How to Make Decorated Cakes
Decorating your own cake for a celebration is a special way to put a personal touch on the event. However, cake decorating can be harder than it looks. The key to turning out neat, beautifully decorated cakes is time. The process can take hours, depending on the design and size of the cake. Making decorated cakes can be a challenge, but can also be a fun way to show someone that you care. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Cake board
- Buttercream frosting
- Offset spatula
- Toothpick
- Piping bags
- Piping tips
- Decorative icing
- Cake box
Instructions
-
-
1
Plan out the cake. Look in magazines and cake-decorating books to decide what you'd like to make, and use a pencil and paper to sketch out your idea. The sketch can act as a blueprint for the cake as you decorate it.
-
2
Bake or purchase a cake that is the appropriate size and shape. If baking the cake at home, make sure to allow the cake to cool completely before decorating it.
-
-
3
Set up a cake board on a flat, level surface. Get out the cake, buttercream frosting and offset spatula. You can purchase pre-made buttercream frosting at a bakery or you can make your own from scratch. (See Resources for a link to a buttercream icing recipe.)
-
4
Mound about 1/4 cup of buttercream frosting in the center of the cake board. Spread the frosting on the cake board to create a patch of icing that is about the same width as the cake. Center the bottom layer of the cake on the icing, with the top of the layer facing up. The icing will keep the cake anchored on the board during the decorating process.
-
5
Scoop up about 1/2 cup of frosting with the spatula. Starting from the center of the top of the cake, work the frosting toward the edges in a circular motion. Stop at the edges of the cake.
-
6
Place the next layer on top of the bottom layer, with the bottom of the layer pointing toward the ceiling. This will give the cake a more even appearance. Starting in the center and working your way out, frost the new layer. Repeat this process until all layers have been placed.
-
7
Drop about a cup of buttercream in the center of the top layer of the cake. Spread outward with the spatula, across the top and down the sides of the cake. Scoop up more icing on the spatula and run it around the sides of the cake in a continuous, even motion to create a smooth wall of buttercream.
-
8
Use a toothpick to trace the design on top of the cake. Start with the text, making sure the words are centered and evenly spaced. Next, mark the spots where any icing flowers, candles or other decorations will be placed.
-
9
Fit an icing bag with a fine-pointed piping tip and fill the bag with decorating icing. Pipe the text on the cake, following the traced outline. Fill icing bags with different-colored icing and fit them with the appropriate tips. Pipe on any flowers or other decorations that you've planned. Finally, fit a piping bag with a border tip and pipe the borders onto the cake.
-
10
Store the cake in a cool, dry place until serving it. Do not cover it with clinging material such as plastic wrap, as that will smear the decorations. If it must be stored for a day or two, purchase a cake box from a bakery and gently place the cake in it.
-
1
