Smooth icing is just not working out for me like I wish!!! I sometimes give up and just do swirly icing...which I like...BUT this style doesn't work with alot of themes. I know this is probably an old topic to alot of you, but I've never heard the paper towel smoothing technique described. Can somebody help me???!!! I have some luck with the waxed paper method.

You can either use a textured papertowel or if you want a smooth clean "finish" I would use Viva papertowels. Let your icing crust for about 10 minutes or just until you touch it and it doesn't come off on your fingers.

Lay papertowel over cake and take an angled spatula, large or small ( I prefer small) and very lightly smooth over the papertowel. Don't put too much pressure or the papertowel will start to stick to icing and pull it off when you remove papertowel. Carefully "peel" off papertowel and move to another section of cake making sure to smooth in same direction all over cake. I smooth my sides first smoothing from bottom up. (Not sure what everyone else's method on sides is). Any excess icing smoothed up from sides will be smoothed out over top of cake.

Does this make any sense?

Amy

Just another thought about smoothing in same direction. Just try what ever works for you. Sometimes icing might be thicker in some areas and you'll need to smooth it out in different directions.


Amy

I've had good luck with wax paper as well. My wilton class teacher taught me that way...just make sure that the area you're working in is cool with as low humidity as possible!