Decorating your cake with a variety of icing tips will allow you to make all kinds of different decorations, designs, and effects on your cake. Whether you’re just starting out or have been decorating cakes for years, there are a lot of options available, and choosing the right ones can be confusing. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the 7 must-have cake decorating tips that everyone should have in their arsenal!
1. Start off Right
The secret to a beautiful design is getting your icing as smooth and even as possible. Start off right by having everything you need ready before you start working with icing. Using a piping bag, load a large star tip with frosting; make sure your spatula is nearby so you can spread it out onto your cake.
2. Decorating Tools
To create spectacular cakes that look great and taste amazing, you’ll need a range of specialized tools. Cake decorators typically have many different types of cutting and scoring knives, wire whisks, spatulas and more. Learn about each tool so you can decide which ones will work best for your style of decoration.
There are several things to consider when choosing what icing spreaders will be right for you: their size, whether they have fine teeth or wide holes and how sturdy they are. Finally don’t forget your all-important dusting bag! A good one should be able to comfortably hold your chosen color dust and release it just where you want it; think about how much a dusty piece can improve an otherwise plain cake decorating!
3. Level and Crumble
You need to get a perfect crumble, so practice with large and small amounts of butter or margarine. Using your palms and fingers, start rubbing together crumbs of flour, sugar, butter or margarine till a nice even consistency is achieved.
At first it will feel like you’re forcing it through your skin but eventually you’ll be able to see what it looks like when its done correctly. Take note of how much you do at once since having excess on hand can make it harder for us beginners to remove from our hands. Practice in small amounts before doing larger batches that require more cleaning later on.
4. Frosting
It may be simple, but frosting is often a big factor in creating an appealing piece of cake. You can tint it any color you want, or make it as creamy or chunky as you please. Buttercream frosting can be made with just butter and powdered sugar.
While cream cheese frosting often includes additional ingredients such as eggs and sour cream. Whipped cream frosting is another popular choice for cakes, especially if you’re working with fondant because it’s so easily spreadable. Once your frosting is ready, it’s time to apply!
5. Piping Techniques
Piping is an essential part of decorating a cake. Whether you’re frosting, filling, or outlining, piping will help your creation come together. If you’re just starting out, though, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Luckily, there are many easy techniques that you can use on your cakes and cookies!
6. Easy Decorations
Decorating a cake doesn’t have to be difficult. The hard part comes in knowing what you can do and how. When you take your time, though, simple decorations make all the difference in appearance. Decorations such as these are easy and can help to turn your dessert into something truly special.
All it takes is a little research (and a whole lot of patience). While it’s certainly possible to create these designs by hand, using tools like pastry bags and piping tips makes it much easier. If you decide to use store-bought icing or frosting, applying them with your hands will save time in preparation and clean up!
7. Marshmallow Fondant
If you are a novice baker or someone who does not have time for intricate designs, try using fondant. This type of icing is easy to work with and will allow you to create nice-looking cakes without much hassle. You can purchase ready-made fondant from your local craft store or online, but it’s also relatively easy (and fun!) to make your own.
Recipe: 1 pound marshmallows 2 cups sugar 4 tbsp. water 1 tsp vanilla extract Combine sugar and water in saucepan over medium heat; stir until sugar dissolves completely and becomes thick, about 8 minutes. Add marshmallows and continue stirring for about 2 minutes until completely melted.
Conclusion
Using a piping bag or two-piece injector set is not only a fun way to add excitement and flair, but it’s also a great way for you to take pride in your craft. Cake decorating doesn’t have to be reserved for special occasions and can add both taste and design elements that can transform your cakes from ordinary and plain into spectacular. If you feel ready, get out there and try a few different types of tips! Once you find something that works well for you, share your creation with us on Instagram.