I wanted to share this for anyone who's ever struggled with their buttercream the way that I have.

Here's a link to Melvira's method: http://cakecentral.com/articles/126/quick-easy-smooth-icing-using-a-roller-melvira-method

And you need a good crusting buttercream when you use that method, and this is my favorite: http://cakecentral.com/recipes/6992/indydebis-crisco-based-buttercream-icing

I can do nice things with fondant, but my buttercream usually looks like it was done by a 3rd grader. I've been reading about the Melvira method for a while but never got around to trying it until now. I wish I had tried it a lot sooner, it's amazing!

I love the Melvira Method, been doing it for a while now and that is all I will every do loveeeeee it
thanks for sharing Texas_Rose and also for your fondant recipe sooooooo easy and good

I agree, I've almost forgotten how to use a spatula to even get a semi-smooth cake ! LOL It drives me nuts when people choose icings that don't crust because I can't use that technique and I have to actually figure out how to ICE the cake smooth!

Did you use both for the Scrolls and Roses cake you posted?

Wow...it looks so great, I'm inspired to try it myself. I already use indy's recipe, but haven't tried the roller.

I got the roller and a pack of 5 foam roller heads for $10 at Home Depot. It's so easy to do that my husband did half of the cake...he can't resist playing with my new cake gadgets...anyhow, so easy that he could do it too. I just wish I had tried it sooner, it's awesome

Another great thing is that using the roller seems to get rid of any bubbles in the icing!

That's a great buy! Is there a name brand for the rollers?

The ones I got are Quali-Tech brand. It was the only brand of high density foam rollers they had. You could buy one roller plus handle for four dollars, or a handle with no roller and then a 5 pack of rollers for about $10, so I did that. I saw a link to some at Sears that were a different brand but the same stuff. I went to Home Depot because I had space on the Home Depot card

Woot-woot! You GO girl!!

Ok, so I just looked at your pic...I'm going to have to try the "Melvira" method now too.

Thanks so much, Texas_Rose...I'm going to look for those!

I currently only do about two projects a month (for fun or family)...so after I finish what I'm working on from the Confetti Kids book...I'll give it a try.

I finally bought and tried the roller...I found a pk of two Quali-Tech rollers (each 4" long - $2 and change), and the handle ($4 and change)...

I'm making a tote bag, so here's a photo of the stacked layers after Melviring them, LOL.
It's not perfect, but for me it's a HUGE, HUGE improvement...(it'll be covered with fondant, so I didn't need perfect).

I LOVE it! It's so much faster than hot-knifing ganache...literally a couple of minutes. (I would like to get the bigger 6" rollers though).

Thanks Texas_Rose for starting this thread, and Melvira for your really awesome method!

FlourPots, I am SO glad to hear of your success! Your cake has a gorgeous finish on it, as 'perfect' as any I've seen! I am glad you mentioned how quick it is, that is probably one of my favorite parts of the whole shebang... it does a nice job, but it does it QUICKLY! If you're anything like me, that is the best part. Not spending hours doing it! Thank you so much for another vote of approval, it really touches me to know that I've helped you out. I hope more people will see your comments and give it a go.

And I absolutely adore that I've become a 'verb'. "Your cake looks great!" "Hey, thanks... I just Melvired it a few minutes ago!"

I love to melvira too lol, but I use Sugarshacks bc...........love it

What a coincidence that you would revive this thread.

I actually Melvired with IndyDebi's BC for the first time today! I adapted Melvira's chocolate malt recipe into cake form and added malt powder to IndyDebi's recipe.

Soooo easy...the recipes AND the technique! I agree that the 6" roller would be better suited for my needs. I guess I'm making a trip to Home Depot tomorrow!

I have not used weddong bouquet yet....I don't think thats needed, cause mine is coming great using the hot creamer idea. love it, I just got a bench scraper to try too, but if the roller kwwps working this good I may only use scraper with ganache

So you only use creamer, no other flavoring?

indydebi's buttercream

no I use vanilla and almond flavorings.

OK...thanks!

yes I think a flavored coffee creamer would be great too!

Hi all,

So the vanilla buttercream frosting that I use is only butter, vanilla & powdered sugar (because I don't like that greasy feeling that crisco buttercreams leave me with).

Will that "crust" enough to use the Melvira method? I'm working on a football field cake right now, and the thought of getting the whole top of the cake smooth is terrifying to me!!! Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

If you're not sure if it crusts or not, then it probably doesn't crust enough. I used to use the Wilton recipe and it never crusted for me.

You should try Indydebi's recipe. The dream whip powder does something to the Crisco so that it's creamy and not greasy. It doesn't separate out or look funny when you color it either, the way that some other buttercreams do. It doesn't leave that greasy coat on the mixing bowl or bags either.

Hmmm...well, it won't help me for this cake (its due tomorrow morning!), but I definitely want to try it for my next one. Can you point me to her recipe? Also, where do you buy dream whip powder? TIA!

http://cakecentral.com/recipes/6992/indydebis-crisco-based-buttercream-icing
Dream whip powder comes from the grocery store. It's either near the jello cheesecake mixes or with the cake mixes, depending on the store. I can't find a generic here and the real stuff costs $3.75 for a box with four packets, but everyone I bake for is hooked on that buttercream.

looks like this: