Review: Cake Decorating Experience at Amorette’s Patisserie in Disney Springs

Disney4me · August 1, 2017

Ready to create a little culinary MAGIC?

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Downtown Disney
Disney World Restaurants

Because THAT’S the goal for participants in the Cake Decorating Experience at Amorette’s Patisserie, the Disney owned-and-operated bakery in Disney Springs. From the get-go (it has been open for just over a year), Amorette’s Patisserie has been known for offering a feast for the eye as well as the palate, creating miniature works of art in the form of pastries, cookies, and cakes.

Guests visiting Amorette’s have also spied Character Dome Cakes among the treats. These signature creations feature the associated colors and costume features of beloved characters like Goofy, Donald, Minnie, and Pluto. But perhaps none are as recognizable as the Main Mouse himself: Mickey!

In fact, registered participants in the Cake Decorating Experience at Amorette’s Patisserie get to learn how to decorate a Mickey Mouse Dome Cake of their very own in a hands-on, small group setting limited to twelve guests. And we’d like to share with you our experience at the class today!

Amorette’s Patisserie

The Cake Decorating Experience

The 90-minute class started bright and early at 9:00 am in the Amorette’s Patisserie show kitchen. (The store itself doesn’t typically open until 11:00 am or 12:00 noon each day, so the class takes place prior to opening.)

Amorette’s Patisserie

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included with the class price, and we were asked to place our drink request upon entering, choosing from coffee (hot or cold brew), hot tea, a latte or cappuccino, orange juice, milk, a mimosa, or a bellini. Here’s my gorgeous Mimosa!

Mimosa

Next, we all made our way to the tables and chairs, set up in a semi circle to observe the instructors at the table in the front.

Class setup

Instructors

Upon each table were name cards, gloves, a cake spinner, and painting brushes, along with some of the edible components we’d later be placing on the cakes.

Table setup

These included Mickey’s ears, buttons, and tail (made of chocolate and fondant).

Decorating pieces

We also had a few bites of the Signature Petite Cake to enjoy with a bit of Italian buttercream for dipping.

Signature Petite Cake Sample

Sample Cake and Buttercream Icing

Freshly warmed washcloths completed the setup.

Table setup

After settling in, our Pastry Chef instructors – Misha and Mady – introduced themselves, and began by sharing some interesting information with us regarding the process of creating cakes at Amorette’s.

Mady and Misha

Did you know that creating a dome cake at Amorette’s is a THREE DAY process? Each cake is baked separately to make the layers very precise and intentional. Icing is applied to cakes while they’re still frozen, so the pastry chefs need to work very quickly.

While the decorating process itself is intense, personal anecdotes from Misha and Mady put us at ease when it came to the thought of trying the cake decorating process for ourselves (there may have even been a few cake-dropping tales shared !)

Mady and Misha

Having learned that even these talented pastry chefs make a mistake now and then, I was a little less nervous and more comfortable as we began the Step By Step cake decorating process with our own hands under Misha and Mady’s instruction!

Step by Step Process

Step One

We each received our own dome cake to decorate as additional Cast Members joined in to assist those of us in the class as well.

Dome Cake

Step Two

We received the bright Red Mirror Glaze for Mickey’s base (made from gelatin, chocolate, and condensed milk).

Red Mirror Glaze

Our instructors showed us how to pour it over the cake to cover completely.

Covered Cake

After this step, the cakes were removed to be refrigerated.

Step Three

We painted Mickey’s two signature buttons in yellow.

Yellow Bowl and Brush

Buttons in Progress

Step Four

We then used the black coloring to paint Mickey’s familiar ears.

Mickey’s ear pre-color

These are placed on sticks for easy insertion into the cake.

Painting Mickey’s ear

Mickey’s Complete Ear

Step Five

Time to paint Mickey’s tail, likewise!

Mickey’s Tail

Step Six

Buttons, ears, and tail are set aside to dry slightly.

Drying Decorative Pieces

Step Seven

Our cakes were brought back to us for another layer of mirror glaze (they received three layers in total).

More Red Mirror Glaze

Another layer of glaze on cake

The cakes then needed some more refrigeration time, so while we waited we were treated to some Hot Chocolate Ganache!

Hot Chocolate Ganache

Step Eight

Our cakes came out once more, and we then transferred them VERY CAREFULLY to their paper platters.

Transfer of the Cake

And may I say… “WHEW!”

Safely Transferred Cake

Step Nine

We then rolled fondant along the base using the roll and the cake spinner.

Rolled Fondant

Applying Fondant Roll

Fondant Roll Applied

Step Ten

Time to insert those ears and Mickey’s tail!

Almost Mickey

Step Eleven

And using a very tiny amount of water, we attached the two yellow buttons as well.

MICKEY CAKE!!!

(I’d like to insert an optional step, and that’s… BASK IN THE GLORY!!!)

Step Twelve

We were then individually invited to the instructor’s table to write our names (or any name we wanted) onto the back of the cakes with yellow icing.

Ready for the Finishing Touch

If this makes you a wee bit nervous, the Pastry Chefs are happy to write yours for you .

DFB MICKEY MASTERPIECE

Step Thirteen

All of our cakes were set in display cases to dry completely, and the Pastry Chefs welcomed any questions during this time.

Cakes Set To Dry

Step Fourteen

Upon drying, our cakes were packaged, bagged up, and we were all on our way with our very own creation!

Packaged Mickey Cake… ready for Safe Transport!

So, you do indeed get to have your cake AND EAT IT, TOO, as the saying goes! By the way, if you have plans to hit up the parks or more of Disney Springs right after the class, no worries. Amorette’s will hold your cake creation for pickup until later in the day.

Before we wrap, here are a few more details!

Class Information

The price of the Cake Decorating Experience is $129 (plus tax). The cost covers up to 2 guests decorating one cake (again, class size is limited to twelve). As a point of reference, full size dome character cakes sell for $55.00. Currently, the class is available for booking on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings via the Disney World website through August 25^th. However, the experience was already extended once beyond its initial Spring run, so there is reason to hope it may be offered again in the future.

While transportation from the Resorts to Disney Springs typically does not start until later in the morning, it can be provided at 8:00 am for class participants staying in a Disney Resort to ensure guests will be in time for the 9:00 am start.

Again, interested guests can book the experience online via the Disney World website.

Overall

At the current price tag, the Cake Decorating Experience at Amorette’s Patisserie is definitely a splurge for a special occasion (our class included a couple on their honeymoon as well as a mother decorating a cake for her daughter’s birthday, which was awesome). That said, it is certainly a memorable and unique experience. The kind attention and helpfulness from all of the Cast Members was above and beyond – they definitely made an effort to make sure each of us had a great time. And thanks to the small class size, things never felt rushed.

Finally, walking away with my very own Amorette’s creation that I personally decorated gave this experience something unlike anything else at Disney World. I felt pretty darn proud of my beautiful cake, if I do say so myself! For any hopeful culinary masters on the rise, the Cake Decorating Experience at Amorette’s Patisserie can be a unique, fun, and tasty mini adventure within your Disney World vacation!

Would you like to participate in the Cake Decorating Experience at Amorette’s? Please let us know with a comment!

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