Buttercream (Lines/creases/elephant Skin)
Decorating By Pickulz Updated 9 Mar 2013 , 5:39pm by bittersweety
After I apply my buttercream I always tend to get creases in it. It looks like elephant skin. I'll try and post a picture later if I can.
I use Indydebi's recipe (which really works well for me)..except for the wrinkles at times. I had posted a long time ago and someone suggested a sturdier board. And I have started to do that, but I still get the same problem.
I apply the BC (do not crumb coat) and use viva to smooth and then a hot bench scraper.
Any suggestions?
I would have said sturdier board. If your board flexes at all it will create lines/wrinkles. If your cake looks good until you move it -- even slightly -- that's what's going on. Some have said that adding vinegar to the BC prevents lines, but I've found the board to be the key.
Oh btw I live in a super humid climate..dont know if that is a factor?
I'll try and post a picture...I made an 8 inch cake (torted and filled with BC)..put that on a cake board..applied BC and moved to the whole thing to a cake drum.
Perhaps I shuold have put the cake board on the cake drum and then applied the BC?
Yes, it sounds to me like the cracks/wrinkles are coming from when you move it as well. After the buttercream dries on the outside, and then the cake gets moved, the dried or "crusted" outer layer of the buttercream cracks. I have also heard about adding vinegar to the buttercream but have never tried it. Icing the cake with the cake board on the cake drum sounds like a good idea to me, it is sturdier and involves less moving around.
http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-633571-latest.html+trick
if you apply soft buttercream too thick, then the weight of itself will cause it so get that crackly elephant skin look. it needs to be whipped to a firm enough state that when you smooth it on, it stays. and don't apply too thick..it'll just be too heavy
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