This month, we had the chance to try the Cake Baking & Design online course guided by Rosalind Miller on Learning with Experts.
Once we had registered with the website (www.learningwithexperts.com) and gained access to the course, we were greeted with a virtual online classroom where we had the ability to interact with other people who were also working through the same lessons. This is a great feature as being able to communicate can encourage and motivate others, especially if a specific section is particularly challenging.
We really like how the classrooms are separated into smaller groups; this way, it doesn’t become overpowering should a larger discussion begin.
The Cake Baking & Design course was broken down into four lessons: Introduction and getting started, Flavour variations, Swiss Meringue buttercream and Finishing touches.
The first lesson begins with Rosalind speaking a little about her background in cake making and her rise to success. This leads on to a clearly guided lesson on how to mix a cake batter using easy to follow steps and helpful tips, including the importance on why not to overmix batter and using fresh ingredients.
The second lesson gives guidance on how to add flavours and even more helpful tips on the best ways to work with certain fruits to ensure a pleasing finished cake. This lesson also speaks about tin preparation and the importance of checking oven temperature.
The third lesson shows you a great method of making Swiss meringue buttercream and adding flavour where required as well as  how to fill and crumb coat cake using professional techniques.
Finally, in the fourth lesson, finishing touches, you are shown how to create a lovely marbled effect using buttercream and how to use additional edible elements to complete a simple but striking professional pâtisserie style cake.
At the end of each lesson, you are given an assignment so you can easily go ahead and apply what you have just learnt into the real world. When working through the expert package, you also have the opportunity to have these assignments reviewed by Rosalind herself who will give feedback where needed. We really like this feature as it gives the feel of being in the classroom with Rosalind and getting expert advice to help build on your learning.
Overall, we were really happy with the quality of the guidance provided in this course. It’s easy to follow, the lessons are not too long or packed with overwhelming information and it is guided by an expert in their field. This would be great for anyone who is completely new to cake making and looking to gain knowledge on cake baking and design.