does anyone add simple syrup to their cakes before frosting them? I am making a belly cake for my sisters shower and since the cake will be made 2 days ahead of time, was wondering if i should brush with simple syrup before I decorate it the morning of the party... thanks for any help and input! I reall want her cake to be great!
I will be using bc and mmf to decorate

i dont do this

I use simple syrup on all of my cakes. I use a squeeze bottle with the flavored syrup (usually a liquor) and wait about 10 minutes, then proceed as usual with fillings etc. I don't trust using the syrup so far in advance because the moistness may promote bacteria if not iced right away. HTH

-Rezzy

So if i brush with the syrup in the morning of the party it should be good, right?

The idea of a simple syrup is to actually prolong the life of the cake. The same as by covering a cake in fondant, you are preserving the cake. I use a equal parts sugar & water, brought up to and allowed to boil for 1 minute, then add a flavoring of your choice. Brush it on the cake while the syrup is still VERY hot...this allows for better absorption. Then ice the cake. I do this with all my cakes. It adds moisture and flavor and again, helps to preserve the cake.

[quote="sonoma9
I'd never heard of the preserving aspect of it. I used to use it on all my cakes until I changed my ingredients and method of cooling. I don't need it anymore. I liked it, but it was a pain to make because I only make cakes occasionally, so I never needed it all, but it's interesting to think about the preserving aspect.

Sarah [/quote]

I use it primarily to enhance certain flavors. Also, I make it in large batches and keep them in the fridge. I have different bottles with different flavors ready to use.

-Rezzy

As far as preserving the cake, it wouldn't preserve it as if you saturated the cake in alcohol as you would a traditional fruit cake, but it does give you a few extra days of life on the cake. In regards to storing simple syrup, it will last a few weeks in the cooler. The pastry shop I worked in would make tremendous batches of it and we would gradually go through it, over a period of several weeks. I believe it is the alcohol that is normally added to traditional syrups that adds the preserving aspect.

I tried this a few times, but I use box mixes and since they are pretty sweet already the simply syrup made them overly sweet in my opinion. I think this works really really well for scratch cakes because it gives them a little extra sweetness and added moisture. That is just my experience! HTH

Why Use Simple Syrup:

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How-to-Apply (Using Pastry Brush) Tutorial:

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-10274-.html

Recipes and Application Tips:

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HTH

Dang JanH!!!! You're working OVERTIME tonight!!!

thanks for all the replies and links! You've all been very helpful

Always, on every cake I make. I cut the tops off all my cakes for leveling. I brush the simple syrup on the cut surfaces, freeze my cakes and when assembled the cut side go together. I just brush the syrup on with a pastry brush, enough to moisten but not satuurate the cake. It adds moistness and flavor, I flavor mine with an extract or liquere that will compliment or enhance the filling I am using in the cake. Just a few drops of extract because they are very concentrated and strong. My best seller is simple syrup boiled with 1 rounded teaspoon of instant coffee granules with 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup water. Boil till sugar has dissolved, remove from heat and add 1 Tablespoon Kahlua. Wonderful on a white or chocolate cake filled with a Kahlau Bavarian cream.

I use it on box mixes as well as from scratch and I get positive comments on both.

THANKS. I HAD MISPLACED THE RECIPE FOR IT AND SO GLAD YOU ANSWERED A FEW QUESTIONS I WAS GOING TO ASK.

You are very welcome.

shirleyw! omg so nice to 'see' you! hope you are well and happy -- l&p, k8

Hi Kate. am well, just getting older.

I do this too! Squeeze bottle is the best application method! I syrup every single cake, no matter when it will be served. It helps the crumb texture and makes such nice clean slices when you cut it. It doesn't add sweetness. I add the syrup before filling the cake to every layer. Ideally the cake would have 24 hours before serving after syrup application for it to evenly soak through everything.