How to Decorate a Cake--Part 1 the Basics

To have a beautiful showcase cake you should use multiple layers and not just a one layer cake.To create a layered cake you will need a long serrated knife, plastic wrap, simple syrup ( Made from boiled water and sugar ). You can flavor this if you want to, a pastry brush, and a cardboard circle to place cake on. You can make one by using a cardboard box and cutting a circle just a little bigger than the cake pan.

Trim the top and bottoms as this makes it easier to moisten the layers with your simple sugar. Place your cake on a flat cutting board. Place your hand on top of the cake just barely cutting off the top,not too much tho. Depending on the size of your cake determine if you want 2 or 3 layers. Don't cut them too thin. Set the trimmed off top aside for snacking on later as it isn't needed. Keep knife level all around cake as you cut. To make sure you are cutting straight before cutting, place toothpicks sticking out of cake all around cake and cut along these.Turn plate as you are cutting. Saw back and forth until layer is cut all around. Slip hand carefully under that layer and carefully lift off and place on plastic wrap.Then when all the layers are sliced, 2 or 3 depending on size of cake. Moisten each layer with the simple sugar as you go. Your ready to frost

First you need to crumb coat your cake. To do this take a small amount of icing and thin it down. Don't make it too thin tho, make it like a glaze. Spread this across the surface top. Place other layer on top of this making sure all layers are even. Apply your simple sugar first then crumb coat it. When the last layer is on, put crumb coating on the sides. When sides are completely covered hold spatula in back of cake (side facing away) and pull towards you. You want flat blade against the cake. Don't worry if cake shows through because you will cover it when putting on the icing. Chill cake in fridge till crumb coating is firm. After it has firmed up,apply final coat of icing. Put on more icing this time. Cover top first. Run spatula flat side against cake smoothing out the sides. Finish off the cake by decorating any way you want.