Top 3 Sugar Flower Books
In the years that I have been cake decorating, lets just say I have accumulated quite a collection of cake decorating books quite aside from the regular books that I seem to acquire. For the longest time I had bookcases dedicated to just cook books and decorating books.
Now I have a rather large built in bookcase and still there is never enough room for all those books….
In my house there is often a response to my partner of “Oh no honey, there is no one at the door” as the delivery man unloads yet another package of my latest supply from Amazon.
So I thought I would share over a few postss my favourite cake decorating, baking and sugar flower books and authors, starting with books on Sugar Flowers. I have been lucky enough to meet some of these authors so forgive a few personal snaps along the way!
1. Cakes in Bloom: Exquisite Sugarcraft Flowers for All Occasions – Peggy Porchen
I have such a weakness for beautiful sugar flowers and Peggy’s flowers are just heaven. Peggy is quite simply one of the loveliest people you could meet. I took a class with her a few years ago when she had just released Boutique Baking and I am so excited at her new book. Perhaps its my English heritage that makes me go weak at the knees for Peggy’s rounded edges and beautiful garden roses. But it is not just roses you will find in her new book. Orchids, Peonies, Daffodils, Violets and more will have you reaching for your balling tool with excitement.
With beautifully laid out images and clear instructions, this is one of the most exciting sugar flower books to hit the shelves in years.
Peggy is quite simply one of the loveliest people you could meet I took a class with her a few years ago when she had just released Boutique Baking and I am so excited at her new book.
If you love sugar flowers this is one book you simply must check out!
2. Sugar Roses for Cakes – by Tombi Peck (Author), Alan Dunn (Author), Tony Warren (Author)
Now if you’re gonna get serious about your flowers and head into competition land then you are going to need to know what flowers are what. Make sure you know the difference between your “wild, climber, rambler, traditional varieties, and the various modern roses—from pretty, delicate, five-petaled wild roses to the huge full-blown modern blooms.” Phew! Theres a few in there but for the more advanced decorator or even the novice looking for some sublime insoiration I can’t go past these books by three very talented people. I met Tony Warren a few years ago at a Cake Decorators Guild event. (Yes 4 days in the country talking cake!) Here we are after polishing off a piece of cake I believe!
3. Sugar Orchids for Cakes (Sugarcraft and Cakes for All Occasions) -by Tombi Peck (Author), Alan Dunn (Author), Tony Warren (Author)
Now these guys are truly the masters so it stands to reason that they would have 2 books in my top three. They do have several other books between them and whilst they are all excellent, my next favourite is this gorgeous book. As I am an orchid lover, I had to mention this one to you as well. I grew up in a household where Orchid breeding and showing took place and the walls were adorned with framed photographs of prize orchids. These days, I get excited when I can get a Cymbidium to flower and so prefer my orchids in sugar! This book gives you a fabulous rundown of some beautiful orchid varieties to create for your cakes.
These are my absolute favourite books and if you love sugar flowers these three will give you a wonderful resource that you will return to time and time again.