How to Decorate Cakes Step-by-Step

Hello Kitty Cake

Homemade cakes are not only cheaper than store-bought cakes, but they really show people that you care. Decorating a cake also allows you to provide a cake that fits the specific interests of the recipient. Getting started can be a little daunting, but just remember that cake mixes are cheap and you can start over if you need to.

Things You'll Need

• Cake
• Freezer
• Spatula
• Icing
• Food coloring
• Platter
• Waxed paper
• Pastry bag
• Pastry bag tips: 1, 3 and 16
• Piping gel
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. Bake the cake and let it cool. Give it a light coating of frosting and put it in the freezer. This is called a "crumb coat" and will help the frosting to go on smoother. Check on the cake after 15 minutes; if the icing has formed a light crust, it is ready.

2. Center the cake on a platter. Put a large amount of icing in the center of your cake.

3. Use the spatula to pull the icing toward the edges, until the top is covered. Run the side of the spatula along the top of the cake from the edge of the cake toward the center to take off the extra icing.

4. Dab some icing around the sides of the cake and smooth it out by running the spatula around the cake.

5. Write a message on the cake with icing that has been dyed a contrasting color. Use a pastry bag with a No. 3 tip. Do not allow the tip to touch the cake.

6. Add a character to the cake. Enlarge a picture of the character until it is the right size, then lay it on the table and put a piece of waxed paper on top of it.

7. Use piping gel in a pastry bag with a No. 1 tip to trace the image. Turn the waxed paper upside-down on the cake in the spot where you want the image to be.

8. Use a small paintbrush to lightly push down on the piping gel, transferring it onto the cake. Remove the waxed paper.

9. Fill in the image by making stars. Fill a pastry bag with a No. 16 tip and the right color of icing. Apply pressure to the bag until enough icing has come out to make a little star. Release the pressure before pulling the tip away from the cake. Fill in the character with all of the appropriate colors.

10. Use use the same No. 16 tip to make a star border around the cake, for an added touch.

References

• Wilton: Icing Cakes Using a Spatula
• Baking 911: Five Cake Icing Tips