Cake Decorating Basics



So You Want to Learn How to Decorate a Cake

Cake decorating can be a great hobby! You can begin with minimal expense and you get to eat what you create. What could be more fun? Once you start, though, realize that it will be hard to stop. And if you get really good at it, don't be surprised if your friends start asking you to create cakes for them. There truly is nothing like a good homemade cake.


Basic Steps for a Perfect Cake

Learning just a few basics can make decorating a cake easy and enjoyable. Following are the steps to creating a decorated cake with some tips to help you as you begin. You don't need to have a ton of cake decorating supplies to create this, just some basic pans, a spatula, a pastry bag, and basic metal decorating tips.

  1. Bake a flat cake in a pan that's been prepared with oil and flour. Getting a flat cake easier said than done. While tapping your cake pan on the counter will help get rid of some of the excess air, you will want to insulate the cake pan for the best result. There are a couple of ways to do this. One is to get insulated strips from your local supply store and wrap these around your pan fastened with a pin. The cheaper method is to use towels rolled up around the outside of the pan. Either method helps make sure that the cake bakes evenly.

  2. Use a long thin knife or cake leveler to create a flat, flat cake top before taking it out of the pan.

  3. Let the cake cool 10-15 minutes and then remove from the pan.

  4. Each layer should be iced "upside-down." In other words you are icing the bottom of the cake in order to get the flattest and cleanest cake possible. If you are making a cake for an important occasion like a wedding, you can also freeze each layer to make it easier to ice.

  5. To ice the cake, the main rule to remember is "Don't be afraid to use a lot of icing!" Cover the sides and the top with a LOT of icing. Using an offset spatula (if available) spread the icing in one direction. For example, work from the center to the outer edges, picking up the spatula and starting in a new spot - do not just rub it back and forth because this will pick up crumbs. Work the icing until the sides are are smooth and the top is flat. If you place your spatula in hot water and then dry it so that it is slightly heated before finishing the smoothing portion of the cake, you will achieve a smoother finish.

  6. Decorate the cake. Remember that you should not pipe your border until the center of the cake has been decorated. You can make simple flowers by using a star tip, squeezing and lifting up. You can also use a stencil layed over the cake with colored sugar to create a pretty cake with little effort. Then put leaves on each flower with a leaf tip.

  7. Write on your cake if so desired. If you add 1 tsp. of corn syrup for each 1/2 cup of buttercream icing your writing will appear smoother.

  8. Put a border around your cake. You can use the classic star tip, leaf tip no. 70, or rose tip no. 104 in a zigzag fashion. To truly make your cake special, do a border around the bottom of the cake to. Begin and end at the back of the cake to hide the seam.

Obviously, cake decorating is not only a practice but also an art. Ideas can come from many different places. You can also check out our cake decorating ideas, birthday cake ideas and our wedding cake ideas to provide you with inspiration. Remember, too, that even if you are weak on your icing decorating skills, you can also add edible flowers or of course wedding cake toppers to finish with style.

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