Cake Boss at Orpheum, decorating contest at MOA: A dream week for cake lovers

See cake contest Sunday, Cake Boss's Buddy Valastro on Tuesday.

​If you're crazy about cakes, this is your week, with not one but two special events for bakery buffs. On Sunday you can watch professional cake decorators put their craft to the test at the Mall of America. And on Tuesday, cake decorator and baker Buddy Valastro of TLC's Cake Boss fame will be showing off his skills at the Orpheum Theatre.

Here are the details:

Who said cake decorating and competition can't go hand in hand? The Fifth Ultimate Cake Decorating competition takes place at the Mall of America patio on Sunday, on the Southwest corner of Nickelodeon Universe.The contest is sponsored by the Upper Midwest Cake Bakery Association, and will include a Winter Wonderland-themed birthday cake competition (all 12 participants decorate a cake and 24 matching cupcakes) from 11 to 12:30 p.m., and a "Royal Wedding Cake" competition from 1:15 to 4, in which 14 two-person teams decorate a five-tier wedding cake. Over $2,500 in prizes will be awarded at 4:30.

And you don't just have to watch. Adults can decorate cupcakes with a $1 donation to the UMBA scholarship fund. Children are invited to decorate cupcakes for free and can be photographed with their creations in a photo booth on site.

​As if 5-plus hours of cake decorating festivities isn't enough, Valastro will demonstrate techniques and share stories in an interactive event at the Orpheum Theatre next Tuesday. Tickets ranging from $29.75 to $45.75 (or $20 with a valid student or educator ID) are still available here.