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

Wilton Script Message Press Set

One of my frustrations as a baker is to learn how to write messages and dedications on cakes. I want to be like the bakers from goldilocks who writes dedications on cakes in a free-hand basis. They dont have patterns, all they have is a small piping gel and they scribble "happy bday to you, you belong to the zoo" without breaking a sweat. 

*that message was just an example, i usually just put happy birthday to cakes".

Moving on, sometimes i want to talk to goldilocks bakers/employees and ask them to teach me how to pipe wonderful letters, also i'll ask them for their choco roll recipe and i'll make big bucks out of it. LOL. (I'm just laughing but im dead serious regarding the choco roll recipe). 

My frustrations was semi-solved when my sister sent me this babies.

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) 

Rainbows Frosting and Rainbow Cake

Brilliant Rainbow Frosting Idea. Your colors will depend on how dark you want it to be. Sometimes i do lighter versions of the rainbow colors.

You can also try this technique:

Try this: cupcake cones

A step-by-step procedure on how to bake cupcakes with the use of ice cream cones. 

Thanks to: google.com for the images. 

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

wilton pattern press sets

I have a slight obsession with press sets. I really believe that making a beautiful cakes shouldn't cause you any trouble at all. Thank goodness that wilton answers all the unserved needs of bakers all over the globe.

My pattern press set had been helping me deliver wonderful cakes to friends and family.

Plug: Thank you Ate Michelle for giving me wonderful baking gifts. I love you.

Cake Stencils

Last year, i receive a package from my sister. Inside this lovely box are assorted wilton products. I cannot put into words the excitement I felt as soon as i opened that brown box. One of the goddies inside are Wilton Cake Stencils. I love this babies because its very easy to use and it gives your cake a make over with the blink of an eye. It's that fast and easy. You can use powdered sugar, cocoa, lustre dusts and of course buttercream frosting.

You need not to be a rocket scientist to figure this one out:

All you need for are the ff:

1. buttercream frosting (if you are

using buttercream)

2. food coloring of your choice

3. an elevated spatula

4. a cake

5. Wilton stencils

Practice makes perfect. While it is very easy, you still need a little practice to perfect the art of transferring stencils on to your cake. I usually practice over a sheet of paper or wherever. Just make sure to practice before layering it over to your cake.

Patience is a virtue and Practice makes perfect.

However, If you don't have patience then you better go for powdered sugar.

Awesome cake is awesome.

:)

Happy stencils,

Dina

Gum paste Recipe

Sugar Paste icing also know as GUMPASTE is a very sweet edible sugar dough usually made from sugar and glucose. It can be used to cover cakes, mold features and create decorations for cakes and many other uses.

There are commercial gumpaste available on the market, i found one at sweetcraft. The brand name is Satin ice and it costs 520.00 for 500grams.

I on the other hand, tried to make gumpaste inside my kitchen. I used

Ferna's recipe.

While the recipe calls only for 450 grams or 3 cups of powdered sugar. I added a little more than 2 cups because the recipe is to runny.

i let my mixer do the job. AT first, it was a little runny then after a few minutes i was able to get this

It should look like a dough. Once it does, place your mixture in a cling wrap to prevent air from contaminating your gumpaste.

NOTE: never leave your gumpaste in open air it will dry out easily.

TAKE NOTE: EASILY.

Always keep it in an airtight container to prevent it from going down the garbage bin. Once its hard, its going to be useless. So make sure to store it in an airtight container AT ALL TIMES.

There are a lot of gum paste tutorial videos on you tube.

Be creative and most of all Have Fun.

Happy Baking,

Dina