Kathleen Roberts-Lange, Cake Design Artist

y love of baking and cake decorating started when I was old enough to remember helping mother bake.  My parents bought an “Easy Bake Oven” for me when I was 4.  I enrolled in my first Wilton Cake Decorating Classes Spring of 1980, at the age of 15.  I sold my first wedding cake at the age of 16.  I have been studying and mastering the intricate art of cake decorating and design ever since my very first class.  I was hooked! 

I loved “Sugar Art” from the very beginning and was invited to my first Wilton Cake Decorating Teaching Seminar, in the fall of 1980, at the age of 16; I was the youngest Wilton Teacher at the time.  I received several Wilton Incentive and Territorial Awards, and was inducted into the Wilton Method Teacher’s Hall of Fame and The President’s Club in recognition of my 20 years of teaching several thousand students.

I have taught and given demonstrations for Wilton Instructors, pastry chefs, business owners, bakery personnel, Girl Scouts and several San Diego Women's clubs.  I have also been featured in the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper, San Diego Channel 10 News, and San Diego Channel 8 News.  I was honored to be a guest and participant on “Get Crafty,” an info-commercial segment for a local craft and floral supply store.

I have attended numerous confectionary classes, demonstrations and trade conventions and shows since 1980.  I was fortunate to have studied extensively with world renowned Hall-of-Fame Decorator Betty Newman-May, and completing a 150-hour course known as the “Lambeth Method” of cake decorating; the most unique international method of cake decorating…..my favorite of all the methods.

I have also studied South African & Australian cake decorating methods, cake sculpturing, air brushing, candy making, gum paste flowers, cocoa painting, gingerbread construction, pastries, catering, floral design, calligraphy and tole painting (Folk Art).

All classes were taught by world renowned Hall-of-Fame decorators, including Betty Newman-May (CA), John McNamara (CA), Eleanor Rielander (South Africa), Ann Baber (England), Nicolas Lodge, Roland & Marsha Winbeckler, Kerry Vincent and several other famous designers, pastry chefs and sugar artists. 

I have designed my own recipes and techniques throughout the years, owned and operated my own bakery, cake & candy supply store, and have taught decorating and confectionary classes for Grossmont Adult School District for over seven years.  I started Confectionary Chalet in May 2006, so that I could continue to share my love for confectionary arts.

My enthusiasm for confectionary arts is contagious and I hope to be an inspiration to my students so they, too, can share the same love and creativity for future generations to come.