These simple cake decorating tips will help get you get started on learning this fun new skill. The idea of cake decorating often makes many people think of the fancy layered cakes you’d see in a bakery window, or exotic novelty cakes made to order. Of course, it takes time and experience to create decorations like that – but first, you have to learn the easy stuff. Whether you’re looking to learn the art of cake design or you just want to save yourself a bit of time, this article will cover a few of the fundamentals of learning to decorate cakes which you can use for birthday parties or other special events.

Icing

For many it’s easy to learn the basics of making cake icing, but there are a few subtleties to the art of applying the icing to the cake that can make a big difference to the finished product. One way to achieve a smooth overall effect is to level off the cake using a spatula. When you use a spatula, you have to be careful not to press too hard – you don’t want to touch the surface of the cake itself. The idea is to lightly smooth the icing so it covers the cake evenly. Start with a dollop of icing in the center and spread from there to the edges.

Of course, if you really want to get fancy with icing you can use an icing bag. You can use different sizes and shapes for the icing bag tip to control how much icing comes out when you squeeze the bag. This is the simple secret behind those fancy cakes.

Shaped Cakes

One of the best ways to create a cake that makes you look like a pro is to use a shaped pan, or bake several small cakes which you can fit together into a shape and then cover with icing. The beauty of a shaped cake is that the actual decoration can be very simple – all you need is some icing – and you can still create an impressive look. However, if you have an icing bag available as mentioned above, you can really get creative with shaped cakes. Consider using different colored icing to create the effects you want.

Ready-made Decorations

You don’t have to be an expert to whip up an expert looking cake. You can buy edible decorations to add to your cake to make it look more impressive. On the other hand, you don’t even have to use edible decorations – you can simply add plastic numbers to signify an age for a birthday, or use small plastic toys for a child’s birthday party. (Of course, make sure they’re removed before anyone takes a bite!)