Cake Decorating Ideas & Tips

Cake decorating ideas
Cake decoration usually follows the theme of the party or occasion. The colors, design and even flavors reflect the kind of party and the choices or likes and dislikes of the guest of honor. Always make sure that you keep in mind what your guests will like so that they appreciate the time and effort you put in cake decoration.

If you are decorating a cake for a party, try to use materials that you are familiar with so that your work comes out well. Experiment with new ideas and techniques before taking on a big decoration project.

Fondant is a preferred medium of decoration used by professional decorators. It gives a professional and neat finish to any cake. Use fondant with cookie cutters to add a three-dimensional effect to cakes, even if you use buttercream icing as a base.

Airbrushing is another option that converts cakes into a painter's canvas. Using airbrushing, you can paint different shades to add a beautiful depth to cake decoration. Combined with piping work and fondant, airbrushing can create uniquely decorated cakes.

Use props on your cakes. Small toys that go with a theme or figures modeled out of marzipan and gum paste can greatly add to the final effect of a well-decorated cake.

You can create a beautifully decorated cake using only buttercream icing, too. Use piping tips to create scrolls, ribbons or lace designs. To create a starburst effect, pipe a spiral on the cake in a contrasting color. Gently run a toothpick from the center of the cake to the outside. This creates an attractive starburst or spider-web pattern. Use two colors of icing for added effect.

Create a marbled effect in your piping. Fill your piping bag with two different colors of icing side by side. Pipe scrolls or shells, or any design that you plan to decorate your cake with. You will notice a beautiful marbled effect to the piped icing.
Cake decorating tips
Each cake decorator has her own set of tips and tricks that she uses to decorate cakes efficiently to make attractive end products.

A turntable goes a long way in ensuring that your cake is decorated evenly and does not appear lopsided with more icing on one side and less on the other. It also makes piping work easy and raises the cake to eye level so that you can work efficiently.

Create a textured effect on plain cakes by using textured paper towels. Ice your cake smooth with buttercream icing or whipped cream. Do not allow the icing to dry or become crusty. Carefully place the textured paper towel on top of the wet icing and apply gentle pressure evenly all over the cake. Lift the paper towel. The pattern on the paper towel should have left an imprint on the cake's surface.

Use candy to create borders and edges around cakes. This adds color to the cake and also makes decoration faster and easier.

Think creatively to incorporate different designs on your cake. Cake decoration is a creative process, and with some imagination, it is not difficult to make elegant custom cakes at home.