Arts & Entertainment

Shorewood-Troy Library Hosts Spring Cupcake Class

Pastry chef Tom Degutis brought everything needed to turn cupcakes into ducks.

If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it must be a cupcake.

That's what students learned Saturday at the Springtime Cupcake decorating class at the Shorewood-Troy Public Library.

Tom Degutis, a former pastry chef, taught anyone who signed up how to make duck cupcakes. The ideas came from two books by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, titled Hello, Cupcake! and What's New, Cupcake?

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"The credit has to go to the author of the books because they were the inspiration for me learning these designs and teaching this class," Degutis said.

Mixing baking and books is not new to him. Before Degutis attended the Culinary Institute of American in Hyde Park, NY, he worked in a library. Then after 20 years as a pastry chef, he came back to the library. He now works at the Fountaindale Public Library in Bolingbrook.

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In Shorewood, about ten people of all ages came ready to learn. One of the students said she was expecting to watch a demonstration. When she arrived, the tables were set up so that every attendee participated and made their own. 

"What a fun thing," Joyce Macgirvin said. "I wan't expecting this, but how fun!"

Degutis brought store-made, unfrosted cupcakes and Duncan Hines frosting. He said that you don't have to make everything from scratch in order to have something festive and enjoyable. 

"I know everybody likes to make homemade, but not everyone has the time," he explained.

Library Director Jennie Mills welcomed everyone and introduced Degutis. She said she was happy to have him teach this kind of a free class in Shorewood. She knew from his experience that he would be great at it.

Both of the books are available at the Shorewood-Troy Library. For more information about them, or about other upcoming events, call 815-725-1715. Information is also available on the library's website.


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