I'm a newbie to cake decorating and was wondering what's the easiest way to attach a ribbon around a cake?

Is the cake covered in buttercream or fondant?

If it's a fondant covered cake, I attache the ribbon to itself in the back with glue dots (a glue dot between the ends of the ribbon, not touching the cake!). As long as there isn't any slack in the ribbon you shouldn't need anything else.

I haven't attached ribbon to a buttercream cake yet, but I've read to iron the ribbon to waxed paper and then you can attache to the buttercream (if it hasn't crusted it should just stick, but you can use a bit of extra buttercream if it has)

You can also use double sided tape to make the ribbon stick to the wax paper. I have never thought of using an iron. I will have to try that.

On a fondant cake I have used a small dab of clear piping gel and attached the ribbon onto the cake. Wrap the ribbon fairly tightly and use another dab of the piping gel and attach the ribbon to its other end. You can use a straight pin to secure it until the piping gel sets. But don't forget to remove the pin!!!

I cut acetate strips (the ones used to separate cheesecake slices and also used to hold a Boston cream pie together) a little wider than the ribbon then I attach the ribbon to the acetate with double sided tape and then place around cake. Easy peasy.

it was for a fondant cake, thanks for all the great ideas!

I wholeheartedly discourage sticking pins into cake--no matter the reason.

It's a HUGE liability issue, should one inadvertently get onto the plate--or, god forbid--into the mouth of someone eating the cake. It's a nuisance to have the server have to account for a sharp.

In the US, it technically renders the product "inedible", as does using toothpicks in figures or wires in flowers.

Rae

Blakescakes I agree with you completely except for the toothpicks. They are a food safe product and used in food all the time. Food touching them is not rendered inedible as it would be when touching a wire.

Well, steffla, it's not my call or my decision.

It's a food safety standard and it has nothing to do with the fact that the food is touching the toothpick.
It's that the toothpick is now, essentially, becomes a hidden hazard IN the food. They are sharp, can splinter, and can cause damage if ingested--like wires. The same item on a lollipop stick is OK because the stick is rolled paper (actually can be digested), isn't sharp, and isn't easily bitten thru (nor are coffee stirrers or plastic lollipop sticks)

I didn't make it up. It was explained to me by several bakers familiar with food safety standards.

HTH
Rae

Fondant or Buttercream.. I rub shortening on the ribbon the put it on the cake.. REally easy and will move if you need it to move.. also no grease "spots"
on the ribbon.

I Understand what you mean and it makes sense. I thought you were saying that the fact that it is touching the food made it inedible like a metal wire would. I have never used a toothpick inside a fondant figure only dried spaghetti but I have used dowels or skewers to hold a fondant item sticking out of a cake. The sharp end is inserted into The cake and the flat end is in the object but it's basically a lollipop style. Fondant on a stick, the stick isn't hidden inside. Is this considered unsafe as well according to food standards? I ask because the dowels are considered safe to insert in the cakes for supports. Thanks for the info!

The toothpick is a small, hidden item that could easily be bitten into or not easily accounted for during serving.

A skewer or a dowel would generally be removed before serving and certainly couldn't be missed during serving or eating, so both are "food safe".

Rae

OK great! Thanks!