Frosting a cake can feel intimidating: it can be difficult to find the right consistency, know what steps to take while frosting, and ensure the neatness of piping and borders. But, with a little practice, the right tools, basic technique, and a few step-by- step guidelines, frosting a cake can be simple, smooth, and bakery-quality.
Whether you need to bake a birthday cake, impress your family on holidays, or just want to try something new, this how-to will help you frost cakes perfectly every time.
A basic list of needs and prep:
• Baked cake layers
• Frosting of your choice (buttercream is best for beginners, but there are lots of different types to perfect) • Offset Spatula and regular spatula
• Piping bag (for decorations)
• Cake turntable
• Cake leveller
• Straight edge (a bench scraper is usually the preferred tool for bakers)
Steps to Frosting a Cake:
Ensure your cake is completely cooled. A warm cake and frosting will be a total disaster. You will struggle to make clean edges, the frosting will melt, and the cake will slide off-center. Allow your cakes to cool on a wire rack after baking, or chill them in the fridge or freezer for a little while.
Gently cut off the raised top part of your cake before frosting. These flat layers will make for a sturdy and structurally sound cake.
A crumb coat is the first thin layer of frosting that seals in the crumbs and allows for a much cleaner second coat of frosting.
Put the first layer of cake down on a cake board.
Spread a thin layer of frosting on top of the cake and gently place the next layer on top. Repeat for the desired number of layers.
Lightly frost the sides and top of the cake.
Chill the cake for 15-30 minutes to set the crumb coat
Once the crumb coat is chilled, it is time for the final layer of frosting. Add a generous scoop of frosting to the top of the cake and spread it on the sides and top using a spatula. Hold a straight-edge to the side of the cake and turn the turntable until you get your desired smoothness. Scrape off the excess and fill in gaps as need- ed. (It is okay to do this step multiple times to make sure the cake looks perfect.)
Now it’s time for creativity. There are various types of frosting decorations you can use on your cake. Embrace them as your imagination allows.
Use a piping bag to pipe borders, lines, ruffles, or rosettes on the cake. Some sprinkles, fruit, edible glitter, or fondant will finish off the perfect look.
Chill your cake for a bit to ensure the frosting and decorations are set. Enjoy your newfound talents and skills!
