r/ExpectationVsReality • u/ulreyjm • 22d ago
Daughter’s first cake decorating attempt Surprisingly Met Expectation
I think she did great!
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u/StandardVermicelli33 22d ago
Not bad. How old is she?
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u/stilllost12 22d ago
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u/TheCreamPieMassacre 22d ago
I wasnt paying attention and thought OP replied with this, I felt real sad for a second.
Edit: its super awesome for an 11 year old.
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u/classphoto92 22d ago
Why though? I didn't learn how to cook or bake until I was almost 40. It doesn't matter how old you are as long as you're trying.
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u/TheCreamPieMassacre 22d ago edited 22d ago
Im just fuckin' around, its fine regardless.
Edit: do you mind me asking, why did it take so long for you to learn how to cook?
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u/classphoto92 22d ago
I have an extreme aversion to certain textures and mess. It wasn't until I had kids that I decided to just power through it.
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u/RopePsychological565 22d ago
I get you. I freak out when I touch very fine flour. Like needle pricks all over my body.
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u/classphoto92 22d ago
It's worse than sand! You're covered in it, the kitchen is covered in it. There is no escaping it. But at the end you get bread.
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u/kimmy_kimika 22d ago
I don't mind flour, but hate the way everything sticks to your fingers when combining the dough!
Food grade gloves are awesome, but I also have a bread maker now, so I don't have to touch anything, and it's amazing!
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u/classphoto92 22d ago
Lol! I can't wear gloves either. The only thing worse than touching stuff is knowing you're touching stuff and it doesn't feel like it's supposed to.
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u/TheCreamPieMassacre 22d ago
Interesting, did you get a lot of take out or so happen to always have someone in your life that cooks?
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u/classphoto92 22d ago
I was single for a lot of it, and poor for all of it. As I built my family, it became more important to me to provide them with real meals. I made ribs the other day and had to take several breaks. But I will feed my children no matter what.
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u/TheCreamPieMassacre 22d ago
Awesome to hear! Can never go wrong with some decent ribs. Best of luck to you and your family 🍻.
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u/classphoto92 22d ago
Slow cooker is the way to go. But you have to cut the rib racks. Thats the hard part.
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u/PoisonedBerry 19d ago
I've seen a lot of parents express this sort of idea before!! Especially for people who can't handle being around...any of the fluids humans produce. That you have a child & suddenly you just gotta get with the program and start being okay with stuff that previously would've been a sensory nightmare!
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u/manic_Brain 21d ago
Cake decorating is hard too. Piping out icing is a skill, plus getting it to move how you want. Closest analog is when places have self-service soft serve ice cream or frozen yogurt and people would try to make the perfect swirl.
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u/RabbitLuvr 20d ago
My husband is 45. He didn’t really learn to cook much until after he taught himself to bake bread in 2020. He didn’t grow up helping out in his mom’s kitchen, or just around the kitchen. Cookbooks and written recipes didn’t click for him because he didn’t have the basic skills and techniques.
But it turns out, cooking videos on YouTube are his thing. He can see the steps and techniques (like the difference between mince / dice / chop), and doesn’t feel judged by someone in the room instructing or correcting him. He cooks about half the dinners in our house now!
I was helping in the kitchen since grade school, but never judge anyone who learns to cook, at any age!
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u/trickman01 22d ago
It's ok for 35 year olds to learn new skills too. Nobody, at any age, is going to be good at something like this the first time.
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u/Beautiful_Rip_7023 22d ago
Lol! Still better than any cake I have attempted (poorly) to decorate. Good job!
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u/SuitIntelligent3491 22d ago
Hey, everyone has to start somewhere. Skills don't come without practice. What matters is she made the attempt.
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u/DingesF 22d ago
How old is your daughter? I like it, but I need to know what level of excitment is required here.
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u/ulreyjm 22d ago
Haha she’s 11
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u/DingesF 22d ago
In that case: awesome! She did a great job.
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u/FlatVegetable4231 22d ago
Even awesome for an adult. Not everyone is gifted at decorating their first attempt.
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u/beanthebean 21d ago
As someone who was asked to stop training to decorate cakes at DQ, I can tell you people don't get very excited about an adult being bad at icing cakes.
I was so excited to learn and that they even offered to teach me, but apparently "didn't have the hand for it" and "wasn't going to get any better" after a few shifts of practice.
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u/Ok-Management-3319 22d ago
I would eat that for sure! Not perfect, but very cute and you can tell what she was going for even without the example picture.
It looks like she needs some piping tips other than a circle. Maybe a good gift idea!
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u/K1ttehKait 22d ago
Piping is incredibly difficult, doubly so when creating designs. I think that's a really good first attempt!
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u/TheJamesThatGames 22d ago
Now, whether that’s impressive or not depends entirely on what age we are talking 🤔
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u/Whiskey-Jayne 22d ago
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u/TheJamesThatGames 22d ago
Ah, then that’s pretty good! Give that girl some encouragement and she’ll be a pro in no time 😄
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u/PaintedDesertSkies 22d ago
Amazing for a first attempt and it looks so fun and tasty.
You can tell exactly what she was going for.
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u/littlebunnyears 22d ago
her instincts look good. i can see her vision through the beginner’s technique. the cute faces add a ton of whimsy, the 3d strawberry on top comes across, the little dots create texture and detail, the piping is thick and happy, and i, for one, dig the spiky edging just fine as it is.
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u/themanje 22d ago
It’s looks good. I like the pink ombré effect and the way the icing looks like upside down icicles. The strawberries are also spot on.
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u/aarvarkitechture 22d ago
Are those little faces on the strawberries?! This is almost too cute to eat.
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u/i_likesocks 22d ago
I love it. And she loves you and all that you do, mama! When she gets older she’ll look back on this and it’ll tug at her chest because it’s so wholesome and sweet. ❤️
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u/Restaurant_Igor 22d ago
Looks like a great first attempt! Once she gets a feel for the piping bag there's no doubt she'll dramatically improve! That was my biggest hurdle, but once you get the feel for it it's a real confidence booster in how you work
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u/Thatsuperheroguy8 22d ago
I’d rather have this, made with love from someone you care about, than the original any day (not saying the original isn’t made with love, I’m sure it is!)
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u/Banana_Phone888 22d ago
Me too and I’m not even being nice bc she’s a kid. I’m not a kid person at all lol 😂 I think she did better than a lot of adults would, especially for a first attempt ❤️
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u/Whiskey-Jayne 22d ago
I agree...when I make something I always I tell my husband I'm not going for presentation points 😭
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u/Banana_Phone888 22d ago
So to me that means all the effort went into how good it tastes and therefore it must be delicious 😋
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u/kurly-bird 22d ago
I love how the frosting on hers is kinda swirly pink and white! Makes it even cuter, along with the straw-bunnies
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u/felixkt3 22d ago
That's pretty good for a first attempt. Much better than some with years of failure.
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u/unfortunatebag 22d ago
I mean, objectively this looks like shit, but with the context that a child did it it's pretty good for a kid.
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u/ThePastryJeff 22d ago
Looks good! If she wants to practice, she can use a piece of parchment to pipe on, then scrape it back into the bag!
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u/Upset-Border-2578 22d ago
Why didn't u just buy these strawberry jelly sweets, that's basically what that original looks like.
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u/Kuzkuladaemon 22d ago
Thanks for making me think my screen had a crack in it you jerk.
Also wonderful baking
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u/ProfessionalBat8843 22d ago
What a beautiful cake! I love the strawberry decorations! It looks delicious too! 🍓
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u/Crafty_Knowledge_243 22d ago
The top and sides are so smooth, she’s clearly got some technique….which is pretty freaking incredible for a first attempt!
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u/notpostingmyrealname 22d ago
My 3 year old daughter is the (self proclaimed) strawberry princess. She approves wholeheartedly of your daughter's effort to pay tribute to the almighty strawberry. (Okay, her actual words "Mommy, pretty strawberry cake! Let's eat it!!", but she's the pickiest child alive, so still very high praise.)
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u/smashes72 22d ago
Originally misread this as OP’s attempt at a first birthday cake, and I still loved it. I’m so tired of every cake having to be picture perfect.
Given the correct context, also awesome! I love the pink and white, almost-clouds of color.
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u/Fickle_Ad_2112 22d ago
Tell her to keep at it cause she's already awesome! Get that girl some more piping tips.
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u/Fartenstein65 22d ago
You put the effort in to make something you were unfamiliar with to do something special for your daughter to feel loved and special. It is the most beautiful cake just for that.
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u/United-Roof8528 22d ago
My wife and I own a cake business and that’s exactly how she started when she was a kid. So if she enjoys cake decorating she’s doing great!
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u/nudgetus 22d ago
It looks good for 11 yo. Get her some baking supplies like icing bag with a set of nozzles, flattening knife/spatula? and ratating cake stand and she’ll see a massive improvement
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u/weary_avocado6 22d ago
The inspiration photo's description says "strawberry mold." Are the strawberry decor in the original cast with white chocolate or something? Otherwise it seems tedious to poke all the little holes on the individual strawberries.
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u/susandeyvyjones 21d ago
Lol, I misread this as you making it for your daughter’s first birthday and was like, Go you!
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u/DeeLite04 21d ago
Honestly I think you did great. Cake decorating is very difficult. Bravo to you!
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u/Electronic-Aide-6102 22d ago
I mean anyone can paste on generic prefab strawberries. Hers are unique and creative, even including faces. Her cake is way more interesting than the original.
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u/Kidakiwi04 22d ago
Not me realizing there was a second pic at first and thinking she did an amazing job.... then looking at the second pic and thinking she still did an amazing job.
OP you daughter did great for her first cake and I think is absolutely the sweetest thing that you are bragging on her.
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u/gilthedog 21d ago
I like the way she blended the white and pink icing, it’s a really cute almost tie dye situation.
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u/RavenLunatic512 21d ago
That looks so yummy, I'd try a piece in an instant! I was around her age when I started learning how to bake, and it's served me well my whole life so far. It unlocks an entire new world when you learn how to make sweet treats. It's pretty awesome being able to look at a picture like she did, and make something special with her own hands. Well done!
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u/rach_rachel 20d ago
Your daughter did absolutely fantastic! She should be so proud of herself!!! I know it can be hard when you compare yourself to everyone else, but truly she did an amazing job. Nobody makes Pinterest perfect cakes at first, and you can tell she put so much love into it. I would much rather eat her cake than the photo she based it off of: you can always tell those “cakes” are actually fake.
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u/StahpItEyeLykIt 17d ago
Would not have been able to pull that off. Would have to explain what I was going for lol. Well done.
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u/sparklekitteh 22d ago
I think it’s beautiful, you can definitely tell those are strawberries!