| Successful cake decorating is all | | | | frosting.Best Base Frosting Recipe -The thin |
| | | | texture of the base frosting allows easier |
| about preparation. Baking and preparing your | | | | coverage without pulling bits of cake and |
| cake for decorating is a critical part of the | | | | crumbs away from the cake. This is essential |
| total process. In this article, I'll share | | | | particularly if you are frosting white over |
| some expert tips for basic cake preparation | | | | chocolate cake. When base coat is done, frost |
| to get your cake creation off to a fabulous | | | | over with your desired finish frosting.3 cups |
| start! These | | | | powdered sugar, sifted1/2 cup butter or |
| | | | margarine, softened1/4 cup milk1/2 tsp. |
| easy tips will ensure your cake decorating | | | | vanillaCombine powdered sugar, butter, milk |
| success.Preparing a Cake Board -Many | | | | and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat with |
| specially themed cakes are too large to fit | | | | electric mixer until smooth. Add milk 1 tsp. |
| on a plate, so a cake board may be used. Cut | | | | at a time to desired consistency. Frosting |
| a piece of stiff cardboard to the desired | | | | should be fairly thin. This is a great base |
| size. Cover with foil, or heavy coated | | | | frosting. Use if as a first coating layer to |
| wrapping paper.I often use colored tissue | | | | seal in any crumbs and give a nice |
| paper, covered with colored cellophane of the | | | | |
| type used to wrap gift baskets. This gives | | | | smooth surface to the cake.Cutting and |
| the desired background color, with a surface | | | | Trimming -You can create many different cake |
| which is easy to wipe clean. It also makes a | | | | designs by cutting your cake |
| great background to enhance the | | | | |
| | | | layers into various shapes. Measure and mark |
| presentation and photographing of your final | | | | your cutting line with toothpicks or wooden |
| cake masterpiece.Preparing Cake Pans - Use | | | | or metal skewers. Use a sharp knife and brush |
| metal pans with a nonstick finish. Grease | | | | cake lightly with a soft pastry brush to |
| and flour pans before adding cake batter. | | | | remove crumbs prior to frosting.Trim the |
| Spread a thin layer of vegetable shortening | | | | rounded tops off cake layers to form a flat |
| on the bottom and sides of the pan. This | | | | surface. Use a long serrated knife to trim |
| works better than butter or margarine as the | | | | with a gentle sawing motion. You may also |
| cake releases more easily from the pan. | | | | wish to trim the edges of rectangular cakes |
| Sprinkle a little flour in each pan, and tilt | | | | to give a more professional look.Frosting |
| to coat evenly. Shake out excess.Testing for | | | | Tools -Use various sizes of flexible metal |
| Doneness -Follow baking instructions for time | | | | spatulas for frosting. Large ones are used to |
| and temperature specified in the recipe. | | | | smooth wide flat areas while a narrow tipped |
| Cakes are done when a toothpick inserted into | | | | spatula is great for getting into small |
| the center comes out clean. The cake should | | | | areas.Toothpicks or wooden or metal skewers |
| have pulled away from the sides of the pan | | | | can be used to mark cutting lines on your |
| and the top will spring back when touched | | | | cake.A pastry bag with several tips is |
| lightly in the center.Removing Cake from Pan | | | | necessary to pipe on decorations. I have a |
| -Let cake cool for about 10 minutes before | | | | reusable pastry bag that is easy to rinse |
| removing from the pan. Invert wire cooling | | | | clean. In a pinch, you can even use a plastic |
| rack over cake and flip over. Shake gently | | | | sandwich bag with a tiny hole snipped from |
| until cake releases from pan. Place a second | | | | one corner.Now that you have all these |
| wire rack over the bottom of the cake and | | | | important basics |
| flip over again so cake can cool right side | | | | |
| up.Preparing Cake for Frosting -Slip each | | | | in place, you and your cake are primed and |
| cake layer into a gallon-size freezer bag and | | | | ready for frostingNext step: Check out our |
| place in the freezer for 30-45 minutes. An | | | | Kid Birthday Cake Idea Collection - Cake |
| even easier method is to place each layer on | | | | Decorating Without Fear!Copyright 2005 Kids |
| its own plate and cover with plastic wrap | | | | Party Paradise All Rights ReservedPatricia |
| before freezing. I poke a toothpick or two | | | | B. Jensen is a mother of three and kids party |
| into the top of each layer to keep the | | | | enthusiast. She is the webmaster and owner |
| plastic wrap from sticking to the cake's | | | | of - a complete resource for kids party ideas |
| surface.Light freezing firms up the cake just | | | | including invitations, cakes, decorations, |
| right and allows you to easily brush any | | | | games, costumes, favors, and food.For all the |
| crumbs from the surface prior to | | | | latest party news, read her Kids Party Blog. |