Q&A for How to Ice a Cake

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  • Question
    Should I refrigerate cake before frosting?
    Mathew Rice
    Professional Baker & Dessert Influencer
    Mathew Rice has worked in restaurant pastry kitchens across the country since the late 1990's, and currently owns Pink Door Cookies in Nashville. His creations have been featured in Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, and Martha Stewart Weddings. In 2016, Eater named Mathew one of the top 18 chefs to follow on Instagram. In 2018, he appeared in season 18 of the Food Network's Beat Bobby Flay and won his episode.
    Professional Baker & Dessert Influencer
    Expert Answer
    You can even freeze the cake as soon as it comes out of the oven! When it thaws, the cake will become more moist, which makes icing much easier. Plus, there's not nearly as many of those pesky crumbs to deal with!
  • Question
    How do I write "Happy Birthday" on the cake?
    Community Answer
    You'll need a piping bag if you want to write with icing. You pour the icing in, hold on to the top, and squeeze the icing out of a small hole in the bottom of the piping bag with your other hand, writing with the tip.
  • Question
    What can I do to get a very smooth surface on my icing?
    Community Answer
    You can buy an icing smoother from your local craft store. It's like a slender spatula with a flat blade designed to smooth surfaces like cakes.
  • Question
    How do I make my frosting harden?
    Community Answer
    Keep your frosted cake in the fridge. The frosting will eventually harden after a few hours. Keep in mind that the frosting will never truly harden.
  • Question
    What should I do if the custard makes my cake layers slippery?
    Community Answer
    Leave the cake in the refrigerator overnight so the custard layers set a bit. If you still have trouble, put it in the freezer overnight and cover it in plastic wrap to make sure ice doesn't form on the cake -but that is not ideal.
  • Question
    How do I put rolled icing on a cake?
    Community Answer
    Make the icing a bit bigger than the area you want to cover. Slowly place it over the cake and cut away the edges with a sharp knife.
  • Question
    How do I make a piping bag?
    Community Answer
    Follow the steps in How to Make a Piping Bag .
  • Question
    How do I make butter icing?
    Community Answer
    Whisk about 90g soft butter, 160g powdered sugar and 1tbsp of water together, adding the sugar and water to the butter gradually.
  • Question
    How can I bake a cake without an oven?
    Lena Mao
    Community Answer
    You can't bake a cake without an oven.
  • Question
    Is it possible to make icing without butter?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can use powdered sugar and water, refrigerating it for about half an hour so it will be thicker.
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