Making decisions and preparations for a child’s birthday celebration is a fun thing, isn’t it? One decision that is the most important of all is the cake! You’ve consciously decided to create a one-of-a-kind work of art this year by making your child’s birthday cake from scratch for the first time. No doubt, homemade cakes can be beautiful and delectable when prepared with the proper knowledge and decoration items such as beautiful cake online. To help you with this, we have listed some beginner-friendly cake decorating tips that will allow you to decorate your cake all by yourself and in the best manner possible. So, without wasting any more time, let’s dive into it!
Start Perfectly
Let’s first talk about a common mistake that many beginning bakers make before we begin your cake decorating journey: working with a warm cake that has just come out of the oven. Why is this a big mistake? Well, frosting tends to go rogue and melt into a sticky mess when applied to a still-hot cake. It will certainly not have the kind of appearance you are aiming for.
Give that cake a break in the freezer—it’s a clever trick. Put your baked creation in the freezer when it has cooled so you may practice your decorating skills later. How does this work? Well, it keeps frosting in check and prevents it from creating any issues that we mentioned before.
Moreover, if you are very concerned about baking the cake in advance, the good news is that cakes can stay in the freezer for up to a week without losing their freshness. In this manner, you may bake it whenever you have some free time during the week and still have a delicious canvas to decorate on the big day. Without the sticky messes, it’s like having your cake and decorating it!
Tools For Decoration
No doubt, the right kind of tools are crucial for success when it comes to cake decorating. Let’s discuss the critical components of your cake design.
First of all, your cake’s best buddy is the turntable. Think of it as a cake pedestal that rotates. Spreading frosting is a straightforward thing to do when your cake is placed on this rotating platform, assuring even coverage without the difficulty of awkward angles.
Consider homemade frosting bags next. These are simple to make. Regular storage bags in quarter- or gallon-size, depending on how much frosting you need, and a reliable pair of scissors are required. Better control over your decorating process is provided by making your frosting bags.
Last but not least is the piping tools. These come in quite handy when making challenging cake designs. Similar to the artist brushes in your toolkit, piping tips are available in various designs. These tips can be found in cake decorating packages at craft stores or your neighborhood grocery store. They fit perfectly into your frosting bag, letting you create lovely patterns, flowers, and other things.
Overall, the turntable, homemade frosting bags, and piping tips are your three most crucial cake-decorating tools. You’ll have everything you need to turn your cake into a delicious work of art if you have these tools.
Attempt Level & Crumble Coat Method
It can be challenging to achieve a perfectly smooth surface on your homemade birthday cake, especially if you try to match the quality of bakery creations. But don’t worry; there’s a helpful trick called the “level and crumble coat” method that can be extremely helpful for you.
Here is an explanation of how it works: Think of the crumble coat as a special “cake glue” that does two essential things. The first thing it does is that it seals the cake’s moisture, ensuring that it stays deliciously fresh. Second, it gives your icing creativity a uniform canvas.
Start by covering your cake with a thin layer of icing. This layer needs to be thin enough to allow a glimpse of the cake underneath. Then spread it as evenly as you can and allow it to dry. You’re ready to continue frosting your cake once it has dried.
The charm of the crumble layer lies in its ability to keep annoying crumbs out of your final icing and decorations. Additionally, it makes it easier to apply icing smoothly, giving your cake a polished appearance. Additionally, this method is beneficial if you plan to freeze your cake before decorating. Apply the “level and crumble coat” method and make your cake look flawless and beautiful.
Frosting
Making your frosting may seem complicated, but it’s easier than you imagine. Let’s divide it into manageable steps. You can look through your cookbooks or search online for recipes that suit your visual and taste preferences. Buttercream frosting is an excellent option for beginners because it’s popular and surprisingly simple.
Here’s a pro tip: while applying frosting, start at the top of your cake and work your way down to the sides. It’s like a frosting journey from the top of the cake to the bottom. This process guarantees a uniform and polished appearance. Use the reliable palette knife to get that flawless finish
Well, there is no need to let the thought of making your frosting frighten you. With some research about the recipe and the help of these practical tips, you can make a cake that looks impressive and tastes great. Your go-to tools for successful frosting are a palette knife and buttercream frosting.
Techniques For Piping
Always remember the important principle that practice makes perfect. This is especially true when we are talking about piping cakes. If you’re learning this technique, practice on a piece of wax paper first before piping on the actual cake. Why? Well, it is a rehearsal for you to estimate how much icing will be released and at what rate. This safety measure helps you to avoid mistakenly using too much icing on your cake. It also provides an excellent opportunity to experiment with various designs, which will help in planning the look of your cake.
As previously mentioned, the internet is a fantastic and unique resource you can utilize in the best manner possible. You’ll discover a lot of informative cake-decorating videos online. These videos serve as your virtual mentors, demonstrating various piping techniques.
Keep Things Simple While Decorating
Keep in mind that the icing itself is the star of the show when it comes to decorating your birthday cake. Therefore, when adding additional decorations, keep things simple. With merely piping tips, you can create spectacular effects, giving your cake lovely edges and patterns. You can also use beautiful cake flowers. They are excellent and straightforward to apply as well.
Consider using sprinkles, giant number candles, children’s birthday cake toppers, or festive party candles to add extra flair without working too hard. These additions, along with the beautiful cake flowers, can make your cake look better without putting in a lot of work.
Final Thoughts
These are just a few of the fantastic tips you can use to decorate your homemade cake. Use exceptional items such as beautiful cake flowers to make your cake look more wonderful and lovely. By applying these tips that we have mentioned and becoming more creative as well as innovative, you can surely perfectly decorate your cake.
