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Q&A for How to Ice a Cake

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Question

Should I refrigerate cake before frosting?

Mathew Rice
Professional Baker & Dessert Influencer
Mathew Rice has worked in restaurant pastry kitchens across the country since the late 1990's, and currently owns Pink Door Cookies in Nashville. His creations have been featured in Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, and Martha Stewart Weddings. In 2016, Eater named Mathew one of the top 18 chefs to follow on Instagram. In 2018, he appeared in season 18 of the Food Network's Beat Bobby Flay and won his episode.

Mathew Rice

Professional Baker & Dessert Influencer

Expert Answer

You can even freeze the cake as soon as it comes out of the oven! When it thaws, the cake will become more moist, which makes icing much easier. Plus, there's not nearly as many of those pesky crumbs to deal with!

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Question

How do I write "Happy Birthday" on the cake?

Community Answer

You'll need a piping bag if you want to write with icing. You pour the icing in, hold on to the top, and squeeze the icing out of a small hole in the bottom of the piping bag with your other hand, writing with the tip.

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Question

What can I do to get a very smooth surface on my icing?

Community Answer

You can buy an icing smoother from your local craft store. It's like a slender spatula with a flat blade designed to smooth surfaces like cakes.

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Question

How do I make my frosting harden?

Community Answer

Keep your frosted cake in the fridge. The frosting will eventually harden after a few hours. Keep in mind that the frosting will never truly harden.

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Question

What should I do if the custard makes my cake layers slippery?

Community Answer

Leave the cake in the refrigerator overnight so the custard layers set a bit. If you still have trouble, put it in the freezer overnight and cover it in plastic wrap to make sure ice doesn't form on the cake -but that is not ideal.

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Question

How do I put rolled icing on a cake?

Community Answer

Make the icing a bit bigger than the area you want to cover. Slowly place it over the cake and cut away the edges with a sharp knife.

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Question

How do I make a piping bag?

Community Answer

Follow the steps in How to Make a Piping Bag.

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Question

How do I make butter icing?

Community Answer

Whisk about 90g soft butter, 160g powdered sugar and 1tbsp of water together, adding the sugar and water to the butter gradually.

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Question

How can I bake a cake without an oven?

Lena Mao

Community Answer

You can't bake a cake without an oven.

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Question

Is it possible to make icing without butter?

Community Answer

Yes, you can use powdered sugar and water, refrigerating it for about half an hour so it will be thicker.

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Question

Is powdered sugar the same as icing sugar?

Soulfungus

Community Answer

Yes, powdered sugar is the same as icing sugar. It is a superfine ground sugar that resembles powder.

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Question

What ingredients do I need for icing a cake?

E_McC2004

Community Answer

For a typical buttercream, you will need roughly one part unsalted butter to four parts powdered sugar, about a teaspoon of vanilla extract (depending on the volume), and a little whole milk. Add the milk gradually until you achieve the desired consistency.

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Question

How do I prepare icing sugar?

E_McC2004

Community Answer

Run your powdered sugar through a sift and a food processor, if available. This process will remove any lumps, ensuring a smooth icing.

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Question

How can I make my icing thick enough to roll?

E_McC2004

Community Answer

Icing is not typically meant to be rolled. Instead, you would usually roll out fondant, which is a dough-like decoration used to cover and adorn cakes. If you are rolling out fondant, you will need to cover your rolling pin and work surface with powdered sugar to prevent sticking.

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