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Getting cakes absolutely smooth

post #1 of 28
4/8/05 at 6:44am
Thread Starter 
Hey, I was just looking and there's an article there about getting a cake perfectly smooth. I tried it and will never go back to my old method!! icon_biggrin.gif Here's the link if anyone wants to take a look.

http://www.cakecentral.com/article6-Upside-Down-Icing-Technique-for-Perfectly-Smooth-Icing.html
There's nothing so good for a man as the sight of a horse. (or a cake!!) - Winston Churchill
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There's nothing so good for a man as the sight of a horse. (or a cake!!) - Winston Churchill
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post #2 of 28
4/8/05 at 1:17pm
I've heard it works but is time consuming. I smooth mine in just a few minutes. It seems like that method takes quite a while. I do think it would help though, in keeping the top of your cake absolutely flat.
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post #3 of 28
4/8/05 at 4:29pm
Yeah, I like the use of the hot wet spatula, switching off with other ones when one gets frosting on it. (Is that your method, Cali?) Then I let it crust and then use parchment paper. Some people prefer paper towels. Just place it over the top and gently smooth with your hand or a roller.

I'll check out the article, though. icon_smile.gif

Blessings,
~AngelWendy
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post #4 of 28
4/10/05 at 9:32pm
Thanks for sharing - I printed this off and will be trying Cali's method and this one - I don't care for the method I use now - it gets is smooth but i have problems getting that sharp top edge - my edges on rounds always seem rounded at the top - I don't like that - I currently use what our instructor taughts us which is icing with the icer tip - smoothing with just a regular spatula - then paper toweling it with a roller. I can't get that sharp edge I want - is there any specific tip to that?
My KISS Method - Keep It Simple Shugga
www.geocities.com/puresugarbyriccarda
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My KISS Method - Keep It Simple Shugga
www.geocities.com/puresugarbyriccarda
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post #5 of 28
4/11/05 at 10:20am
I mostly use the decorator's icing and, after leveling my cakes, ice them. I use icing tip to pread icing on, then smooth icing with a long spatula while turning cake on turntable. I let set for about 5-8 minutes, then gently smooth out icing using VIVA paper towels. This is the only paper towel that will make it smooth. (However, if you want a pring in the icing, you can use any other paper towel.) I place paper towel along side of cake and gently smooth with my hand in a motion going up and down. I change paper towels after completly smoothing once with the previous towel. For the top, I lay a paper towel on the top, with about 4 inches of the towel hanging over the side. I gently smooth with my hand, then using 2 hands, I make a "fold" in the towel over the edge, then rub the towel with one finger on side of cake, and one finger on top of cake so it will for a sharp corner where the edge is. THis doesn't take very long and I have had great success with this method. Good luck with whatever method you end up using!
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post #6 of 28
4/12/05 at 2:04am
OK I will try the method on the sides to see if that works for me - thanks for the tip.
My KISS Method - Keep It Simple Shugga
www.geocities.com/puresugarbyriccarda
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My KISS Method - Keep It Simple Shugga
www.geocities.com/puresugarbyriccarda
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post #7 of 28
4/12/05 at 3:20am
I've been using the paper towel method, making a sharp fold over the edge and smoothing down the sides, works pretty well for me. I would like to find the Viva smooth paper towels, even though I like the patterned ones, but haven't found for them here yet.

I looked at the upside down method a while back and figured that somewhere in there I would probably manage to drop the cake, or something equally destructive, so nixed that idea. Seemed pretty complicated and time consuming to me icon_sad.gif Janice's two cents.
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post #8 of 28
4/12/05 at 9:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by veejaytx

I would like to find the Viva smooth paper towels, even though I like the patterned ones, but haven't found for them here yet.



You can do a few different things in place of non-textured paper towels. I use a piece of higher-end cotton purchased at my local fabric store. You can also go to your discount center (K-Mart/WalMart) and go to the auto section. You will find blue paper towels there- smooth as a baby's bottom.

Some people use parchment paper successfully.
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post #9 of 28
4/12/05 at 12:04pm
I never thought about using shop paper towels, I am always buying them since we work on our own cars. When I mean 'we' I mean 'we', my husband likes me to help him because I have small hands and can get into smaller spaces in the engine better than he can. icon_wink.gif
"To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask? ~ John Rohn"
"Action is the foundational key to all success. ~ Pablo Picasso"
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"To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask? ~ John Rohn"
"Action is the foundational key to all success. ~ Pablo Picasso"
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post #10 of 28
4/17/05 at 6:56pm
I read that article and it does sound time consuming. But since I'm new to this whole decorating cakes thing, I'm sure that I'll try it at least once.
Yummy, Yummy, Yummy... I've got cake in my tummy!
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Yummy, Yummy, Yummy... I've got cake in my tummy!
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post #11 of 28
4/17/05 at 11:11pm
I just tried the shop towels for the first time, because I can't find the Viva towels here in Canada.
They worked absolutely wonderfully!! I'm thrilled with them,because I take hours just to smooth my cakes using the hot spatula method. That's because I'm a real perfectionist.
So when I mentioned that the shop towels might work, dh went right out and bought me some because he knows how I agonize over every cake and it probably drives him nuts!! icon_smile.gif
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post #12 of 28
4/18/05 at 11:35am
luceymoose,
I've been wanting to try that fro a while now. Did you find it hard or easy, too time consuming?? Just wondering how it was for you and if you have any advise before I try it!
My drug of choice is FROSTING!
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My drug of choice is FROSTING!
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post #13 of 28
4/22/05 at 11:30am
I have tried this upside down method and it works great. It is a little time consuming, but the cake comes out with a very nice sharp edge.
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post #14 of 28
4/22/05 at 5:10pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by peacockplace

luceymoose,
I've been wanting to try that fro a while now. Did you find it hard or easy, too time consuming?? Just wondering how it was for you and if you have any advise before I try it!



It's a little time consuming because of the freezing time but once the icing is on the cake, it's really fast
There's nothing so good for a man as the sight of a horse. (or a cake!!) - Winston Churchill
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There's nothing so good for a man as the sight of a horse. (or a cake!!) - Winston Churchill
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post #15 of 28
4/24/05 at 11:53pm
I love the up-side method. It is time consuming but it is worth it. My cakes are smoother, edges sharp. birthday.gif
WE CC SISTERS AND BROTHERS NEED TO STICK TOGETHER - LOVE AND PRAY FOR EACH OTHER - STAND WITH AND FOR EACH OTHER - SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER - YEP - THAT'S WHAT CAKE CENTRAL SISTERS AND BROTHERS DO BEST. !!!

www.freewebs.com/stephanie214
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WE CC SISTERS AND BROTHERS NEED TO STICK TOGETHER - LOVE AND PRAY FOR EACH OTHER - STAND WITH AND FOR EACH OTHER - SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER - YEP - THAT'S WHAT CAKE CENTRAL SISTERS AND BROTHERS DO BEST. !!!

www.freewebs.com/stephanie214
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