Written By: Chloe Thornton
If you are a teen baker you might know and experience the stress of attempting to perfectly decorate a cake. Your icing might be too thin or too thick, your crumb coats may turn out more crumbly than they should be. No matter what your challenge is, these tips and tricks may be just what you need to have a perfect, mess-free, beautiful cake.
Tip 1: Use a Rotating Cake Stand
A rotating cake stand may seem like a bit much, but it will make the icing process so much easier. With a rotating cake stand, you can rotate your cake while icing it, allowing for smoother icing.
Tip 2: Freeze Your Cake After the Crumb Coat
After putting a crumb coat on your cake, it might seem hard to keep crumbs from getting into the main frosting layer. Freezing your cake after the crumb coat is a perfect way to keep the rest of it from being crumby. All you have to do is pop your cake in the freezer for 20-30 minutes, making sure not to leave it in for any longer. This freezes the first layer of icing and allows you to perfectly apply your main layer. Ensure your crumb coat is smooth before doing this; otherwise, you will be stuck with the lumps.
Tip 3: Ensure Your Cake is Cool Before Adding Icing
Most people may already know this, but it is important to wait for your cake to be completely cooled off before icing. If your cake is still warm, it could cause your icing to melt off, especially if you are using buttercream. It is best to wait about 30 minutes or longer after taking your cake out of the oven before frosting it. So you can always pass the time by making your icing while you wait.
Tip 4: Add Cornstarch to Thin Icing
Thin icing may make it challenging to have a perfectly iced cake, but getting it thick enough without it being too sweet can also be a challenge. To avoid using excess amounts of powdered sugar, cornstarch is a good substitute for thickening your frosting. Just add a little bit to your icing at a time until it’s the right consistency for your needs. Another option is to mix in a bit of store-bought icing with your homemade icing; however, I would recommend using only cornstarch.
Tip 5: Don’t Use Store-Bought Icing
This tip is more of a suggestion than anything else. You can totally use store-bought icing if it’s easier for you and makes you happy; however, using homemade icing will really up your cake game. There are so many different recipes for icing, and it just helps to make your cake your own. The most popular type of icing to make is buttercream, specifically American Buttercream, and there are thousands of recipes out there for you to use.
Tip 6: Make more Icing Than you Think you Need
Sometimes it can be hard to gauge just how much icing you need for a cake. It’s better to have too much icing than not enough and to ensure you don’t run out, it might be a good idea to make a little extra. If you are making a layered cake and have kept your cake scraps, you can always use those plus your extra icing to make cake pops.
Tip 7: You Don’t Need to Make it Super Fancy
I know that most decorated cakes have fancy decorations on the top, but you don’t have to use fancy things to make them look nice. The easiest decoration to do is just to pipe icing along the outside of the top for a nice, finished look. When you first start decorating cakes, it is best not to overachieve. Sticking to the basics is the best way to improve your skills before moving on to anything over the top.
Tip 8: Use a Cake Scraper for Even Icing
Having an even layer of icing is important in having a good-looking cake. The best way to achieve this is to use a cake scraper along the sides of your cake. This tool goes hand in hand with the rotating cake stand to make your cake look perfect. If you don’t have a cake scraper, you can always just use a bench scraper or a regular icing spatula.
Tip 9: Make Sure Your Cake Layers are Level
Having level and even cake layers is one of the most important steps in decorating a cake. One way you can make sure your layers are level is to use a level tool. They are normally used for building, but they also work great when it comes to decorating a cake.
Tip 10: Don’t be Too Hard on Yourself
This tip might be the most important one of all. Don’t be too hard on yourself. You are just learning how to decorate, and it can be a hard skill to learn. No matter what, you are trying your best, and as long as your cake tastes good, it’s perfect.
By following these tips, you can really enhance your cake decorating skills and create stunning cakes that will surely impress your friends and family.
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