How to Do Lettering for a Wedding Cake

Decorating a wedding cake yourself allows flexibility.

Decorating a wedding cake yourself allows you to get exactly the result you want, and produce a very personalized result. Icing letters onto a cake is straightforward but needs a little practice and a steady hand -- if you have never iced before, practice the lettering on a plate beforehand, and keep the shape of the letters simple. If you make a mistake, the icing letters can be removed with a blunt knife but may leave a mark.

Things You'll Need

• Word processing package
• Printer
• Paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Glue stick
• Iced wedding cake
• Toothpick
• Edible food pen
• Pastry bag with small tip
• Food coloring
• Plate
• Powdered sugar
• Bowl
• Spoon

Instructions

Planning the Lettering

1. Plan the layout of the lettering. Look at different styles of font on the computer until you find one you are happy with. Type in the required text and print it out.

2. Measure the cake, and make a paper template to fit the top. Cut out and glue the text to the template in the correct position.

3. Transfer the template to the top of the cake. Carefully trace the letters with a toothpick, taking care not to press too hard. Remove the template, and you should be able to see the outline of the letters. Go over them very lightly with a food pen.

Icing the Lettering

1. Mix several spoonfuls of powdered sugar with one or two drops of food coloring. Add water drop by drop until the consistency is thin but not runny. Spoon half the icing into the bag, and squeeze the top of the bag to force the icing into the nozzle. Practice a couple of letters on a plate to make sure that the icing is the right consistency, holding the bag at a 45 degree angle.

2. Place the cake on a stable, level surface. Starting at the top left hand corner, carefully trace the outlines of the letters. Start at the top of each letter and work downward slowly, keeping the pressure firm and even. Any unevenness in the letters can be filled in afterwards.

3. Leave the cake in a cool place for a couple of hours to let the icing harden.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful if you are using a very dark color for your writing. If the icing is too runny, the color may leach onto the surface of the cake.

References

• Sugarcraft: Writing on Cakes