Saturday, April 25, 2009

Getting the Basics of Wedding Cake Decoration

By Mae Summerville

Every little creation starts with the foundation, so you need to begin with a real nice coating of smooth icing, enough to cover the surface of this cake. Start with a thin layer of frost to cover all crumbs and prevent them from ending up in the icing layer and running your cake decorating attempt. When you are done with this layer, leave them in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to cool down. This will set the first layer and lock in all crumbs from rising to the external layer of your icing. Now it is possible to start decorating your cake without having to worry about crumbs spoiling the decoration.

Now get those icing spatula and apply a nice coat of icing layer. Once you have enough icing on the cake, start smoothing the sides with the spatula all around the perimeter of the cake. Try dipping the spatula in cold water and see the difference; it makes the smoothing join so much easier! Then dip it again in cold water and start smoothing the surface of the cake. Hold the spatula firmly using both hands and begin skimming the top of the icing; drag it towards you starting from the furthest point.

Simple Creations

Learning to smooth the icing is the hardest part in cake decorating. Practice will make you a professional in no time all. If you can do it right then let your friends know; even though it is the hardest part.

You can use sugar coated powder to dust the top of the cake instead of icing. You can use sugar powder to rate a classic look, or opt to use stencil for a modern 'retro' feel. One good addition is to see edible cake decorations. The use of colorful candies, nuts and coconut slices can make your cake stand out from the crowds.

Sometimes it is cool to use cardboard combs to create the textured look people love. Piping is achieved by using a pastry bag fitted with a metal tip. This is where the real cake decorating fun comes in - you can explore a thousand possibilities by using the piping bag-flowers, shells can now be created to fill the tops and bottoms of your cake, wherever you would like them to be. Fill your bag with one cup of icing and start decorating your cake. Your other hand can be used to guide the tip; this will also ensure it does not smudge. Learn about piping techniques before you start.

One may use fondant in complicated cake decorating endeavors. Fondants are used to cover cakes, kneaded and rolled to create a beautiful classic look. They are often used to create elegant 3-D designs.

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