How to Decorate a Cake: 9 Steps (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

The purpose of decorating a cake is to turn an ordinary dessert into a spectacular culinary work of art. Decorating a cake can be as simple or complex as you like. Even simple decoration can be very effective, so don't be afraid that you don't have the skills you need to be able to decorate - decoration depends a lot on your creativity and experience.

Steps

Step 1. Visit a shop that offers cake decorating supplies

It pays to spend some time in such a store to get inspired and evaluate the options available to you. If you see an item you'd like to use, ask a salesperson to give you some advice on whether to use it for your decorations.

Step 2. Choose the right type of cake to decorate

Decorating a cake requires extra effort; therefore, it is important that the reason we decorate is valid. For example, it is not worth decorating a cake that needs to be eaten straight out of the oven, such as a cake with syrup or sauce. In fact, these cakes are already perfect as they are. Other cakes are suitable to be served with or without decoration, such as fruit cakes. This is the occasion that will help you decide whether to decorate. Here are some cakes suitable for decoration:

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  The Cupcakes

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  Christmas cakes

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  Wedding cakes

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  Cakes for a children's party

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  Cakes for special birthdays

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  Doll cakes

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  Farewell cakes

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  Personalized cakes, based on an unusual theme, such as computers, electronics, science fiction, etc.

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  Gift cakes

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  Charity event cakes.

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  Cakes for a photo shoot - cakes that will be photographed for a special occasion, a blog, a Flickr account, an industry article, etc.

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  Cakes entered in competitions.

Step 3. Decide the type of icing to use if you want to frost the cake

It is important to master the glazing techniques required to decorate a cake; some are more complex than others and if you are a beginner, don't embark on difficult decorating projects until you have more experience. Types of icing include:

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  Buttercream or Viennese cream - is an easy to use glaze that will fill in holes and cover all surface imperfections! It will give the appearance of whipped cream and can be spread or arranged in small heaps. Buttercream frosting is easy to color and flavor. Typical flavors include chocolate, vanilla, lemon, coffee, and strawberry.

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  Foamy Glaze - this glaze is made with a mixer. It must be applied on the day the cake will be consumed; has the consistency of marshmallows. When stored, this glaze becomes crunchy and loses its characteristics.

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  Sugar paste - sugar paste is a fondant to be spread. The simplest solution is to buy it from a cake decorating store.

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  Royal icing - is similar to sugar paste and is often available in stores.

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  Pastillage - you can buy this powdered glaze from a shop and it is very useful for complicated decorations that need to keep their shape for a long time. It's a sugar paste gum and you can make it too. This glaze dries very quickly, and once it dries it will "crack" if you try to fold it. It resists humidity very well. Its downside is that you will have to work it very quickly, before it dries. If you want to use pastillage to shape shapes, you will need to mix it with the sugar paste.

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  Petal paste - this glaze is ideal for making flowers, as you will be able to create the finest details. It is a good idea to lightly wet your fingers when using this paste.

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  The sugar glue helps hold the molded parts in place. Sugar glue - not a frosting, but a "glue" that will allow you to attach the pieces you have molded with the frosting.

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  Modeling paste will allow you to create any shape Modeling paste - a combination of sugar paste mixed with tragacanth that acts as a modeling paste and is edible.

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  Icing sheets with pre-printed designs - are popular solutions for children's cakes and depict characters from movies, cartoons and TV series. Follow the instructions below to apply them to the surface of the cake.

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  Powdered sugar - a very simple, but very effective solution for some types of cakes, especially those with an already rich enough composition that does not require the addition of icing (such as flourless cakes and desserts).

Step 4. Think beyond the icing

There are many other methods of decorating a cake besides icing. You can use these methods in conjunction with the icing, or add them directly to the cake:

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  Fruit - pieces of fresh fruit, dried fruit, fruit arranged in the form of flowers or animals, caramelized fruit (with jam, etc.), fruit with toffee, etc.

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  Flowers - edible flowers can give a very elegant look to a cake.

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  Cream - A thick cream can be used to draw quenelles, as a filling or as a top layer.

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  Candies - all types of candies can be used for decorations.

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  Chocolate chips - poured randomly or according to a drawing.

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  Cocoa powder or other types of chocolate - curls, flakes, chocolate chips.

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  Hazelnuts - especially grains and flakes.

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  Streusel topping - used in preparation, no decoration other than a quenelle of cream next to each serving.

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  Stripes, flakes or shapes of toffee - you'll have to practice making them before you get carried away, but they can be very effective decorative elements.

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  Coconut (powder or dry) - coconut can be colored with food coloring (use wet hands or gloves to spread the color); it can also be toasted.

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  Jam or jams.

Step 5. Learn some essential techniques for decorating a cake

There are many useful techniques that can help you with decorations:

• Painting sugar - use a food coloring and a small fine brush to color the sugar paste, petal paste, pastillage and royal icing. The brush should be just wet, to prevent the color from spreading in the icing or on the sugar pattern.
• Drip technique - use a medium-sized brush with a stiff tip to drop drops of color onto a smooth icing surface.

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  Use the syringe or pastry bag on the icing - The syringe and pastry bag are great tools for decorating the surface of a cake. You can draw flowers, hearts, lettering, frames, friezes, etc. You can buy these tools from a shop or make a homemade pastry bag out of paper or plastic.

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  Shaping Cakes - To create spectacular cake shapes, you will need to be able to modify square, rectangular and circular cakes by "sculpting" them and reconstructing them into the desired shape. Use a sharp knife to cut the cake into the appropriate shape. If you cut more than necessary, you can "glue" the pieces using butter cream.

• Always decorate the edge of the cake if it does not deteriorate the appearance. Take a pastry bag and create some drapes around the cake. In general, leaving the edges and sides without frosting will make the cake look "unfinished".

Step 6. Use colors creatively

When choosing the color theme for your cake decoration, consider the following considerations to choose the right one:

• Is the cake intended for someone who prefers a color?
• Is the cake inspired by a character who is represented by specific colors? Many baby cakes will fall into this category, and you can use pictures to guide your choice of colors.
• Use different colored sprinkles, icings or chocolates for a more colorful cake.

Step 7. Learn how to turn a food into a decorative object

An article would not be enough to illustrate the art of making decorations with candies, dried fruits, vegetables, etc., but it is important to be creative when designing the details of a cake. For example, you can make a mouse with a date, two small candy for the ears and a strip of licorice for the tail. When you put it on a cake it will look just like a mouse. Or use candy as a ship's porthole, marshmallow strips as flower petals, button candy for keyboard or phone keys, shape the frosting into a white ball to make a golf ball, etc. You can use the candies for many other details, such as eyes, whiskers, ears, noses, tails, etc.

Search the net for new ideas and inspiration

Step 8. Use ready-made decorations

While it is not necessary to complicate a cake with inedible components, in some cases adding plastic or paper decorations can add a special touch that cannot be duplicated with the previous methods. Some examples:

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  Wedding cake decorations, such as bride and groom, bells, doves or an arch.

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  Animals for a farm, theme park or zoo. Making all the animals with one paste can take too long, and using plastic elements will often be the easiest way. Make sure you wash them well first.

Step 9. Use dishes that enhance the cake

Making sure the plate is suitable for the decoration will give the cake the finishing touch.

• If you use a plate with a design, be careful that it does not contrast with the decoration. In some cases, if the cake has a simple decoration, a plate with a pattern can be the perfect frame.
• Classic white plates are elegant and will suit any cake.
• Plates of strong colors can be a good solution if they don't contrast with the cake.
• The glass plates are very beautiful accompanied with a decorated cake.
• The cake holders are perfect for many decorated cakes; they will hold it higher for easier viewing and make it the center point of the table.
• If you don't want to use a plate or cake stand, consider using a cake board. The boards make it easy to transport the cake, from the kitchen to the dining room, or wherever you need to take it! You can make your own out of cardboard or a thin wood panel covered with foil, or you can buy a pre-made one.

Advice

• There are dyes for food in powder, paste and liquid form. Powders and pastes have more intense colors than liquids. Dissolve the powders in hot water before use, while you can add pastes and liquids directly to the glaze. When adding a color, always use moderation. You can always correct later.

• To make the secondary colors, mix the colors like this:

  • Orange = Yellow + Red
  • Purple = Blue + Red
  • Light blue = Green + Blue
  • Light green = Yellow + Green
• Attending cooking and pastry classes can improve your cake decorating proficiency.
• If you are passionate about decorating cakes, you can find many books on the subject on the net and in bookstores.
• If you're not sure what the cake looks like, ask for a second opinion before presenting it.
• The gift wrapping of a cake can be considered another decorative element, and can be very elaborate or recall the design of your decoration. Whichever package you choose, make sure it is suitable for the food and the size of the cake and does not contain toxic elements.

Warnings

• Food dyes stain. Make sure you wear an apron or other cover to protect your clothes. Wear latex gloves when using them; although you will eventually be able to wash them off, it may take a few days.
• If you don't want to use a glaze base that contains egg whites, you can use pasteurized egg whites, or replace them with equivalent ingredients.
• Do not use hard candy or small cake toys intended for children under three. They might choke, even if you intend to remove the dangerous parts - it's easy to get distracted at a party.