Baking a cake is just half the battle. Once the cake has cooled off, it’s time to get started with some special icing techniques. It’s easy to smear on a layer of buttercream, but why not add a bit of color, some rosettes, or a nice pattern along the cake? Here are some easing icing techniques to try out the next time you need to ice a cake.
A Shell Border
This is one of the easiest icing techniques out there. For this one, you’ll need a piping bag full of icing, with a star tip inserted in the top. From there, you will want to carefully move the tip around the bottom of the cake in a fluid motion. You may want to practice this technique on a plate before attempting it on your cake.
A Swirl
If you’re making cupcakes then the easiest icing method is the swirl. You may want to dye the icing if you have made themed cupcakes, and then place the icing in a piping bag with a star or rounded tip. Start on the outside of the cupcake, and carefully move the tip around the edge in a circle, gradually working your way into the middle. There should be some overlap on each circle, which creates that iconic swirl look.
A Spiral Border
Another easy icing technique is the spiral border. Select a 1M tip and simply spin the cake in a circle, until you have a continuous border along the bottom of the cake. You can also do this on the top of the cake as well.
