Icing A Cake

Decorating By tutugirl Updated 9 Jul 2015 , 11:34pm by kkarma50

tutugirl Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
tutugirl Posted 27 May 2010 , 9:24pm
post #1 of 150


icing121
This tutorial shows you step by step how to frost your cake in buttercream icing, and smooth it to a perfect finish. Commonly referred to as the "VIVA Paper Towel Method"
After so many of you asking how I do it here it is....

List of Materials

  • VIVA® Brand Paper Towels (will not work with other quilted brands)
  • Decorating Tip #18
  • 18 inch Icing Bag
  • Angled Spatula
  • Fondant Smoother (aka fondant paddle)
  • VERY HOT Water


icing11

With a tip 18 and an 18 inch bag pipe up and down the side of prepared crumb coated cake


icing21

Continue all the way around the cake.


icing31

With a large metal angled spatula dipped in VERY hot water
Remove spatula from water
dry the spatula and go around the cake...in sections till is all done


icing41

With the smooth side of a viva towel rub the cake all the way around pushing any air bubbles up.


icing51

With the smooth side of the viva towel round the edges with your fingers.


icing61

With the viva towel and a fondant paddle smooth the side of the cake.


icing71

With the tip 18 fill the top of the cake.


icing81

With a VERY hot angle spatula smooth the top of the cake.


Icing91

Continue the until top all done with the hot spatula.


icing101

With the smooth side of the viva towel and your hand smooth the top and the edge blending the edge well.


icing111

With the smooth side of the viva towel and the fondant paddle smooth the top and the sides one final time.

 


icing121

149 replies
esq1031 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
esq1031 Posted 27 May 2010 , 9:51pm
post #2 of 150

Awesome...you make this look so easy. i will try it for sure. what changes, would u make for a stabilized whipped cream covered cake???

mamawrobin Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
mamawrobin Posted 27 May 2010 , 9:54pm
post #3 of 150

Now that's what I'm talking about thumbs_up.gificon_smile.gif Beautiful!

luvbuttercream Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
luvbuttercream Posted 27 May 2010 , 9:56pm
post #4 of 150

Great Job!! I am totally gonna try this! I know it may not matter but what tip did you use??

luvbuttercream Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
luvbuttercream Posted 27 May 2010 , 9:57pm
post #5 of 150

Oops I just read the captions and saw what tip. Sorry

tutugirl Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
tutugirl Posted 27 May 2010 , 9:59pm
post #6 of 150

I don't know if it works with other icing but mine is 1/2 butter and 1/2 hi ratio shortening...

The description is under each picture...it is tip number 18. I have never used any other tip so I don't know.

I am glad you are enjoying the post. icon_biggrin.gif

Marvan704 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Marvan704 Posted 27 May 2010 , 10:08pm
post #7 of 150

Espectacular!!!! Te pregunto, Cual es la receta del buttercream, soy de Puerto Rico y el cool whip de la receta de indebys no se consigue!!! Gracias por la explicacion!!!!

tutugirl Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
tutugirl Posted 27 May 2010 , 10:14pm
post #8 of 150

Mi receta es

2 tazas de mantequilla con sal
2 tazas de high ratio (manteca vegetal especial para icing)
sabores (los que quieras)
Añade poco a poco 4 libras de Domino Confectioner 10x
una pizca de sal

En Puerto Rico no se puede añadir agua pero aca en EU añado 2 o 3 chucaradas de agua caliente

Djor Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Djor Posted 27 May 2010 , 10:27pm
post #9 of 150

thanks thumbs_up.gif

Joybeth Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Joybeth Posted 27 May 2010 , 10:29pm
post #10 of 150

What type of buttercream do you use?

lyndim Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
lyndim Posted 27 May 2010 , 10:31pm
post #11 of 150

Can't wait to try it! icon_biggrin.gif

SillyJacs Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
SillyJacs Posted 27 May 2010 , 10:43pm
post #12 of 150

Looks great. Thanks for this tutorial. One question...how do you do your crumb coating to get it so thin? Thanks again.

eperales0411 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
eperales0411 Posted 27 May 2010 , 10:54pm
post #13 of 150

Thanks for this tutorial, it is awesome, can't wait to try it!!!! THANKS!!!!! thumbs_up.gif

Jenn2179 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Jenn2179 Posted 27 May 2010 , 11:09pm
post #14 of 150

Great pictures! Wish I could use the tips you shared but I use a non-crusting buttercream.

dalilu Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
dalilu Posted 27 May 2010 , 11:41pm
post #15 of 150

No entiendo lo de que en Puerto Rico no se puede usar agua?

luvbuttercream Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
luvbuttercream Posted 28 May 2010 , 12:47am
post #16 of 150
Quote:
Quote:

Great pictures! Wish I could use the tips you shared but I use a non-crusting buttercream.




You can use this technique with a non-crusting recipe I use SMBC most of the time and all I do is refrigerate it till set then use the paper towel method to smooth it works perfectly!

tutugirl Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
tutugirl Posted 28 May 2010 , 1:10am
post #17 of 150

Cuando fui a Puerto Rico a enseñar como hacer esto, no le pude poner agua porque hace mucho calor y no se necesita el agua.

I don't know what is the difference between crusting or not crusting...

My recipe
2 cups of butter
2 cups of hi ratio
flavorings
4 pound of confectioners sugar 10x
3 tablespoons of hot water (depending on the weather)

I don't use meringue powder.

I add water to crumb coat but to ice is stiff consistency...I hope this helped.

Let me know if you have additional questions.

mmlj316 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
mmlj316 Posted 28 May 2010 , 1:11am
post #18 of 150

Thanks so much!!

sberryp Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
sberryp Posted 28 May 2010 , 1:13am
post #19 of 150

Love it!

au_decorator_76 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
au_decorator_76 Posted 28 May 2010 , 1:32am
post #20 of 150

Wonderful tutorial! Thank you for sharing. icon_smile.gif

foxymomma521 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
foxymomma521 Posted 28 May 2010 , 1:38am
post #21 of 150

thank you!

bakermom3107 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
bakermom3107 Posted 28 May 2010 , 2:31am
post #22 of 150

Brilliant!! Thank youicon_smile.gif

Mommy2three4714 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Mommy2three4714 Posted 28 May 2010 , 3:27am
post #23 of 150

Looks perfect!!!

chellescountrycakes Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
chellescountrycakes Posted 28 May 2010 , 3:47am
post #24 of 150

Thanks icon_smile.gif

the tip 18, I have seen these, but couldnt find a coupler... is there such a thing as a coupler for that? or doI just put it down in the bag?

I think mybiggest problem is I dont water down my crumbcoat.

It seems to pull my cake away and is too thick. I have to master the icing before I can get good at anything else.

I do much better when someone wants a cake with a texture cover. LOL

PDXSweetTreats Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
PDXSweetTreats Posted 28 May 2010 , 4:07am
post #25 of 150

Wow! Thanks for posting this. I always have trouble with the top, so I'm going to try your method next time. Thanks, again icon_smile.gif

tutugirl Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
tutugirl Posted 28 May 2010 , 4:55am
post #26 of 150

Thank you everyone.

The tip 18 is a regular star tip, nothing special is needed.

JanH Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
JanH Posted 28 May 2010 , 5:46am
post #27 of 150
Quote:
Originally Posted by esq1031

Awesome...you make this look so easy.




Totally awesome. icon_biggrin.gifthumbs_up.gif

Thanks for sharing!!!

RachelC Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
RachelC Posted 28 May 2010 , 6:52am
post #28 of 150

If you don't mind me asking, what type of recipe do you use for your buttercream?

Also, how do you get your crumb coat so thin?

tutugirl Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
tutugirl Posted 28 May 2010 , 1:58pm
post #29 of 150

Hi Rachel, I answered both questions at the top of this page...let me know if it is not clear and I will explain again. Thank you all for the wonderful comments.

LindaF144a Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
LindaF144a Posted 28 May 2010 , 2:41pm
post #30 of 150

Awesome tutorial. I'm going to try this on my next cake. It seems like you have much more control than when you use tip 789. Thank you for sharing.

Quote by @%username% on %date%

%body%