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Buttercream as smooth as fondant on Pinterest

post #1 of 25
7/6/12 at 4:12pm
Thread Starter 
This cake pic is all over Pinterest with the caption
"How to get buttercream frosting as smooth as fondant. Never would have thought of this, and it tastes so much better than fondant... "
It says it came from CakeCentral but I can't find it. Any ideas?
LL
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post #2 of 25
7/6/12 at 4:14pm
It's the Viva paper towel method:
http://cakecentral.com/tutorial/perfectly-smooth-buttercream-icing

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I hope I die before "your" is the official contraction of "you are."

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post #3 of 25
7/6/12 at 4:24pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks, that was QUICK! I've used the Viva method but never got it this smooth. I'll have to try doing it exactly as the tutorial explains and maybe tweak my recipe a bit.
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post #4 of 25
7/6/12 at 4:49pm
I've never had any luck with the viva paper towel method either. My buttercream always sticks to the paper towel, even if it's cold. And yes, that's using the standard recipe for crusting american buttercream. I gave up on it a while ago. Now I just use a scraper to smooth the edges. I saw a lady that used a blow torch to heat up her scraper to help smooth the buttercream. I think I may try that.
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post #5 of 25
7/6/12 at 4:55pm
Here is the link, it is on CakeCentral:

http://cakecentral.com/tutorial/perfectly-smooth-buttercream-icing.

Hope that helps icon_smile.gif
Pam
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Facebook: Pamela's Cakes & Confections

Pamela's Cakes & Confections is a home based business, inspected and approved by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Food and Drug Protection Division.
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2011 Awesome! Magical! Sweet! Cake Contest
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post #6 of 25
7/12/12 at 8:46pm
Mine doesn't look like that when I do the Viva method either. I buy the paper with no print on it and you can see that I ran something over the cake. I stick to a bench scraper and water too.
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post #7 of 25
7/13/12 at 9:42pm
I remember this original post. Use a tip 18 to ice the cake and then smooth then go over with Viva.
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post #8 of 25
7/15/12 at 8:32pm
I use a high density foam roller to get my buttercream to look as smooth as fondant. You can find these in the painting section. They clean up well and don't leave little fuzzies on your cake.
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post #9 of 25
7/16/12 at 8:47pm
I use viva exclusively. Here is an upclose of a cake - I have folks think it is fondant all the time! It's lots of fun to tell them NO....it is buttercream!
LL
Knowledge is a candle that when shared, doubles the light, but the insecure person believes knowledge is a candle that is diminished when it is split between two wicks.
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Knowledge is a candle that when shared, doubles the light, but the insecure person believes knowledge is a candle that is diminished when it is split between two wicks.
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post #10 of 25
7/16/12 at 8:48pm
I use viva exclusively. Here is an upclose of a cake - I have folks think it is fondant all the time! It's lots of fun to tell them NO....it is buttercream!
LL
Knowledge is a candle that when shared, doubles the light, but the insecure person believes knowledge is a candle that is diminished when it is split between two wicks.
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Knowledge is a candle that when shared, doubles the light, but the insecure person believes knowledge is a candle that is diminished when it is split between two wicks.
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post #11 of 25
7/24/12 at 6:55pm
If you're using the viva paper towels let the icing crust over at room temp, not cold. If you try to press the paper towel to it when it's cold it will be more likely to stick because it will warm up as you're working on it and the condensation will get into the towel and get it wet.

Once you do the paper towel you can also go over it with a sheet of parchment paper or typing paper to get it really smooth icon_smile.gif
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http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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post #12 of 25
7/24/12 at 8:12pm
Viva paper towel has truly changed my cake decorating! I used to agonize and go around and around trying to smooth my icing. I love it! My husband even remarked one day, "That looks so good, why ever do fondant again?"

....but I still do fondant sometimes icon_smile.gif
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post #13 of 25
7/24/12 at 8:26pm
Sadly, I have to throw my hat in with those who haven't mastered the Viva paper towel method. Or any other method for that matter. I go over it and over it and I still have little flaws and dimples and bumps. Ugh! So frustrating! I'm beginning to like the idea of textured bc more and more!

Oh, and I've looked for high density paint rollers and I only find foam rollers that seem to me to be too coarse and porous to do the job. Maybe I need to go to a real paint store and not Wal-Mart!!
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post #14 of 25
7/25/12 at 3:46am
I didn't have any success with the roller method, so not everything works for everyone. If the paper towels don't work for you either, try a hot spatula that's heated with either boiling water or a torch.
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post #15 of 25
7/25/12 at 5:40am
Viva method works great if the icing is well crusted. I place mine in the fridge for about 5 minutes and then use the paper towels. Works like a charm!
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