| Beautiful cakes are not just for big bucks on | | | | Easy Cake Decorating Ideas & Tips |
| extra-special occasions. You can learn easy cake | | | | For a simply elegant cake with a really easy technique, |
| decorating ideas that you can do yourself to make | | | | dust your frosted cake with powdered sugar. Try |
| even an ordinary boxed cake mix look extraordinary. | | | | using a stencil for a themed or geometric design on |
| With a few simple tools and techniques and the easy | | | | the top of the cake. Remember making paper |
| cake decorating ideas in this article, you'll be able to | | | | snowflakes as a kid? Make one to fit the top of your |
| make a beautiful cake yourself at home. | | | | cake and use it as a stencil for a one-of-a-kind |
| Icing The Cake | | | | powdered sugar design. |
| Most of the time, you'll want to start with smooth icing | | | | If you want a more detailed, three-dimensional design, |
| all over the cake as the base for all of these easy | | | | you can buy ready-to-use decorations and cake |
| cake decorating ideas. To get a smooth surface, | | | | toppers in just about any theme you can think of. |
| make sure the cake is completely cooled and your | | | | Candy flowers and letters, sprinkles in special shapes, |
| frosting is not too thick. Thinner icing will spread more | | | | and even small toys can be used to top your cake. |
| easily and end up with a smoother finish. | | | | For an especially tasty look, sprinkle the cake with |
| First, put a very thin layer of frosting all over the cake. | | | | candy, nuts, shredded coconut, or chocolate shavings. |
| This is called the crumb coat, and it will keep crumbs | | | | Or use fresh fruit, like a simple ring of strawberry slices |
| from getting mixed in with the frosting that you'll see on | | | | or an elaborate pattern of a few kinds of fruits. For a |
| the finished cake. At this point, you can refrigerate the | | | | different style, decorate only the sides of the cake and |
| cake to set the crumb coat and make it easier to | | | | leave the top smooth, or surround a simply frosted |
| apply the top coat. | | | | cake with fresh fruit or flowers. |
| Next, use an icing spatula to put on the second coat of | | | | Another option is to use a decorating comb or |
| icing. Start with a large amount of icing in the middle of | | | | decorating triangle to add texture to the frosting. A |
| the top of the cake and spread it toward the edges. | | | | decorating comb is a simple piece of plastic or metal |
| When the top of the cake is completely covered, | | | | with a variety of shaped edges. You drag the comb |
| cover the sides of the cake. To smooth the sides, hold | | | | along the frosting to leave a textured pattern in the |
| the spatula straight up and down and hold the edge | | | | frosting. This is a great option if you're having trouble |
| against the cake as you spin the plate. | | | | getting your icing as smooth as you want it to be. |
| For the best look, try to get the frosting as smooth as | | | | Anyone Can Master These Easy Cake Decorating |
| possible all over cake. For the top of the cake, hold the | | | | Ideas |
| spatula perfectly horizontal. For the sides, hold it | | | | These easy cake decorating ideas will help you make |
| perfectly upright. Try dipping the spatula in hot water | | | | all your cakes more beautiful and are simple enough |
| and drying it before gliding across the frosting for even | | | | for anyone to learn. Master these techniques, and then |
| smoother results. | | | | consider taking cake decorating classes locally or |
| Getting smooth, even icing on your cakes is probably | | | | online to learn more advanced cake decorating ideas |
| the hardest part of cake decorating. Practice these | | | | and techniques like piping with a pastry bag and using |
| techniques until you can get perfectly smooth frosting, | | | | fondant. Even if you stop with these easy cake |
| and you might find that you don't even need any other | | | | decorating ideas, you'll still be making beautiful cakes |
| cake decorating ideas for an elegant, beautiful cake. | | | | for every occasion. |