How To Decorate A Cake

Learn how to decorate a cake from start to finish. Decorating a cake is not for beginners and it may take several tries before you are professional. Plan on making a few examples and practice using your tips regularly. Making simple borders are not difficult, but if you want to make roses and flowers, you will need lots of practice. Decorating cakes can also be very profitable for those who can master the art.

In order to decorate a cake you will need:

• A cake
• Some decorating icing
• Decorating bags and flower and decorating tips
• Utensils: offset spatulas, spatulas, and brushes
• Icing colors.

Decorating Icing Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1/2  cup vegetable shortening
• 1 teaspoon vanilla,  clear
• 1 box confectioner’s sugar (1 pound)
• 2 to 3 tablespoons milk

How to Decorate a Cake Successfully:       

1. Leveling the Cake. Decorating a cake is only possible with a level cake. You must also have a delicious cake.  If your cake tastes like rubber, no one will even remember you design. So have a great recipe for the cake, level the cake and have a fabulous icing recipe (above). To level your cake, simply take a long serrated knife and cut off the uneven pieces. Before placing the cake in the oven tap the cake pan on the counter to remove all the air bubbles.  
2. How to Remove The Crumbs from the Cake Before icing.  After you have leveled the cake layers, take a pastry brush and brush away all the excess crumbs. Place the cake in the freezer and freeze for at least one half hour prior to icing. This will help you ice a sturdy cake with fewer problems.
3. Making the Icing. Use the above recipe and follow these easy directions.  In a mixing bowl put the shortening and the butter. Cream both together.  Add in the vanilla and start adding the sifted confectioner’s sugar bit by bit. You need to have a mixer to make this icing. Continue beating and add in some milk as needed for the right consistency. Set the icing aside.
4. Making Colored Icing. Think about how you want to design your cake and which colors you will need. Place individual bowls of the white icing (above) and dip a toothpick in the icing paste and dot the color into the icing. Use the color sparingly until you get the exact right tint. Mix the color into the white icing by hand.
5. Icing the Cake. Now you want to ice the middle of the cake first. Put some icing in the middle of the first layer and using your offset spatula, spread it all around the top only.  Gently lay the second layer on top. Now put a large amount of icing on top of the cake and work on the sides first. After you have iced the sides, finish icing the top of the cake. To get a perfectly smooth cake for decorating, dip your offset spatula in hot water and run the knife or spatula all around the cake smoothing the edges, so there are no lines.
6. How to Fill an Icing Bag. First thing you need to do is to attach the tip. Choose the right tip for the design you want and secure with the cap provided (coupler). The pastry bag or icing bag can be placed on a glass if you like. It is not that difficult to hold the bag in your hand and fill the bag with a large offset spatula. Simply push the icing into the bag.  Once you have the bag half way or three-quarters the way full, roll the top of the bag down. Make sure to push all the icing to the tip so to remove all air bubbles.
7. Practice before you start on the cake. There are some basic decorating tips that can help you get started. The bottom and top edge can be done with a scallop edge. This same scallop tip can be used to make flowers too. The writing tip can allow you to write on the cake and to add accent colors to your flowers. After you finish practicing, begin to decorate your cake and be creative as possible.