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