Alexandra Holt did a senior project where she learned cupcake and cake decorating. She made various cupcakes and cakes, starting with cupcakes and moving on to cakes. She chose this project because she loves baking and wanted to learn decorative techniques. During the project, she researched the history of cakes and cupcakes. She faced challenges like mixing up ingredients and cutting herself while decorating. Her project facilitator helped with ideas and feedback. Through this project, she learned that cakes require more effort than she prefers and now plans to study meteorology instead of pursuing a bakery career.

1. Alexandra Holt
Senior Project Speech
Every since I was a little girl I have always love to bake. Whether it was helping my
mom in the kitchen or with an easy bake oven, I had always found it to be enjoyable. My name is
Alexandra Holt and for my senior project I did cupcake and cake decorating.
The products that I made are various types of cupcakes and cakes. I had begun with the
cupcakes and then worked my way up to the cakes later on. I had chosen this topic because I love
to bake and I thought that learning how to decorate them would give me something more I could
do with my cakes. Plus, the fact that I have a large sweet tooth and adore anything sweet.
Cupcakes and cakes have always been my favorite types of deserts, and I have a great knack for
baking. I had learn how to make creative and cute little cakes.
During my product development I had done a research paper, I had chosen to do the topic
of the history behind cakes and cupcakes. This research paper gave me a greater insight to the
past behind the creation of these cupcakes, and gave me an even greater knowledge to these
pastries. Such as, back in the Middle Ages cakes were baked using only 4 ingredients. And also,
cakes are circular to represent the moon, which was a sign for fertility. Cakes were also used as
an offering to the god’s and spirits.

2. At this time I will discuss the cupcakes I had prepared. Telling the judges what the cake
and frosting is made of. Also, the process of what I did to make the cupcakes.
I had faced many challenges while producing my product, these last few months. I had
accidentally mixed up the flour and confectioners sugar, ended up completely melting the batch
so badly we had to throw out a pan. Another challenged that occurred was I had cut myself many
times with the Exacto knife while cutting out the fondant. Also, that I had some cupcakes I made
that the next day they melted and became really gooey and gross looking.
My project facilitator was Heidi Herbert, I had picked her because she enjoys baking as
much as I do and that she always has things like this at her house parties. She helped me with
coming up with ideas, and little ways that I can improve my products. It helped a lot that she
lives on my street, which made it easy for me to run over and as for her help or opinion on
things. I had also had found a lot of my ideas out of the Hello Cupcake and What’s New Cupcake
books. These gave me a ton of great ideas for my cupcakes. I would not be
During this project I had learned that cupcakes very fattening and not good for you.
Because of this project, I plan on going to Arizona State University to study nutritional science,
and then go to culinary school. And, from there open a healthy, yet delicious bakery. But, I had
changed my mind currently and look to pursue Geography with concentration in climatology and
meteorology. From doing this, I have learned that cakes are not for me. I'm better off with
making cupcakes and smaller things than something large.