To see a slideshow of the decorated cakes, click here.Televisions across the nation are covered in fondant and buttercream frosting.Shows like Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes” and TLC’s “Cake Boss” and “Ultimate Cake Off” are capitalizing on America’s sugary obsession, and Bravo will add “Top Chef: Just Desserts” to its lineup later this year. The popular shows feature seemingly impossibly elaborate confections, such as a life-size NASCAR car on “Cake Boss” or a rendering of Yankee Stadium on “Ace of Cakes.”On campus, students are inspired and entertained by the many decorating shows.  Brittany Foster, political science sophomore, said cake decorating shows like “Cake Boss” and “Ace of Cakes” are her favorite.  “I just like to see the interesting things they can do, like build robots and race cars,” she said. “I think people are attracted to seeing something done that they can’t do themselves.” Some students are inspired to try decorating.Sara Akey, University alumna, decorated her first fondant cake for a friend’s birthday after getting hooked on “Ace of Cakes.” “I just taught myself after watching stuff on TV,” she said.But she said would be interested in taking a class to refine her skills.Despite Akey’s feelings on classes, several Baton Rouge businesses said their decorating classes are very popularR.J. Scaffin, manager of Tiger Central LLC, said the classes offered at his cake-supply store are always packed.”I get people from a lot of different places that come here,” he said. “We use word of mouth and don’t actually put out any flyers.”Scaffin said his store offers eight four-week classes with three levels of difficulty, and no prior experience is required to sign up. He plans to offer a fondant class as well.Jerry Harper, manager of Party Time on Bluebonnet Boulevard, said his store’s cake-decorating classes have always been popular, but interest has increased in the last few years.”We have to turn people away,” Harper said. Like Tiger Central, Party Time offers basic, intermediate and advanced classes, including fondant and figure-piping classes. The store also has a wide selection of specialty classes for other desserts like cupcakes, brownies, cookies and candy.No cake-decorating classes are currently scheduled, but leisure classes at the Student Union will offer them next semester. Leisure classes on cookies and candy are currently available. Inspired by her favorite TV show, Akey plans to move to New Orleans and work in a bakery. “It takes patience, but it’s rewarding because of people’s reactions when I’m done,” she said. “It’s just really fun … and you get to eat the scraps.” Follow Elizabeth Clausen on Twitter @ TDR_eclausen.—-Contact Elizabeth Clausen at [email protected]