If you’re new to cake decorating, you’re in for a treat.
Today, I’m sharing my top 10 tips to help you get started and create beautiful cakes.
Whether you’re baking for fun or planning to turn your hobby into a business, these tips will set you on the right path.
When I first started making cakes, I taught myself how to make fondant cakes before perfecting the foundational parts of cake decorating.
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There are so many things you can do, but preparing and knowing what will help you is key to a smoother process.
1. Start Simple
In the beginning of my cake journey, I couldn’t believe all the things you could do with cake.
The designs, the sculptures, the flavors.
There is so much you can do.
But the one thing I want to emphasize is to start simple.
The more colors and details you see on the cake, the more steps it’s going to take to finish.
Don’t overwhelm yourself with complicated designs.
Start with simple techniques and gradually work your way up.
Begin with basic piping and smoothing techniques before attempting more intricate decorations.
Remember, practice makes perfect.
Starting this way will help you build on your skills, and you will be impressed with the outcome.
I know I am every time I make cake.
2. Use Quality Ingredients
The quality of your ingredients makes a big difference in the taste and texture of your cakes.
Invest in the best you can afford.
Fresh eggs, high-quality butter, and pure vanilla extract can elevate your cakes from good to great.
I personally get most of my ingredients from Walmart, like butter and powdered sugar for my buttercream recipe.
Depending on your dietary needs, you can see what works for you and your dietary needs as well.
3. Practice Piping
Piping on cakes is one of the most amazing ways to bring your cake to life.
Instead of needing a whole design, you can easily pipe beautiful boards, cupcakes, or cookies, regardless of the different piping tip designs, which makes it fun.
Oh, and you can’t forget buttercream. Try my no-fail recipe HERE.
Practice piping on a piece of parchment paper before decorating your cake.
This will help you get a feel for the pressure and control needed.
Try out different piping tips and techniques to see what works best for you.
When using piping tips, keep in mind the sizes.
Some come in small and large sizes.
I like the large piping tips because I can cover a whole cupcake with them, and they are great for piping on cakes compared to the smaller ones.
Here is a quick video about it that I shared.
4. Keep It Cool
Keep your cakes and frosting cool.
Warm cakes can cause the frosting to melt and slide off.
If your kitchen is warm, refrigerate your cakes before frosting them.
Also, consider placing your cake near a fan to keep the temperature down.
I also keep my house at around 72–73 degrees when I’m making buttercream and decorating my cake; the colder the cake, the better.
5. Use a Crumb Coat
A crumb coat is a thin layer of frosting that locks in the crumbs.
This step is one of the most important, as it ensures your cake is properly leveled, filled, and stacked.
Apply a thin layer of frosting to your cake before adding the final layer.
This crumb coat will seal in any loose crumbs and provide a smooth base.
Let the crumb coat set in the fridge for about 30 minutes before applying the final layer.
6. Level Your Cakes
Leveling your cake layers will ensure that your cake is sturdy and straight when it comes time to assemble, frost, and decorate.
If the layers are not leveled, the cake may slide and implode, which can cause a disaster.
I use tools like a cake leveler or serrated knife.
Use a serrated knife or cake leveler to level your cakes before stacking.
This will ensure a stable and even cake.
Uneven layers can cause your cake to lean or collapse, so take the time to level each layer.
7. Be Patient
So many things can go wrong when it comes to cake decorating.
There are many steps, and between baking, mixing, finding the right decorations, and building the cake, it can take some time.
Sometimes, a cake can take a few days to make, depending on how detailed it is.
But always allow yourself extra time so you’re not rushing.
Especially if you are selling cakes and have a time frame for when to get things done.
8. Learn from Mistakes
Don’t be discouraged by mistakes.
They are part of the learning process and will help you improve.
Every decorator has had their share of cake disasters.
The important thing is to learn from them and keep going.
Not only are there some disasters from cake decorating, but I also made some pretty bad mistakes when I was selling cakes, and I talk about them more here.
9. Have Fun
Remember, cake decorating should be fun.
Enjoy the process and don’t be too hard on yourself.
The joy of creating something beautiful and delicious is what makes cake decorating so rewarding.
10. Keep Practicing
The more you practice, the better you’ll get.
Keep experimenting and trying new techniques.
With these tips, you’re well on your way to becoming a cake decorating pro.
Join online cake decorating communities, attend workshops, and watch tutorials to keep learning and improving.
In this video, I’m sharing my top 10 tips to help you decorate cakes like a pro.
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