How to Assemble and Decorate a Cake, Made Easy!

En Español

A cake always brings joy and in many celebrations it is one of the focal points of a birthday, christening, baby shower, graduation, or wedding etc. Having the opportunity to make one for a relative or a friend makes it even more special. To make the cake as professional as possible there are several steps to follow before decorating and adding it’s final touches. In previous posts you've been given a few techniques, today I’ll present a complete summary of helpful steps. Depending on the frosting and finish you want, the list may vary; I have only included what is essential and what has been more useful to me.

1. Start with a positive mind and remember that decorating a cake should be your hobby and something you are passionate about. It will not be like an industrial cake, decorated by a machine where it is perfectly smooth, straight and exact every time. The simple fact that it is done by a human makes it different and every little thing you think is a flaw, is what makes it special: HOME MADE!

Tip: imperfections give us the opportunity to invent decorations that we have never imagined we could do!



2. Bake the cake with the recipe of your choice and with the one you feel most comfortable doing.

Note: In this blog you will find the recipes of the Dominican Cake, Vanilla Sponge Cake and Chocolate Sponge Cake, among others. 

3. When cooled, if it’s necessary, level the cake using the leveling and torting method. Making sure cake is leveled and even on all sides.

Note: To learn how to on Cake Leveling and Torting.

If you need to make a big cake and do not have a large pan, or that size of cake is to big for your oven you could bake the cake in the biggest pan you have, (if you normally bake in two pans, you’ll probably need two bake 3 or 4 cakes pieces to assemble the cake), after baked and cooled, set them together side by side and glue them with the filling and then the frosting as you decorate. The following photos show how I glue cakes together  to make on big cake or a particular design.

First I cut off the edges where cakes will be united. On this occasion I used frosting.

I then proceed to gather both cake by pressing them together, and finished it with a rim of frosting to prevent filling from overflowing out of the edges.

The cake is now ready to frost and decorate with the frosting of your choice. I do recommend you to leave it to set a few hours  or overnight before frosting since this will help cake set, and it won't slide while you apply the frosting.

Finished product:

4. Plan how you will present the cake, if one, two or three tiers, or if they will be in separate plates. You can now prepare the boards, dishes and trays that you’ll use. I usually know in advance what I need to do, so I prepare this several days or the day before making cake. By doing this, you make the cake decorating day much easier. If you are going to use a cake plate it is recommended to use a cardboard plate underneath the cake , this prevents the  plate from being scratch when cake is served and looks more hygienic and presentable. Glue the cake to the cardboard, and the cardboard to plate with a spoon of frosting.

Note: To learn how to prepare Cardboards dividers for Cakes at home.

 

 

5. Fill the cake with the filling of your choice. It is important you pipe a dam of frosting on the outer edges of the cake to contain the filling and prevent it from coming out, this also makes it easier when frosting the cake, and keeps it looking cleaner.

Note: In this blog you will find recipes for: Pineapple Jam, Strawberry Jam, Tangerine Marmalade, Dulce de Leche and Buttercream in several flavors.

 

6. Crumb coat cake to seal the crumbs. A crumb coat is used as the basis for a smooth finish for your frosting. Having a smooth surface without any small crumbs makes your cake a much nicer and

easier place to work on. It helps to avoid having crumbs everywhere on the cake and damaging the clean and white appearance of the frosting. Note: Read post on Crumb Coating Technique with video. 

 

 

Time to decorate- You can decorate a cake with a variety of frostings: whipped cream, buttercream, meringue, fondant, or sugar glaze.

7. After you crumb coat, frost with a thin layer with the frosting of your choice, let set to crust and the cake is then ready to put fondant if that’s what you prefer to use. 
Note: I have read that, Dominican meringue frosting could be used under the fondant. Here is how to: cover the cake with (DMF) the night before or at least let it set for at least two hours (this is so that it forms a crust and the DMF should not be wet) before covering with fondant.



8. If fondant is not what is going to be used, frost the cake with the frosting or icing of your choice. For beginners it is easier to start practicing with buttercream. Note: In this blog you will find recipes for: Dominican meringue frosting (DMF) and step by step video of how to cover a cake with it and several buttercreams recipes. Click Here for (DMF) with video on how to frost a cake or Buttercream.

 

9. If it will be a multi-tiered cake, then dowels would be needed. You can use homemade PVC or wooden dowels, or buy ready made ones from Wilton. If the top cake is small and with not much weight you can use straws or kabobs sticks for support. The cake I show you today, was to stay at home (lucky me) and the top level cake was small, so I only used 3 dowels but normally four should be used. To mark where dowels need to go use the cake plate of the size of cake you are going to put on top or the baking pan you used to bake it in and place the dowels in even spaces inside the marked circle.

Below you will see how to build a tiered a cake, this time I used a angled spatula. The trick is to mark the center with the pans used to bake the cake (top one) as a guide, and carefully place it there. If you working with a bigger cake, then I advise you use a large spatula or a cake lifter as the one shown in the following photos labeled A and B, if you do not own one, than one or two cake boards could be used.

 

10. After mounting the cakes one on top of another you can decorated the edges with the border of your choice or put flowers and ribbons. Sometimes I decorated the edges with cookie crumbs, cookies or chocolate candy. You’re free to be creative.

Tip: It's is OK to be inspired by cakes photos or another cake artist, but always try to give your cakes your personal touch. Make yourself known for your individual cake style. This will decrease the stress you could encounter if you try to compare your cakes with so and so.

The decoration I used today is simple and easy to make at home. The birthday girl loves Dora, so I decided to put this cardboard/sticker decoration. I am often asked to use this type of decorations, so  I  always have stickers at hand. To do this: cut out the picture and stick it to a white cardboard. When cutting the cardboard leave a 3 inch extension at the end to insert into the cake. Ribbons, flowers, candy or small balloons could also be added. To do borders on the cake shown today I used tip # 22 of Wilton. The # 22 tip is one of my favorites and it’s very versatile.

11. Time to deliver the cake, take a deep breath and think about the next cake you’ll decorate and what you'll do differently or better, because with every cake we always learn something new.

I hope this entry will be beneficial to you Mr. or Mrs. Baker: ) When I  began baking it was very difficult because I didn't find the right guidance at my finger tips, and only after researching, practicing and asking several decorators,  I learned the proper techniques. Recalling those times when I started and my experience in browsing the Internet for step by step recipes, techniques and tips, I would be happy if my blog is of motivation and help for you to make that special cake.

Was this post helpful? What would you like to see next in Mari’s Cakes regarding cake decorating?

 

If you would like additional information please request it in the comments. 

If cake baking and decorating, is what you like. Keep your faith and perseverance and do not let anyone or anything discourage you.

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value....She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.   Proverbs 31:10-13

Cupcake Rose (English)

A couple of weeks ago I presented an entry on how to make a "Cupcake Bouquet". I personally love cupcake bouquets because it is like having two gifts in one. First by how similar is to having an arrangement of flowers, and second because the cupcakes are so delicious. 

Para leer esta entrada en Español clic aquí. 

Today I will share this short video to show you how simple it is to make this type of rose. You can do a bouquet with various styles of flowers, but I personally like this rose because it looks pretty and it’s easy to do. Contrary to how we normally decorate cupcakes, for this technique one begins to decorate with frosting from the center outwards and this gives the impression that it is a Rose. 

Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD who finds great delight in his commands. Psalm 112:1

A special hug and thanks to my friend Carolina from “La Cusine de Carolina” who has sent me this beautiful postcard of Bretagne, France.  

Thank you for visiting. I wish you a blessed and beautiful day,

How to make a Basket Weave Decoration on a Cake

Thank you for taking a few moments to leave your comments and for all your compliments regarding the Basket Weave Cake. They are of great motivation for me to continue to share with you what I like and do as hobby....and that is to share my recipes in this Blog. Your visits and comments are always welcome. 


Today I would like to share in a more detailed manner the Basket Weave Technique. I hope to encourage you to do this at home. It was one of the first techniques that I learned and one that I personally love. I hope that this entry would be very helpful, and any suggestion or idea that you can contribute is more then welcome : D 

Para leer esta entrada de como hacer la technica de Cesta o Canasta en un Bizcocho en Español clic aquí. 

The size or shape of tips may be changed to suit the style you are trying to achieve. Keep in mind that the smaller the tip, the more work and time it will take to decorate the cake.  The following is only a guide. 

Basket Weave Decorating Tips of Ateco:  (These are double use tips, meaning that you can use either side of these tips to achieve different styles)

# 48 # 46

Note: There are bigger Basket Weave decorating tips like the # 898, # 789 and #790, but the tips I listed above and use for this post are the ones that are used most frequent. 

Start with a cake that has been crumb coated and frosted on top. You would then have to measure and mark the spaces on the cake where you want the row of basket weaves to go. This will ensure that the spacing is right and at even distance. 


You can make the markings with wooden skewer or a decorating spatula. There are no set rules for dividing your cake, do it as you please. For a tighter basket weave make your markings closer together and for a looser weave mark them farther apart. 


For a square or rectangle cake you could us a ruler to make the markings, or eyeball it. For the round cake it is easier to divide in half, then in quarter and so forth. I am sure you can come up with a right way for you. I have learned that "a good decorator makes things aesthetically pleasing and not necessarily perfect".

Option I Basket Weave Technique in a Cake: 

Tips: # 48 and # 46

Above: Tip # 46

Below: I mark spaces with tip # 48 to know where the next line will go.

It is pretty much the same thing over and over again, but alternating the spaces.

Option II Basket Weave Technique in a Cake:

Tips: # 48  and Round Tip # 6

• You could use tip # 22 to do a Rope o Shell border.
 

• To see the Wicker Basket Weave Tecnique clic here. 
















I recommend: http://cooksdream.com/store/tipslbask.html

  

I would love to hear about your experiences in using this technique and feel free to share photos of your Basket Weave Cake in our group in Facebook. YES yours and mine.

I invite you to visit my other blog, Living in God's Grace.
 

Cupcake Bouquet and Vanilla Buttercream

For a while I have wanted to share a beautiful recipe and this one is ideal for flowers lovers. Since May is the month dedicated to all mothers, I thought that it was best to share it at this time. I had a little incident with the tip and that why the roses are not as defined as I would have like them to be, but the idea and love is the same. This Cupcake Bouquet can be done with your favorite cupcake recipe and buttercream. I used light beige colored buttercream because that’s my beloved mother's favorite color in roses. I dedicate this entry to her, for being a very special role model in my life.

 Para ver esta receta y paso a paso de Bouquet de Cupcakes en Español clic aquí.

Mom,

For all that you have shown me and for always being there for me,

I love you with all my heart.
May God Bless you in many ways.

Recipe for Vanilla Buttercream

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) of butter (227 gr)

1 cup of vegetable shortening (I use Crisco) (205 gr)

¼ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon of vanilla (15 ml)

5 tablespoons ( 75 ml) of milk or cream 

8 cups of confectioners sugar (2lbs.)

Preparation:

1. Cream butter and vegetable shortening at Med-High speed until light and fluffy.

2. Add vanilla and 5 tablespoons os milk or cream.

3. Add sugar alternately on low speed until incorporated then move to high speed. Beat to a spreading consistency.

4. Add more milk or cream if needed until to desired consistency.

Variations to this Buttercream Frosting:

For a pure White  frosting, omit the butter and substitute with vegetable shortening. Use a non-color flavoring extract.

To dilute the consistency, add 2 tablespoons of syrup (light corn syrup), milk or water, and beat. Continue the process until desired consistency.

To thicken add 2 tablespoons of sifted confectioners' sugar and mix. Continue the process until desired consistency.

To make a Fruit Buttercream Frosting: add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of desired fruit chopped into small pieces and mix.

I leave you with this step by step video on how to make a vanilla Buttercream. The recipe varies a bit but the idea is the same. It has been very helpful to me. I hope it is of great help to you.

 How to make a Cupcake Bouquet

 Materials needed:

• Sphere of foam or oasis 
• Pot for plant (I use one of 7 " wide) 
• 25-30 Cupcakes Amount of cupcakes depends on the size of the sphere.
• Bamboo sticks,  popsicle sticks broken in half or tooth picks
• Buttercream for decorating
• Tip #1m of Wilton or #827 of Ateco 
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks to stick the Styrofoam ball to the pot.
• Rock or something heavy to put inside the vase and prevent it from tipping over when it is full of decorated cupcakes. 
• Ribbons and Leaves are optional.

Need a cupcakes recipe? Click in the Cupcakes recipe of your choice: 

Vanilla Cupcakes, ~ Chocolate Cupcakes, ~ Red Velvet Cupcakes

Chocolate-Chocolate Chips Cupcakes, ~ Banana Cupcakes, ~ Pistachio Cupcakes

I used Kabobs bamboo sticks for the picture because that's what I had at the moment, but I recommend popsicle sticks because they provide more support.

The entire bouquet comes out quite heavy, I recommend you assemble at the place the where the bouquet is going to stay, because it is not easy to transport. When you are ready to eat the delicious cupcakes remember to remove them from different areas so that it won't tip over. The weight of the bottom should avoid this, but it is best to be extra careful.

Would like to see how a cupcake Rose is done?  

See How to do a:  Cupcake Rose

 

To all my followers who are Moms, I also dedicate this entry. May the Lord bless you in ways that would make you happy, healthy, wiser, loved and prosper.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. - Titus 2:3-5