How to Paint Birthday Cakes With an Airbrush

An airbrush makes adding color to cakes a snap.

An airbrush is indispensable to professional cake decorators but the everyday home baker can also learn to apply special color effects with this versatile tool. Powered by a small air compressor, an airbrush allows you to create colorful designs and background effects in a very short time. Especially effective on birthday cakes that require large areas of color, your airbrush will lend a feathery hint of color or render a deep rich hue to the design elements on your cake.

Things You'll Need

• Airbrush (used only with food colors) Air compressor Airbrush food colors Test cardboard Stencils (optional) Thinner (optional) Newspapers

Instructions

1. Choose an airbrush with fine mist ability. Almost all your airbrushing will require a very fine spray to keep from leaving color puddles on your cake. Some airbrushes come with interchangeable tips while others use only one tip and the spray density adjusts on the airbrush itself.

2. Apply the base icing to the birthday cake but don't add the borders yet unless you want to airbrush them as well. By adding a border around the base of the cake and around the top edge after you airbrush, you can create a professional effect.

3. Fill the color cup or the color bottle on your airbrush with straight airbrush food coloring. Avoid using regular liquid food colors or gel colors that may clog the tiny opening in the airbrush tip. You don't need to thin the airbrush color unless you fear you don't have enough paint for your cake project. Pure vodka is an acceptable thinner and the alcohol will evaporate, leaving only the color on your cake.

4. Cover the table with old newspapers to protect from overspray and place the cake on top. Keep a test board handy beside the cake. Before you begin applying color to the cake, test the spray on the cardboard for consistency. Adjust the airbrush tip until you have a fine mist.

5. Hold the airbrush approximately four-inches from the surface of the icing and use broad sweeping strokes to apply the color lightly and evenly. It's better to apply three or four very thin coats, allowing the color dry between coats, than one heavy coat. If you hold the airbrush too close to the icing or if you don't move the airbrush constantly, color can puddle and mar the design on your cake.

6. Place a stencil gently on top of the icing and spray the cutout designs to transfer the shapes onto the cake. If the icing is soft, put the cake in the refrigerator for ten minutes to firm the icing and keep it from sticking to your stencil.

7. Clean your airbrush between color changes by running a little water through it. Use the test board again before applying the new color to remove all traces of water, which can distort your design.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean your airbrush after each use by running water through it, followed by airbrush cleaner or a little vodka. Both will help evaporate any residual moisture left in the tip. Let the airbrush dry thoroughly and store in an airtight container or a zip-type plastic bag. Layer color on design elements, such as sugar flowers, by applying a light color to the entire flower and applying a complementary color only to the tips of the petals.

• Do not use an airbrush on a cake if it was previously used it with non food-grade paints.