Frosting a cake

A pretty cake adds a bit of ceremony to an occasion, don’t you think? As far as birthdays and moments of congratulations go, I think flowers and cakes are the perfect thing for celebrating. I had a friend who used to make a pretty little cake for each friend on their birthday. So I thought I’d share with you a new little trick I learned in case you’d like to do the same: how to frost a smooth, level cake, with no crumbs in the frosting

Of course you will need a cake, buttercream (recipe of choice) and some leveled spatula. 

Once the cake is cooled, level it using a cake leveler or serrated knife. Whenever possible, I like to level the cake right in the pan, then take it out and let it finish cooling.

I was recently introduced to the cake icer tip, which I use with a 16-inch pastry bag. It is fantastic for laying frosting on the cake. If you don’t have one, you can improvise by piping your buttercream frosting out of a ziplock bag and using a knife to keep it on. The trick is to lay frosting on the cake, not rub it over the cake, which will pull crumbs up into your frosting.

If you use the cake icer tip, the jagged edge faces towards the cake, the smooth edge away from the cake.

Use a spatula or knife to level the frosting. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just mostly level. Again, try to press the frosting against the cake, not rub it up from the cake.

If you put strips of parchment under the cake, carefully pull them out.

Let the cake sit for 15 minutes to let the frosting dry a bit on the outside.

This is the last step, the fun part. Use a piece of parchment paper or a paper towel and lay it right on the cake. Use your finger to press lightly over the cake and smooth the icing, then peel the paper away. Do the same for the sides. You can pull it  up and press it back on several times to get the cake as smooth as you like it.

Note: If you use a papertowel with an embossed pattern, you can have the pattern transfer to your cake. If this is the effect you’re going for, make sure you use the embossed side of the paper towel against the cake. And for this effect, you get only one shot of laying down the paper and peeling it away; you can’t re-lay the paper once you’ve peeled it away.

Happy Frosting, 

Dina

Techniques from: http://www.giverslog.com/?p=1502

Icing tips and Buttercream

I've been using buttercream and boiled frosting for years now. If i have to choose, ill still choose liquid frosting (royal icing, butter cream and boiled icing)over fondant. I love decorating cupcakes with buttercream while using different icing tips. 

There are different icing tips available on the market. 

(I personally buy in sweetcraft or chocolate lovers castle) 

How to make Gumball Cupcakes

Besides from rainbows, i am also fascinated by gumball machines, cameras and tin can lunch boxes.

For now, lets focus on my fixation regarding gumball machines. There's something about gumball machines that makes me all happy and bubbly. I'm really not into the whole bubble gum thing but i just love how it looks and how the different colors of the bubblegum burst into one attractive sight.

Anyway, i was browsing online when i came across this picture.

it's too cute to be unnoticed and i really need to make this one.

*Id like to take this opportunity to thank the "INTERNET", you make all things possible.*

After minutes of research, i came across this detailed instructions on how to turn ordinary cupcakes to outstanding gumball cupcakes.

The picture lack steps but you can pretty much figure out how its done.
Obviously, you need 2 cupcakes, a spatula, buttercream frosting and m&m's. 

I will try this one really really soon. 

Happy baking, 

Dina

Cake Pops

I love Cake Pops! They are fun and easy to make. A Cake Pop is a Ball of cake with icing on a stick. Cake Balls and Cake Pops make great treats as well as giveaways to children's party and other occasions, its like a lolli-cake (lollipop  cake on a stick) with super duper cute design. 

My first attempt with cake pops was last July2011. All i did was i baked some cake, then i mashed it into tiny little pieces, i added some butter cream to the cake and when it was firm enough to make a shape, i made balls out of the mixture. 

I then placed my cake balls into the ref and let them rest for an hour or so.

I poked each cake balls with sticks and then i dipped them to my chocolate ganache. 

IT TASTED AWESOME. 

Anyways, Here's a step-by-step procedure on how to make cake pops..

How to Make Rainbow Cupcakes

If there's one thing i love more than rainy days, it's definitely rainbow days. I've always been a fan of the colors of the rainbow. ROYGBIV, i know it's colors by heart. For me, the rainbow is a symbol of happiness and it also brings back memories of me and my sisters when we were young. 


Anyway, since i'm super duper fond of rainbows i make sure to make rainbow cakes and cupcakes once in awhile.
NOTE: This cake contains happiness. When i bring rainbow cupcakes to friends they always seem to go "oohh" "ahhhh", "how did you do this?", "i love the color combination" and the compliment goes on and on.


Sometimes I struggle with what I want to bake and bring to parties. There are so many things that factor into my decision: portability, travel-bility, allergies, in/formality of event, age group of dessert eaters etc etc. But this time I knew exactly what I wanted to make. So I threw caution to the wind. I didn’t even think twice about it. Whenever i feel confused on what to bring, i always go for rainbow cupcakes with frosting. Trust me, it won't let you down. 


Let me share one of my favorite cupcake recipe of all times.