pure comfort that anyone within earshot needed to hear: "
Darling, we are just here to have fun." And have fun they will!
Piping the chocolate ground or green grass
After all, the fondant toppers were finished and the creator satisfied, we were provided with 4 pre-baked cupcakes in a box and piping bags of green and chocolate buttercream frosting to seal the deal with the toppers placed on top.
Kelly from The Baking Edge
You walk away with pride and accomplishment and a window-boxed masterpiece of 4 beautifully self-made edible art cupcake toppers atop some fluffy, moist cupcakes. As sugar is a natural preservative in itself, it is your choice to keep or eat your creations. The excitement that my niece had to contain to show her parents was priceless and watching her walk around with her box of cupcakes like a newfound treasure chest was so valuable.
Peppermint Cafe
Mums and dads are welcome to join in the class and orally or physically assist/support/delegate/lovingly but completely take over or kick back with some coffee in the cafe while the kids learn the meaning of independence and self-appreciation of whatever they are able to create. For children 6 years and under, adult supervision is required. For those above 6 years, Kelly is happy for you to drop them off and "Bye, have fun, see ya later kids!"
The Baking Edge cupcake decorating class
Everything that was required was carefully considered, supplied and well organised. Tickets to this workshop cost $35.50 and are bookable on The Baking Edge
website. Other classes run by The Baking Edge are also viewable and can be organised for kids' birthday parties, aged care settings, corporate events, private events or whatever setting you're thinking of.
Completed safari animals
Keep updated with workshop offerings and creations at The Baking Edge's
Facebook page. Kelly has extensive experience creating sweet treats and is always thinking of new workshop themes, such as Mother's Day workshops. She is patient, encouraging and not once did she rush anyone despite going over the duration of the workshop.
Me, on the other hand, most likely miscounted and probably said
hurry uppppp to my niece much more than 4 times.
