START WITH:
Cake recipe - or use a box mix
Frosting recipe
Practice Practice Practice
MUST HAVE TOOLS:
Offset spatula
Aluminum pans (not black)
Cake Leveler - or use knife and toothpicks to mark
Decorating bags - can use ziplocs
Tips/couplers (optional)
Food Color Gel is best-use a clean toothpick each time
To purchase supplies:
You can find certain items at Walmart, Hobby Lobby, JoAnne's, etc. plus Karen Annes on Gravois
(or a cake supply store near you)
Boards/boxes/foil/bags/tips/cake filling
Bake Cake –box mix (betty crocker is my fave) – mix in eggs & oil then slowly add water to get a cake with no large air pockets
extra egg / butter instead of oil / milk(coconut) instead of water / dry pudding mix
lower the temp / use insulator strips / rotate pans
1 Mix yields 4 cups batter / approx. 2 lbs.
use 2 or 3 leftover yolks to sub for no more than 1 egg per mix
remove all but 1 yolk per white mix to get a light fluffy cake that still cuts well
USE BAKER’s JOY*** or DIY goop/cake release (see below)
Insulator strips (can make your own) work very well.
Here's a link to make your own.
https://www.wyldflour.com/how-to-make-an-insulated-cake-strip-step-by-step-pictures/#:~:text=There%20are%20several%20techniques%20for,And%20it%20works%20for%20me.
You could also just cut up some towels. Don't have them dripping wet when you wrap them around your pan.
Cool / Split / Level
Fill – build a dam / then use frosting or cake filling (not both)
place top cake (cut sides together)/ and smooth/close side gap
(pipe a bit of frosting around the gap and smooth it with a spatula w/no regard to crumbs)
Crumb Coat – if necessary (I find this just makes top coating more difficult)
Some people refrigerate or freeze a cake after applying a crumb coat and then they do the top coat.
I only do this a crumb coat on ‘cut’ cakes or when I’m building something
Frost – can use part or all butter but won’t work as well
Smooth with Viva (printer paper or parchment paper will also work)
can make an imprint with a textured towel or a
clean piece of ‘non-slip’ or impression mats (aliexpress)
Frosting can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen – bring to room temp before using
Decorate – piping bags / tips / color icing
Can use Ziploc bags or parchment paper cones
Border / write
2 days prior to serving – Bake cakes - cool in pan till you can ‘hold’ it
(Larger cakes should cool longer so they don't crack when you dump them out)
A-dump out and cool ‘as is’ on the bottom of the cake pan
B-level off the top & then cool cut side down (again on the bottom of the pan)
C-fill cake (and close gap) – let sit overnite (this minimizes the side bulge look)
1 day prior to serving (or the day of if you have the time) – (Bake cupcakes)
Frost / smooth / decorate
Pan | Svgs (2-layer) | Party svgs | Cups Batter each pan |
6" round | 12 | 10 | 2 - 4 / 1 mix |
8" round | 24 | 15 | 3 - 6 / 1 1/2 mixes |
9" round | 43 | 20 | 4 - 8 / 2 mixes |
10" round | 38 | 25 | 5 - 10 / 2 1/2 mixes |
6" round 3" | - | 5 | 2 / 1/2 mix |
8" round 3" | - | 10 | 4 / 1 mix |
10" round 3" | - | 15 | 6 / 1 1/2 mix |
9x13 | 24 | 20 | 8 / 2 mixes |
double 1/4 | 50 | 35 | 3.5 mixes for two |
12x18 | 54 | 30 | 12 / 3 mixes |
double 1/2 | 98 | 60 | 3 mixes each |
6" square | 18 | 10 | 2 - 4 / 1 mix |
8" square | 32 | 20 | 4 - 8 / 2 mixes |
10" square | 50 | 30 | 6 - 12 / 3 mixes |
If you have a scale – 1 mix yields 4 cups or 2 lbs. or 32 oz. (30oz. w/the recent cut)
Where the above says 2 cups – you’ll put 1 lb. Or 16oz. (15oz.)
Small batch Decorator Buttercream
1/2 lb. Crisco (1 1/8c.) - 8oz. (I use7.5 oz.)
can use part or all butter but won’t work as well
Walmart–shortening (whiter, similar to hi ratio)/vegetable shortening
check out the taste test done by Karolyns Kakes on YouTube
2 lb. powdered sugar
scant 1/2 c. milk or water - warm helps it mix better
hold back some liquid for stiffer frosting – it will stiffen a bit when the water cools
if you’re frosting cupcakes, a thinner frosting will be easier on your hands.
1 tsp. flavoring each - clear vanilla & clear butter
1 tsp. salt (mix with the warm water)
After all powdered sugar is added, stop and scrape bowl well.
Continue to mix on low for 2 minutes.
Chocolate Buttercream
Sub 1 lb. powdered sugar with ¾c. cocoa (SACO dutch cocoa is my fave)
(I purchase it at Dierbergs)
Add flavoring and salt (and cocoa) to shortening and start mixing on low.
Alternately add powdered sugar and water while mixing.
After all powdered sugar is added, stop and scrape bowl well.
Continue to mix on low for 2 minutes.
cake mix extender
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Mix all ingredients together in a ziploc and store in fridge.
add a couple Tbsp. to a half mix to get 12 cupcakes
3 Tbsp. to a full mix to get 24
I just use a couple Tbsp. out of another mix since I go through so many
When making cupcakes, a cookie scoop is best for even sized
I use the large Pampered Chef scoop (holds approx. 3 Tbsp.)
Quick Fix Chocolate Cupcakes****
This is my 'vegan' recipe - uses ingredients you probably always have on hand
1 1/2 c. flour makes 18 cupcakes
1 c. sugar fill liners 2/3 full
1/4 c. cocoa powder bake at 375 16-18
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. + 2 Tbsp. oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. vinegar
1 c. hot water
Cake goop – DIY pan release
Even amounts: Crisco, oil, flour
Mix well, does go bad eventually
WASC-popular cake mix adaptation
1 box mix
1 c flour
1 c sugar
Dash salt
½ c melted butter (optional)
1 c milk
1 c sour cream
1 small pkg pudding (optional)
4 egg white (or 3 whole eggs)
1 tsp almond
This will yield the equivalent of 1.5 mixes so adjust pan size accordingly.
https://delishably.com/desserts/Cake-Decorating-Basics-How-to-Extend-a-Boxed-Cake-Mix
my web-site – www.terisdesserts.com feel free to steal ideas ;)
find links to Meramec classes here https://terisdesserts.com/classes
There is a list of ‘my’ classes there too.
How the above cakes are done:
cat - leave one of your layers domed for the head. you can even put the dome from the other layer on top to make it taller. this works great for ball cakes too. the hat is a sugar cone, face/ears are fondant, paws are buttercream.
3 tier cake using 6"(1/2 mix) 8"(1 mix) 10"(1 1/2 mix) 3"tall pans
this is a great way to have 3 different design elements and potentially 3 cake flavors.
light blue cake - side is frosted first and smoothed. the top is done next, along with a small amount on the top and bottom, then these are smoothed.
pink/blue cake - frost the cake in white, 'swipe' on some color, then smooth all together.
rosette cake
petal effect cake
sprinkle covered cake
pastel palette painted - frost/smooth base coat. swipe on some colors, but don't smooth them
watch some 'palette painting buttercream cake' tutorials - so fun
pink flowers - imprint pattern with cookie cutter, fill in, smooth (like lily pulitzer designs) or not (adds texture/interest)
brown design - pattern is made with the metal strip from a wax paper box, then piped over
stone look - pattern is pressed on with an impression mat
on this blog:
3/26/23-sprinkled filled cake/jersey cake/RV cake
2/19/23 – how to make a Faultline cake
2/15/23 – how to make an airplane cake
8/22/22 – the making of a Snoopy cake
9/26/20 - how to assemble a large 3D golf bag cake
2/21/20 - how to make a roller skate RK cake topper
1/1/20 - how to make a dog face cake using cake scraps also how to make a Tshirt cake
9/11/19 - how to assemble a tiered cake also how to frost a square cake
4/24/19 - how to make RK Dino cake toppers
8/21/18 - how to make a shape #3 cake with no waste also a cute simple lamb cake
9/6/16 - how to make MMF marshmallow fondant
9/11/19 how to assemble a tiered cake - Hammer a dowel down the center
Also a video of how to frost corners on a square cake
10/4/15 - #1 Elmo cake using the multi use cake pan (love it!)
8/16/15 - 3D 4-wheeler cake
12/30/14 - multi use pan again - shaped #40 + a cake showing a good use for cake scraps
3/11/14 - shaped Dino cake
9/14/13 - Cake made from chocolate chip cookies…
3/24/13 - building a 3D firetruck cake
6/25/12 - Awareness ribbon cake
3/13/12 - 3D frog cake
There's a great video on frosting a cake here:
https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/how-to-frost-a-smooth-cake-with-buttercream/
I don't use a measuring cup (so I don't have to clean it)
Same with the jumbo tip to frost the sides. You've probable seen the Cake Boss use this technique.
Check out: YouTube – Buttercream Flower Series
