How to Get Smooth Icing / Frosting

I remember when I first started decorating cakes. I hated it!! I couldn't stand frosting the cakes because I could never get it smooth. Whenever I did get the cake smooth I had to use a ton of icing. I remember standing in my father's kitchen, frosting a cake for an hour! Yes I said an hour! Craziness...just plain frustrating. I knew there had to be a better way. I practiced and practiced but still had trouble in this area. My cakes began to taste better, I didn't have issues using fondant, I only had issues getting a smooth coat of frosting. After reading numerous forums and watching some YouTube video I finally came across a method that worked for me...the Melvira Method.

The Melvira method is when you use a high density foam roller to accomplish a smooth coat. After evenly apply the icing, you let the cake sit for a little while so the frosting will crust. Oh, did I mention you have to use a crusting buttercream or this won't work. Like I said before, a crusting buttercream (http://sharronstake.blogspot.com/2014/01/crusting-buttercream-recipe.html) is one that is clean to the touch after it dries. This means when you touch it, no frosting will come off on your finger. After the buttercream crusts, you roll your cake until its nice and smooth. Check out my video below for more details and instruction!!

This technique has worked the BEST for me and believe me I have tried everything. I've tried the upside down method, hot knife method, paper towel / wax paper and the list goes on and on. Now this is my go to method for wedding cakes and special occasions. Give it a try and let me know how it goes! As always be blessed.  

How to Make a Minecraft Cake

It all started with me asking my nephew what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday. "Minecraft, I want a Minecraft cake!" " I have to admit that I have been asked in the past to make a Minecraft cake but they wanted the pixilated look which is labor intensive and requires a lot fondant  I thought to myself, there has to be a simpler way to make this cake without all the fuss of fondant. For all the Moms, Aunts, or beginner cakers out there that want to know how to pull off a simple version of this cake...here it is!!

Tools:

Spoon

Spatula

Sharp knife

Grass Tip

Coupler

Decorators bag

Minecraft figurines

Cake board

Two 9"x13" chocolate cakes

Green Buttercream  (around 5 cups)

Blue Buttercream (1 cup)

Directions: 

Place one chocolate 9"x13" cake on cake board. Using spatula, thinly frost top of cake with green icing. Don't worry about crumbs in your coat because you will be adding another layer of frosting 
that will cover it later

.                                    

Cut second 9"x13" cake into cut three pieces:

1. Square shape - 4"x4"

2. F shape - 6"x6"

3. L shape - 3"x4"                                                                              

 Final arrangement will look like picture below.

Place both on corners of the cake and thinly frost the tops.
With grass tip, cover tops of the frosted areas with green frosting.
Hold tip at 90 degrees, gently squeeze and pull up.
See picture below.

Leave area, about 4"x6," unfrosted. Using back of spoon, add blue frosting to uncovered area.  Once covered, make peaks with spoon. To make peaks, make "S" shaped design and then pull away at 45 degree angle.  It will resemble ways.
Add figurines wherever you see fit! For my details, see video below.Have fun and happy caking!!

How to Make a Quick and Easy Buttercream Mustache Cake

I finally got around to making a cake for one of the biggest trends right now....the mustache! 

I recently had a birthday party for my son Jase, who turned one, and my husband John. 

It was so much fun and it's such a cute theme for all ages!! 

Once I decided I was going to have a mustache bash and I picked out the cake design, I knew I wanted to do a tutorial and share it with you guys. The cake looks complicated but its actually very easy. It basically comes down to four steps: 

Step One: Bake cake in a round pan (any size you want)

Step Two: Cut a yin yang pattern into cake 

Step Three: Turn one side over and align pieces making the mustache design

Step Four: Frost cake 

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did and as always Happy Caking!! 

Sweet Potatoe Cake Recipe!!

I decided to make a sweet potatoe cake for Thanksgiving this year. It turned out great so I decided to post the recipe...Enjoy!!

 

 

Ingredients

1 box of vanilla cake mix

1 1/2 cup of sweet potatoes

1/3 cup of brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

 

Directions

Mash sweet potatoes leaving some small chunks, set to the side

Make cake batter as directed on box

Add cinnamon and brown sugar, then mix

Fold in sweet potatoes

Pour batter in a greased cake pan of your choice. I used a 10" bunt pan.

Bake until done. It usually takes 30 to 35 minutes.

Let cake cool completely then frost cake with cream cheese frosting.

 

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup cream cheese (4oz)

1/2 cup butter

4 cups of powdered sugar

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Mix cream cheese and butter together (room temperature)

Add vanilla extract

Add powdered sugar 

 

Baby Shower Cake

The baby shower cake design did not go as planned but it still turned out great. I've learned in life to expect the unexpected and always be flexible. My FAVORITE cake store by my house closed down. I called to see if they had edible images and there phone number was disconnected!! I decided to drive by and see if this was just a fluke. Imagine my surprise when I found out the cake store was now an Indian clothing store!! Normally I would drive to the next closest store but my pregnancy laziness kicked in. I told my husband that he was just going to have to wing it. As long as it was sports themed he could come up with whatever design he felt comfortable making.

Random Cake Information:

1. Avoid baking and decorating in the same day
I always bake my cakes and make the buttercream one or two days before I need to decorate. Experience has shown me that the quality of my decorating suffers when I try to do everything at once. So my husband made the cake Friday night. FYI: He's only dressed up because we just got back from church...lol

2. Make sure you properly grease the pan 
You can use shortening, butter, flour, parchment paper, or pam. He used shortening on the pan. Make sure to use a generous amount. If not, your cake will stick to the pan and could possibly break when you try to get it out.

 

3. Make sure the cake is completely cool before decorating
If the cake is still warm, the buttercream will melt when you try to ice the cake.

4. Make sure the theme or design you choose is within your ability
Try to choose a design according to your skill level. If you choose something more complex, practice before hand until you're comfortable. Youtube and cake decorating sites are really good resources to learn new techniques. My husband on the other hand did not have time to watch any videos. He only had my instructions to go on.

Here's the finished product...

 

 Tools used:

• Offset spatula to ice the cake
• #234 tip for the border
• #18 tip for the football
• #47 tip for football lines
• #1M tip to swirl the buttercream on the cupcakes