Cake Decorating

Cake Decorating Basics

Buttercream icing is

the best icing for taste

and good decorating
results.

Adding Color to Icing

The trick to coloring

icing is to add the color

a little at a time and to
mix it in well before you
add more.
Use paste icing color for
most cake decorating.

Icing the Cake

Decorations on a cake

look their best when the

cake has a smoothly
iced surface.
Start with a level cake
surface.

Icing the Cake

Put layers together with

icing

Icing the Cake

Ice the top of the cake

first.
Cover the sides and

smooth out icing

Types of Bags
Decorating Bags hold the

icing and decorating tips so

you can create all kinds of
decorations.

Coupler -tool that lets

you change tips on the
decorating bag so you
can make borders,
flowers, and other trims
using different tips on the
same bag of icing.

Decorating Bags

Disposable
Decorating Bags-clear,
plastic and good for
fast decorating.

Parchment Bags-you
can make a decorating
bag from parchment
paper.

Filling a Decorating Bag

1. Remove ring from coupler
and push the coupler into
the narrow end of the bag.

3.

2. Mark the bag with a pencil

where the lower threads
appear.

5.

4.

6.

Remove coupler and trim

bag at pencil mark.
Push the coupler back into
the bag to expose the
bottom threads.
Position a decorating tip
over the coupler and screw
the ring in place.
To change tips, remove the
ring, replace the tip and
ring.

Filling a Decorating Bag

Filling a Decorating Bag

To fill a bag, cuff open end over your hand.
Use a spatula to fill the bag to full of icing.
8. Twist the end of the bag closed, forcing the icing
down into the bag and tip.
7.

Basics of Decorating
1. Consistency
Flowers require a stiff
consistency icing

Borders require a
medium consistency
icing

Writing and leaves

require thin consistency
icing

Basics of Decorating
2. Bag Position
90 angle-the

decorating bag is held

perpendicular to the
surface of the cake.

Basics of Decorating
45 angle-the

decorating bag is held

at a slight angle to the
surface you are
decorating.

Basics of Decorating
3. Pressure Control-

the amount of pressure

applied to the
decorating bag, as well
as the size of the
opening in the
decorating tip will
determine the size of
the icing decoration.

Novelty Shaped Cakes

1. Ice sides and other
areas per instructions
smooth.

2. Outline details.

Novelty Shaped Cakes

3. Pipe in facial features,

small details, window,

doors, etc.
4. Cover areas with
stars, stripes, zigzags
or hair.

Novelty Shaped Cakes

5. Add message.

6. Edge top and base

with borders. Attach

flowers or trims.

Buttercream Icing
1 cup solid vegetable shortening
1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
4 cups (1 lb) confectioners sugar
2 Tablespoons water or milk
Cream shortening with electric mixer. Add
vanilla. Gradually add sugar, beating well on
medium speed. Add water or milk and beat at
medium speed until light and fluffy. Keep
icing covered with a damp cloth until ready to
use.