Cake Decorating Supplies

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If you are new to baking there a few things that you may find helpful when decorating your first cakes that will give you something you will be proud to offer others. Whether you’re making it for a party or just for fun, here are some tips you should keep in mind.

The first is to use ingredients that are room temperature when making your cake as well as when decorating it. Some things need to be kept in the fridge, but remember to take them out at least half an hour before you need to use them. You will find things much easier to work with if they are at the same temperature.

On a similar note, make sure your cake has cooled completely so it to is at room temperature. If you don’t let it cool completely, it will start to melt any icing you try to put on it. You may even see it start to slide off!

There are a couple of exceptions to this rule. When putting multiple layers of frosting on (e.g. as one often does with a ganache), you will find that refrigerating it for half an hour between frostings will give you a smoother covering.

Taking it one step in the opposite direction, you will get a really glossy, professional finish to your frosting if you melt the finished article a little with a hairdryer. Don’t put the dryer on full heat and right up to the cake though, as of course you will melt it too much! You will also find it helpful to heat the knife before cutting your cake as it won’t ‘drag’ the icing when cutting.
If you are nervous of using a frosting or royal icing, try fondant icing first as you can buy this ready-made and even rolled. This can be simply lifted over the cake and smoothed down the edges. Brush a little warm apricot jam on the cake first as this will help it stick. Roll out any remaining fondant you have left and cut some shapes with cutters to put on the top. Just dab a little water on the bottom to fix them. If you are artistic, you can mold figures to sit on top as well. Poking a cocktail stick in the figure and then into the cake will hold it steady but don’t make your figures out of proportion to the cake.

With these tips, you’ll be able to make the perfect cake. People won’t believe that you made it yourself if they have never seen your creations before.