School of Cake Decoration - New Dates for 2024
If you are interested in any of the classes please email, school@catherines-cakes.co.uk
As soon as we have the dates we'll get back to you.
We offer a range of cake decorating courses for all abilities. From cupcake decorating classes and Basic Sugarcraft for beginners, to advanced courses for experienced cake decorators including PME Professional Diploma courses with modules in Sugarpaste, Royal Icing and Sugar flowers.
If you are interested in any of the classes please email, school@catherines-cakes.co.uk
As soon as we have the dates we'll get back to you.
Our cake decorating school is at our design studio in Moulsford on the Berkshire / South Oxfordshire border, midway between Reading and Wallingford, within easy access of Wantage, Didcot, Henley-on-Thames, Pangbourne, Goring & Streatley and Newbury.
The school is run by Catherine Scott and classes are taught by Catherine and Kim. Catherine and Kim are both PME approved tutors and have many years experience of designing and making wedding and celebration cakes.
Course prices are INCLUSIVE and cover use of all equipment, cakes, icing and ingredients that you need to create and decorate your sugarcraft masterpiece to take home at the end of the course. Class sizes are small, to ensure you get the most out of your cake decorating course.
Beginners Cake Decorating
A FUN cake decorating workshop suitable for beginners.
Learn how to decorate a cake like a professional!
We teach you step-by-step how to:
cover a cake with sugarpaste to get a smooth finish
make a simple sugarpaste character model or topper decoration
create simple side decorations and details
Fully inclusive - 3 hours tuition unless stated and EVERYTHING you need to enable you to take away a beautifully decorated cake.
Dates:
Sat 18 May 2024 Bumble Bee 10am-1pm £70
Sat 13 Jul 2024 Summertime 10am-1pm £70
Sat 14 Sept 2024 New Year Navy 10am-1pm £70
A FUN cake decorating workshop suitable for beginners.
Learn how to decorate a cake like a professional!
We teach you step-by-step how to:
cover a cake with sugarpaste to get a smooth finish
make a simple sugarpaste character model or topper decoration
create simple side decorations and details
Fully inclusive - 3 hours tuition unless stated and EVERYTHING you need to enable you to take away a beautifully decorated cake.
Dates:
Sat 18 May 2024 Bumble Bee 10am-1pm £70
Sat 13 Jul 2024 Summertime 10am-1pm £70
Sat 14 Sept 2024 New Year Navy 10am-1pm £70
Dates:
Sat 18 May 2024
Sat 13 Jul 2024
Sat 14 Sept 2024
3 hours
Level: Beginner
Sponge cakes £70
Sat 18 May 2024
Sat 13 Jul 2024
Sat 14 Sept 2024
3 hours
Level: Beginner
Sponge cakes £70
Cup Cake Decorating
Come along and learn how to make some beautiful themed cupcakes. We will teach you how to cover your cakes with sugarpaste domes and piped buttercream toppings and then decorate them with themed decorations & toppers.
You will take home a box of 6 beautifully decorated cakes.
Dates:
Sat 15 Jun 2024 Tropical Cupcake Decorating 10am-12.30pm
Wed 25 Sept 2024 Cupcake Bouquet 7pm-9.30pm
Come along and learn how to make some beautiful themed cupcakes. We will teach you how to cover your cakes with sugarpaste domes and piped buttercream toppings and then decorate them with themed decorations & toppers.
You will take home a box of 6 beautifully decorated cakes.
Dates:
Sat 15 Jun 2024 Tropical Cupcake Decorating 10am-12.30pm
Wed 25 Sept 2024 Cupcake Bouquet 7pm-9.30pm
Dates:
Sat 15 Jun 2024
Wed 25 Sep 2024
2.5 hours
Level: Beginner
£60
Sat 15 Jun 2024
Wed 25 Sep 2024
2.5 hours
Level: Beginner
£60
Carved Novelty Sponge cake
The emphasis is on having FUN with this introduction to carved novelty cakes. We will learn how to carve a sponge cake into a simple shape, cover and decorate plus some additional modelled effects and decorations.
Dates:
Sun 19 May - Digby the Dog 10am-2pm £150
Sun 20 Oct - Percy the Penguin 10am-2pm £150
The emphasis is on having FUN with this introduction to carved novelty cakes. We will learn how to carve a sponge cake into a simple shape, cover and decorate plus some additional modelled effects and decorations.
Dates:
Sun 19 May - Digby the Dog 10am-2pm £150
Sun 20 Oct - Percy the Penguin 10am-2pm £150
Dates:
Sun 19 May 2024
Sun 20 Oct 2024
Level:Beginner to Intermediate
Sun 19 May 2024
Sun 20 Oct 2024
Level:Beginner to Intermediate
Improvers Cake Decorating - Sugarpaste/Buttercream
The Improvers cake decorating course is suitable for anyone looking to improve their skills and techniques.
Fully inclusive - 4 hours tuition and EVERYTHING you need to enable you to take away a beautifully decorated cake.
Includes
- fault Line Top and Bottom of Cake
- use of edible image for decoration
- arranging flowers on top of cake
Dates:
Sat 27 Apr 2024 NEW Double Fault Line Buttercream 10am-2pm
Sat 8 Jun 2024 Lambeth Style Buttercream 10am-2pm £95
Sat 22 Jun 2024 Geode Sugarpaste Cake 10am-2pm £95
The Improvers cake decorating course is suitable for anyone looking to improve their skills and techniques.
Fully inclusive - 4 hours tuition and EVERYTHING you need to enable you to take away a beautifully decorated cake.
Includes
- fault Line Top and Bottom of Cake
- use of edible image for decoration
- arranging flowers on top of cake
Dates:
Sat 27 Apr 2024 NEW Double Fault Line Buttercream 10am-2pm
Sat 8 Jun 2024 Lambeth Style Buttercream 10am-2pm £95
Sat 22 Jun 2024 Geode Sugarpaste Cake 10am-2pm £95
Dates:
Sat 27 Apr 2024
Sat 8 Jun 2024
Sat 22 Jun 2024
Level: Improver
Price £95
Sat 27 Apr 2024
Sat 8 Jun 2024
Sat 22 Jun 2024
Level: Improver
Price £95
Mini Workshops
These short courses cover one particular aspect of cake decorating/figure modelling. The courses can be booked individually according to interests and some include moulds or nozzles used in the course to take home.
Dates:
Wed 5 Jun 2024 – Large Vintage Rose 7-9pm
Wed 26 Jun 2024 – Unwired Peony Rose 7-9pm
These short courses cover one particular aspect of cake decorating/figure modelling. The courses can be booked individually according to interests and some include moulds or nozzles used in the course to take home.
Dates:
Wed 5 Jun 2024 – Large Vintage Rose 7-9pm
Wed 26 Jun 2024 – Unwired Peony Rose 7-9pm
Dates:
Wed 5 Jun 2024
Wed 26 Jun 2024
2 hours
Level: Beginner
£55
Wed 5 Jun 2024
Wed 26 Jun 2024
2 hours
Level: Beginner
£55
Sugar Flower Courses
These are sugar flower courses for beginners to learn how to create the flower out of sugar. Courses vary from 2 sessions over two weeks or just one session.
If you book more than one course you will qualify for a discount. Great course to attend with a friend/s for a night out.
Dates:
Tues 15 Oct 2024 & Tues 22 Oct Roses and 3 Ways 10am-1pm
These are sugar flower courses for beginners to learn how to create the flower out of sugar. Courses vary from 2 sessions over two weeks or just one session.
If you book more than one course you will qualify for a discount. Great course to attend with a friend/s for a night out.
Dates:
Tues 15 Oct 2024 & Tues 22 Oct Roses and 3 Ways 10am-1pm
Dates:
Tues 15 Oct & 22 Oct 2024
Level: Beginner
£85
Tues 15 Oct & 22 Oct 2024
Level: Beginner
£85
Introduction to Working with Chocolate
Suitable for beginners or experienced cake decorators who would like to start working with chocolate. This course will cover various techniques using chocolate. Firstly, we will make some ganache and use it to fill and cover a chocolate sponge cake. We will then cover various decorative techniques:
• Chocolate wraps
• Chocolate ruffles
• Working with chocolate transfers
• Chocolate moulds and dipping
FULLY INCLUSIVE. We provide 4 hours tuition and EVERYTHING you need.
Dates:
Please enquire for future date
Suitable for beginners or experienced cake decorators who would like to start working with chocolate. This course will cover various techniques using chocolate. Firstly, we will make some ganache and use it to fill and cover a chocolate sponge cake. We will then cover various decorative techniques:
• Chocolate wraps
• Chocolate ruffles
• Working with chocolate transfers
• Chocolate moulds and dipping
FULLY INCLUSIVE. We provide 4 hours tuition and EVERYTHING you need.
Dates:
Please enquire for future date
Dates:
Please enquire
4 hours
Level: Beginner
£150
Please enquire
4 hours
Level: Beginner
£150
Buttercream Course
We are updating our Buttercream classes to add different techniques and use of colour.
For anyone starting out we suggest our Intro to Buttercream and then we have the following:
Buttercream Piping Techniques (Cake and Cupcakes)
Ombre Buttercream
Multicoloured Buttercream with drip
Fault Line Buttercream
Individual classes are £70, however if you book more than one at the same time you will receive a £10 discount. Pictures of all cakes/courses will follow in due course.
You will take home your decorated cakes at the end of each session.
Dates:
Wed 8 May 2024 – Ombre Buttercream 7pm-10pm
Sat 29 Jun 2024 – Introduction to Buttercream 10am-1pm
We are updating our Buttercream classes to add different techniques and use of colour.
For anyone starting out we suggest our Intro to Buttercream and then we have the following:
Buttercream Piping Techniques (Cake and Cupcakes)
Ombre Buttercream
Multicoloured Buttercream with drip
Fault Line Buttercream
Individual classes are £70, however if you book more than one at the same time you will receive a £10 discount. Pictures of all cakes/courses will follow in due course.
You will take home your decorated cakes at the end of each session.
Dates:
Wed 8 May 2024 – Ombre Buttercream 7pm-10pm
Sat 29 Jun 2024 – Introduction to Buttercream 10am-1pm
Dates:
Wed 8 May 2024
Sat 29 Jun 2024
3 hours
Level: Beginner
£70
Book more than one Buttercream course to qualify a £10 discount
Wed 8 May 2024
Sat 29 Jun 2024
3 hours
Level: Beginner
£70
Book more than one Buttercream course to qualify a £10 discount
Piped Buttercream Flowers Cupcake Decorating
Dates:
Wed 22 May 2024 – Part 1 7pm-10pm
Wed 19 Jun 2024 – Part 2 7pm-10pm
Come along and learn how to make some beautiful Piped Flowers in buttercream on cupcakes.
We will teach you how to achieve various flower. No flower will be duplicated and you can do these in any order!
You will take home 6 beautifully decorated cupcakes.
Dates:
Wed 22 May 2024 – Part 1 7pm-10pm
Wed 19 Jun 2024 – Part 2 7pm-10pm
Dates:
Wed 22 May 2024
Wed 19 Jun 2024
3 hours
Level: Beginner
£60
Wed 22 May 2024
Wed 19 Jun 2024
3 hours
Level: Beginner
£60
Buttercream Course
We are updating our Buttercream classes to add different techniques and use of colour.
Individual classes are £70, however if you book more than one at the same time you will receive a £10 discount. Pictures of all cakes/courses will follow in due course.
You will take home your decorated cakes at the end of each session.
Dates:
Sat 4 May 2024 – Bento Box 10am-1pm
Sat 28 Sept 2024 – Fault Line Bee Buttercream 10am-1pm £95
We are updating our Buttercream classes to add different techniques and use of colour.
Individual classes are £70, however if you book more than one at the same time you will receive a £10 discount. Pictures of all cakes/courses will follow in due course.
You will take home your decorated cakes at the end of each session.
Dates:
Sat 4 May 2024 – Bento Box 10am-1pm
Sat 28 Sept 2024 – Fault Line Bee Buttercream 10am-1pm £95
Dates:
Sat 4 May 2024
Sat 28 Sep 2024
3 hours
Level: Beginner
£70 - £95
Book more than one Buttercream course to qualify a £10 discount
Sat 4 May 2024
Sat 28 Sep 2024
3 hours
Level: Beginner
£70 - £95
Book more than one Buttercream course to qualify a £10 discount
Basic Piping and Writing
This course will cover basic piping techniques with royal icing, such as:
Piping borders and scrolls, loops, dots and drops
Piping a basic inscription
Piping and flood decorating cookies with royal icing
No previous experience necessary
Dates:
Please enquire for future date
Dates:
Please enquire for future date
2.5 hours
Level: Beginner
£50
Please enquire for future date
2.5 hours
Level: Beginner
£50
Sugar Flowers in a day
This course is suitable for beginners. The flowers are Wedding Cake style and suitable for adding the finishing touches to your cake. Create beautiful sugar flowers including the following:
- Wired peony
- Unwired vintage style roses
- Wired and unwired leaves
- Wired and unwired filler flowers
- Berries
At the end we will colour and dust our flowers and leaves and assemble them onto a dummy cake to take home
Dates:
Please enquire
This course is suitable for beginners. The flowers are Wedding Cake style and suitable for adding the finishing touches to your cake. Create beautiful sugar flowers including the following:
- Wired peony
- Unwired vintage style roses
- Wired and unwired leaves
- Wired and unwired filler flowers
- Berries
At the end we will colour and dust our flowers and leaves and assemble them onto a dummy cake to take home
Dates:
Please enquire
Dates:
TBC
6 hours
Level: Beginner
£140
TBC
6 hours
Level: Beginner
£140
Adult and Child Course
A FUN cake decorating workshop suitable for absolute beginners. You will work as a pair to learn how to decorate a cake like a professional!
• fully inclusive - 2.5 hours tuition and EVERYTHING you need to enable you to take away a beautifully decorated cake.
• There is no age restriction but this course is ideal for children from approx 7 years.
Dates:
Sat 11 May 2024 - Under the Sea Cake Decorating 10am-12.30pm
Tue 30 Jul 2024 - Animal Cupcake Decorating 10am-12.30pm
A FUN cake decorating workshop suitable for absolute beginners. You will work as a pair to learn how to decorate a cake like a professional!
• fully inclusive - 2.5 hours tuition and EVERYTHING you need to enable you to take away a beautifully decorated cake.
• There is no age restriction but this course is ideal for children from approx 7 years.
Dates:
Sat 11 May 2024 - Under the Sea Cake Decorating 10am-12.30pm
Tue 30 Jul 2024 - Animal Cupcake Decorating 10am-12.30pm
Dates:
Sat 11 May 2024
Tue 30 Jul 2024
2.5 hours
Level: Beginner
£60
Please note: This is an adult and child course only
Sat 11 May 2024
Tue 30 Jul 2024
2.5 hours
Level: Beginner
£60
Please note: This is an adult and child course only
Teenager Course
A FUN cake decorating workshop suitable for absolute beginners. You will work as a pair to learn how to decorate a cake like a professional!
• fully inclusive - 2.5 hours tuition and EVERYTHING you need to enable you to take away a beautifully decorated cake.
• This course is ideal for children from approx 12 years old.
A parent/guardian will be required to stay on the premises for the duration of the course.
Dates:
Tue 28 May 2024 - Buttercream - 10am-12.30pm
Sat 27 Jul 2024 - Anti-Gravity Cake 10am-12.30pm
A FUN cake decorating workshop suitable for absolute beginners. You will work as a pair to learn how to decorate a cake like a professional!
• fully inclusive - 2.5 hours tuition and EVERYTHING you need to enable you to take away a beautifully decorated cake.
• This course is ideal for children from approx 12 years old.
A parent/guardian will be required to stay on the premises for the duration of the course.
Dates:
Tue 28 May 2024 - Buttercream - 10am-12.30pm
Sat 27 Jul 2024 - Anti-Gravity Cake 10am-12.30pm
Dates:
Tue 28 May 2024
Sat 27 Jul 2024
2.5 hours
Level: Beginner
£60
Tue 28 May 2024
Sat 27 Jul 2024
2.5 hours
Level: Beginner
£60
Wedding cake Course
This course is suitable for those competent at covering cakes with sugarpaste as the focus will be on finishing cakes to a wedding cake standard and decorative techniques. Particularly, suitable for students who have previously done their PME Professional Diploma modules and those who want to move into making wedding cakes.
On this course we will complete a 2 tier stacked wedding cake using one cake and a dummy tier. We will decorate the cakes with a piping detail and add decorative flowers and leaves.
Dates:
Saturday 21 September 2024 - 10am-5pm £195
This course is suitable for those competent at covering cakes with sugarpaste as the focus will be on finishing cakes to a wedding cake standard and decorative techniques. Particularly, suitable for students who have previously done their PME Professional Diploma modules and those who want to move into making wedding cakes.
On this course we will complete a 2 tier stacked wedding cake using one cake and a dummy tier. We will decorate the cakes with a piping detail and add decorative flowers and leaves.
Dates:
Saturday 21 September 2024 - 10am-5pm £195
Dates:
Sat 21 Sept 2024
7 hours
Level: Intermediate
£195
Sat 21 Sept 2024
7 hours
Level: Intermediate
£195
Thanks so much to Kim for another great session. Thanks Deborah, Adult & Child Christmas Course – 17th December 2023
I really enjoyed the cake decorating course with Kim yesterday. Beverley, Beginners Cake Decorating Course – 4th November 2023
Sorry it’s taken so long to write but I wanted to say a huge thank you for the cupcake decorating party, Abi and her friends had a great time, they really enjoyed the experience. The cakes were brilliant, I have had lots of positive feedback from the parents of the other girls.
Thank you so much for all your help and organisation.
Best wishes, Alice
Private Cupcake Decorating Party – 14th October 2023
I really enjoyed yesterday and learned a lot. Can't wait to practice at home. Gill, Buttercream Piping Techniques – 16th July 2023
I just wanted to say how much my daughter, Laura and I enjoyed our evening on the buttercream decorating course last week and please pass on our thanks to Kim for her patience, tuition and help ! The end result was impressive thanks to her ! Nicky, Multi-Coloured Buttercream – 24th May 2023
What a wonderful course. I loved it and the time just flew by. Jackie Oct 2022 (Buttercream Piped Flower Cupcakes)
Just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed yesterday’s cupcake decorating course. Kim was very good in explaining the different processes and I was surprised with myself as I have never done any sort of decorating before. Thank you so much. Teresa Oct 2022 (Cupcake Decorating)
Just attended a course here and it was amazing, clear precise tuition, calm and friendly atmosphere, I want to attend so many more courses here, absolutely fantastic. Helen Oct 2022 (Facebook Comment)
I did the introduction to sugarpaste course today and it was AMAZING!!! Thank you so much, I really enjoyed it.
Sarah - emailed 12th Sept 2020
I came on the postponed course yesterday and we loved it. Will you be doing anything in the future? I would love to bring both my daughters and mum too. Thanks.
Louise - emailed 9 Aug 2020
Just finished my cake decorating courses at Catherine's. 3 really enjoyable courses: PME Sugarpaste, Royal icing and Sugar Flowers. Kim is a kind and patient teacher doing such a great job. Catherine is a lovely host, she was really helpful and gave valuable advice when I asked questions unrelated to the courses, and often handing trays of cakes to us to enjoy. Selena was just as great, running around for us and collecting/ordering things we asked for. I can only thank them all for a truly great learning experience and the wonderfully friendly atmosphere. Katalin Brindley posted on Facebook 23 Nov 2019
Absolutely loved the course, thank you so much, Catherine was amazing!
Charlotte – emailed 18 Dec 2019
Just to say thank you to Kim for a brilliant course today. I really enjoyed the course & learnt so much. Kim is a brilliant teacher & I hope to be able to do more courses. Thank you again.
Allison Burns Emailed in June 2019
I really enjoyed the cake decorating course with Kim yesterday. Beverley, Beginners Cake Decorating Course – 4th November 2023
Sorry it’s taken so long to write but I wanted to say a huge thank you for the cupcake decorating party, Abi and her friends had a great time, they really enjoyed the experience. The cakes were brilliant, I have had lots of positive feedback from the parents of the other girls.
Thank you so much for all your help and organisation.
Best wishes, Alice
Private Cupcake Decorating Party – 14th October 2023
I really enjoyed yesterday and learned a lot. Can't wait to practice at home. Gill, Buttercream Piping Techniques – 16th July 2023
I just wanted to say how much my daughter, Laura and I enjoyed our evening on the buttercream decorating course last week and please pass on our thanks to Kim for her patience, tuition and help ! The end result was impressive thanks to her ! Nicky, Multi-Coloured Buttercream – 24th May 2023
What a wonderful course. I loved it and the time just flew by. Jackie Oct 2022 (Buttercream Piped Flower Cupcakes)
Just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed yesterday’s cupcake decorating course. Kim was very good in explaining the different processes and I was surprised with myself as I have never done any sort of decorating before. Thank you so much. Teresa Oct 2022 (Cupcake Decorating)
Just attended a course here and it was amazing, clear precise tuition, calm and friendly atmosphere, I want to attend so many more courses here, absolutely fantastic. Helen Oct 2022 (Facebook Comment)
I did the introduction to sugarpaste course today and it was AMAZING!!! Thank you so much, I really enjoyed it.
Sarah - emailed 12th Sept 2020
I came on the postponed course yesterday and we loved it. Will you be doing anything in the future? I would love to bring both my daughters and mum too. Thanks.
Louise - emailed 9 Aug 2020
Just finished my cake decorating courses at Catherine's. 3 really enjoyable courses: PME Sugarpaste, Royal icing and Sugar Flowers. Kim is a kind and patient teacher doing such a great job. Catherine is a lovely host, she was really helpful and gave valuable advice when I asked questions unrelated to the courses, and often handing trays of cakes to us to enjoy. Selena was just as great, running around for us and collecting/ordering things we asked for. I can only thank them all for a truly great learning experience and the wonderfully friendly atmosphere. Katalin Brindley posted on Facebook 23 Nov 2019
Absolutely loved the course, thank you so much, Catherine was amazing!
Charlotte – emailed 18 Dec 2019
Just to say thank you to Kim for a brilliant course today. I really enjoyed the course & learnt so much. Kim is a brilliant teacher & I hope to be able to do more courses. Thank you again.
Allison Burns Emailed in June 2019
2 Montpelier Drive,
Caversham,
Reading,
Berkshire RG4 6PS
Tel: 0118 946 1112
Telephone enquiries:
Mon-Fri 9am-6pm
Saturday 9am-4pm
Cake collections by arrangement
Tel: 0118 946 1112
Telephone enquiries:
Mon-Fri 9am-6pm
Saturday 9am-4pm
Cake collections by arrangement
All our cake decorating classes and PME Professional Diploma courses are held at our Moulsford studio on the Berkshire / South Oxfordshire border, and we have plenty of free parking. We are near Streatley between Reading and Oxford, and close to Wantage, Didcot, Pangbourne, Goring, Maidenhead, Henley-on-Thames and Newbury, and just 20 minutes from the M4 if you're coming up from London.
Unit 1, The Byre,
Greenlands Farm,
Cow Lane,
Moulsford,
Oxfordshire OX10 9JT
Tel : 01491 873 332
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Greenlands Farm,
Cow Lane,
Moulsford,
Oxfordshire OX10 9JT
Tel : 01491 873 332
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm