Frozen buttercream transfer is a method of transferring your art to your frosted cake. You are making a buttercream “plaque” to apply to your cake. It is similar to the more familiar method of transferring a design to a frosted cake with gel on waxed paper, and filling in the design with a star tip. It is also comparable to run-in (flood-work) sugar design work, and it will make a beautiful reproduction of your art in buttercream on small as well as very large cakes.1
Things You Will Need:
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1. Choose a graphic image and print it out in reverse/mirror image. (Click here for a good place to search for coloring book images)2.Tape your picture down to a solid surface such as a cutting board.3. Tape a piece of wax paper over your image |
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4. Using your choice of outline color* Trace the outlines of the picture. *Outlining note: I use store brand (VON’S) fudge icing or Wilton’s Black. These are thicker and seem to not smudge as badly as homemade buttercream. The fudge seems to work better. I have found that name brand fudge icing is too creamy. The Wilton’s black will try to lift off of the wax paper. This must be used with care. |
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5. After completing outline. Begin coloring in. Think about your layers. For instance, in the sample picture, the white collar/cuff fur would cover the red jacket and bear fur. So I do this first. 6. Continue with your other colors thinking about layers as you go. |
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7. When you have finished coloring in your graphic, smooth the back while gently pushing without blending your colors underneath. This will settle your frosting into the grooves and create a smooth finished project. | |||||||
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8. Anything you have on the edges will show on your cake. Using the same color icing you will ice your cake with, edge the transfer and cover the back evenly. | |||||||
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9.Place in freezer on cutting board for at least 90 minutes. I have left it in for as much as 24 hours.10. Remove from freezer. Turn over onto iced cake. | |||||||
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11. Gently press transfer into icing.12. Carefully remove waxed paper | ![]() |
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13. Enhance transfer and finish icing cake, as you desire | ![]() |
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By: Dawn Griffin
69 Responses
September 14th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting an article with visuals….can’t wait to try it out!!!
Angelfire3
September 17th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
WOW! I never heard of this method before. I love it. Thanks for sharing.
neecerator
September 17th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Very nice work, and thanks also for the visuals, as I am a visual learner.
Words just don’t do it for me. tee hee
amarieholley
September 21st, 2009 at 3:29 am
I used this method but put the waxed paper over plexy glass first, that way you can lift the glass and look at the image underneath to make sure you don’t have an air bubbles in your icing. This works well because you can check your work periodically as you go. You can get plexy glass cut at Lowes or your local hardware store.
SweetsSpot
September 25th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Thank you all for such great tips. I have been searching for this “FBCT”…drove me crazy trying to figure out what that stood for…lol…I am new to the site & I am already learning a lot!!!! Thanks again!!!
sweetkake
October 8th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Thank you so much for the very concise instructions. Never thought I’d be interested in this technique. It’s very useful.
missjessifer
October 14th, 2009 at 8:11 am
Thank you so much for this information. I’ve been wondering how to do this for a while, but never really took the time to look it up, I’m just a mom who wants to make my own cakes for my kids birthdays, I’m going to try this for my son’s Wall-E cake for next week…hope I can get it right!
CakeJediChic
October 16th, 2009 at 10:06 am
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this technique! Thanks so much for the tutorial!
Tiara13
October 21st, 2009 at 8:27 pm
I’m going to try this next week, but I’m worried about what to use for outlining. There is a store here that carries the Wilton brand, but I was wondering what “Wilton’s black” specifically referred to – is it just their regular black tube icing? I’m doing a Red Wings logo – should I use a Wilton’s red icing and my own normal buttercream for the white? I’m sorry if this sounds like a silly question – I’ve never done a buttercream transfer before, and I don’t want to mess it up! Thanks
duddy66
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Would there be any concern about how far in advance to freeze, I’ve read not more than 90 minutes or it might crack. What about when thawing is there concern of the colors running?
October 25th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Very helpful thank you ever so much for sharing your knowledge.
duddy66
November 1st, 2009 at 3:44 pm
I used this for the first time on my halloween cake and it turned out great. I was worried about the colors running but if you follow the directions that are given it turns out beautiful. Thanks.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
The suggestion to use store brand canned frosting for the outline REALLY helped me – I used Aldi’s chocolate frosting and without that, I don’t think it would have peeled off the paper properly. That frosting stayed harder than the buttercream just long enough to get the transfer moved. Thanks so much for the extra tip!!
LovinMyLilFam
November 14th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
This is very helpful…I do have a question: Does this work only on animated pictures or can you do a photo of a family member too?
rkartler
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
THANK U!! SOUNDS LIKE FUN AND CAN’T WAIT TO TRY IT!!!
December 4th, 2009 at 3:57 am
I tried this method but when I removed it from the freezer it had ice crystals on it and they melted rigtht away, putting water on the piece. the black out line ran all over the place and I had to scrap the whole thing. Did I leave it in the freezer too long (I had it in there 2 days) Has this ever happened to anyone
thomasbp41
December 7th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Thank You so much. I am new here and this is very helpful!!!
uga_dawgs
December 29th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Thank you so much for sharing this idea. I’ve used it now to make several cakes, from a UGA cake to a High School Musical cake. It’s wonderful and the results are beautiful!
stewartglo
December 29th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
MY QUESTION CAN ANYONE HELP ME ,I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COACH PURSE CAKE I HAVE PRACTICED MAKING THE C’S BUT THEY DONT COME OUT RIGHT IM WONDERING IF I CAN USE THIS METHOD ON A CAKE THATS COVERED IN FONDANT
mrsmontgomery
February 4th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
How far in advance can I put this on the cake? I wanted to do it on a friday but the party isnt until saturday afternoon. Has anyone had a problem with the icing getting too warm and breaking apart? Also, does it have to be refrigerated after pulling from the freezer? tia.
cakeE101
February 7th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
WOW that really some thing cool can’t wait try it for myself Question do you have to refigerated once you place it on the cake?
kater82
February 17th, 2010 at 10:17 am
cant wait to try it!! I never knew about it. I am so excited to try Elmo I just might try it today!
Pouty
February 19th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
I’ve never used or heard of this method before but it sounds great for people who need help in this area. I would recommend refrigerating the cake after the transfer is place on the cake to prevent condensation from forming on the transfer. This is especially important if it is humid. The condensation would most certainly cause the colors to bleed. Also before the event, it would be important to try and place the cake in a cool area so it can slowly come up to room temperature making it less likely for condensation to form. Keeping the cake closed up in a box while coming to room temperature will also help deter condensation. Also…after freezing the transfer until it was firm, I would light lay a piece of foil over to cover while it remains in the freezer. This should prevent ice crystals from forming right on the transfer.
sylviacakes
March 10th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Whoa… I’d need a video on this! Is there one on utube?
sylviacakes
March 14th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
I found the video on utube. just type in: Buttercream transfer. What is the consistency of the buttercream fill in and also the consistency when covering the whole thing in BC when done? Thank you for a reply.
Paige_Pittman86
April 5th, 2010 at 5:49 am
IM LOST ON STEP 7
if i flip the pape over wont the licing come off thats the only thing im confused on
busymom9501
April 7th, 2010 at 10:53 am
Paige, it will be frozen so when you flip it it will be solid and come off nice and easy. Just peel slowly.
annettezx2
April 14th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
There are videos on youtube of people showing you how to do it. just go to youtube and type in frozen buttercream transfer. Go check it out!!!!
NattyCakes2
April 22nd, 2010 at 11:24 am
I’ve haven’t tried this technique yet (going to soon) but was thinking…after smoothing the graphic (step 7) but before applying the icing which covers the cake to the back of the graphic (step
I would freeze the graphic just until it was firmer to ensure the cake icing in step 8 doesnt peel the graphic icing away from the paper. Any thoughts on this variation?
uga_dawgs
May 10th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Thank you for this wonderful article! I’ve used it many times and each time the response is amazing.
LaurelC
May 11th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
What is the Von’s store brand?
doramoreno62
May 14th, 2010 at 1:09 am
LaurelC it is sold at Von’s grocery store and it’s the icing in the tub with the brand being Von’s. You know, like Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker. It’s just the store brand. It’s not as expensive as the other brands because its their own brand.
amarieholley
May 14th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
I have actually used this technique twice and it works wonderful. I do however use the plexy glass variation so that I can pick it up and look at it while I go. (just went to lowes and had a small piece cut) One other thing I do though is to use a small paint brush to help aid me in the filling in of the design. It works really well to help “push” the colored icing up around the outline.
jessyrob
May 24th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
gee u r the best thx a million for sharing this tecnique! i am sooo excited to try it
May 30th, 2010 at 8:59 am
I loved this article! The only thing I would point out is the first time I used this method I used buttercream for the design, but Duncan Hines to go around the outside since that’s what I was using on the cake itself. The Duncan Hines dried out in the freezer and cracked terribly, and I just couldn’t get it to set right on the cake. To fix it I melted some of the icing in the microwave then poured it over the edges of the design to blend it in and hide the cracks. Next time I will be using all homemade icing since that part worked like a charm!
Yasi
June 4th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
I did it and it came out AWESOME!
dodgerette09
June 9th, 2010 at 7:19 am
I wasn’t very clear on how to smooth the back, do you have to flip it over? Please Help.
speedyblonde69
June 24th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
thank-you so much i tryed belive it or not i save my old iceing when i want 2 experiment , so im not sure it had butter in it or not. but first try worked im so happy im going to use this recipe all the time , im bout to make up new batch with butter and crisco and i love how you can steady your hand on table thank-you again you are godess of what i dreaded you made easy . Speedy ps love the pictures to follow.
lillalilaprick
July 23rd, 2010 at 3:52 am
Can I use anything else than wax paper? I can’t buy it where I live in Sweden….
doramoreno62
August 5th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
I use parchment paper and it works fine!
Cakeswithtlc
September 28th, 2010 at 10:35 am
Has anyone tried to put a FBCT on Fondant? I made my transfer, but plan to put it on a fondant covered cake.
llkrantz
November 23rd, 2010 at 3:24 pm
I have several cakes that I am going to be making in the near future, I am going to try this. Thank you!!
JSteele
November 23rd, 2010 at 9:48 pm
I tryed this today and loved this idea. It worked great. I felt like I was coloring again just with icing.
CookieLady215
November 28th, 2010 at 7:31 am
I tryed this last night not bad! Very fun and easy to do. The only thing I forgot to smooth out the icing and mirror the image. ( husband and children loved it ) Thank you so much. Round 2 in 30 minutes!!! LOL
tryingcake
December 6th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
HI, everyone. I’m the creator of this article, Dawn Becker (formerly Griffin). I never knew these comments existed. I’ve been away a long, long time. I’m so sorry I never answered questions. Well, I guess better late than never.
1) Yes, you can put it on fondant but I imagine it won’t lay flat. That’s going to be a trial and error thing.
2) to the person who used Duncan Hines as the outline and it failed. Brand name icing, as I stated in the tutorial, is too soft. Cheaper store brands tend to not be as “smooth and creamy” and work better. You need a stiff icing for this. I either use the the Wilton black in the tube or a cheap store brand in a tub (not tube). Betty Crocker and Duncan Hines Tubes are way too soft.
3) I’ve made them as much as a week in advance, leaving them in the freezer, and not once had an issue.
4) No, you do not need to refrigerate once you’ve completed the cake. Unless your house is sweltering, it stays intact. I lived in the desert when I created this tutorial. Not once had an issue.
5) colors bleeding: that 100% depends on the brand coloring you use. Wilton bleeds bleeds bleeds. That’s not the transfer’s fault.
6) I don’t use Plexiglas because my icing is flowing properly, no air bubbles to be had. It should be the consistency you would use for making lettering or vines.
7) The final layer of icing is simply to seal all the seams. I put on a hefty layer. The actual transfer is probably 1/4″ thick. after the final backing, it’s about 1/2″ thick.
When smoothing the back, I use the same color icing as my cake. I run it over the seams of the various sections. Now, don’t be afraid to gently yet firmly press your final layer. This seals your seams and gets rid of any air bubbles you may have. No, I don’t freeze it before placing the backing on.
9) I use wax paper because it’s cheap. Parchment works great as well as acetate. I also found heavy duty baggies (cut to a single layer) are awesome – but $$$.
If you like this technique – try BCG (buttercream glaze). I have NOT made a BCT since discovering the gazing technique. No waiting for freeze time. If no one has posted a tutorial for that, I have one available I can contribute.
Thank you for all the great comments. I hope this clear things up. Let me know!!
Dawn
Deanna78
December 7th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
can you provide the BCG info?
Evoir
December 7th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
I tried this yesterday for the first time and it worked beautifully!
Thank you so much for the instructions. Those, together with a few YouTube videos, and I was set!
I highly recommend this method
Eve
tryingcake
December 7th, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Evior:
sure. It’s all on my webshots. I can’t figure out how to submit articles here. But in the mean time you can go here for directions on BCT BCG and CTs (among several other things of you surf my account)
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/111071540UEhrpE?vhost=home-and-garden
Let me know if you need any further explanations. I created these a long time ago with the limits of webshots.
candicemarie
January 3rd, 2011 at 4:23 pm
what tip do people use?
cakemomof2
January 20th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
so what am i doing wrong? I have tried this a few times now and everytime i go to flatten the back the blac out lined edges end up peeling up and the whole picture smears together. I’ve tried 3 or 4 times now and have yet to like how it has come out. I used Wiltonblack decorating icing in a tube for outlines. and a butter and crisco based buttercream. I love how it looks for people who have done it successfully in the gallery I just don’t know what I am doing wrong.
crazycakeamateur
January 28th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
when I click on your buttercream recipe it says error. Can you tell me where else I might be able to get that recipe from?
amyjoqc
January 30th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Thank you so much for this!!!
I tried this for my New Year’s Eve cake and it worked wonderfully! The only problem I had was when I reprinted my clockface as a mirror image and then I went and used the original non flipped one. Other than that little error of mine, I found it worked like a dream. It turned out a lot better than I thought it would because I’m very new to cake decorating. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do it, but I’m now very excited about trying it again for my nephew’s 17th birthday. This time I’m trying it with a pencil sketch of my nephew.
SheriCakes4u
February 25th, 2011 at 9:05 am
Such a great way to get a fairly detailed image onto the cake! For so many years I used the method of tracing a picture on a piece of waxed paper and then using a toothpick to poke holes into the crusted buttercream! I wish I had known about this method back then!
tryingcake
February 26th, 2011 at 11:34 am
I really wish I would be notified when people post here. I would answer your questions so much faster. Anyway….
candicemarie: It depends on how delicate the picture is, how I want it to look. For most, I use a #2 tip for the lining and the largest reasonable tip for filling. That depends on how big the area is.
cakemomof2: I really don’t know. Try freezing the transfer before putting the sealing layer on. Then freeze again. Just a suggestion. Let me know how it works for you.
razycakeamateur: I use a very standard BC recipe that a lot of decorators use.
2 pounds sugar
1.5 cups butter (three sticks)
1 cup shortening
1 t flavoring of choice
That’s the recipe. Then add your liquid of choice ti thin it down (no water). I use non-dairy coffee creamers.
amyjoqc: Good for you!!!! I actually did the same thing in making this tutorial. I had to pie the Hunny on free-hand.
SheriCakes4u: If you like this method, you really need to try the glazing method. I like it much better.
Thanks, everyone!! and good luck to you.
katboss
March 19th, 2011 at 8:40 am
Jusy wanted to say THANK YOU so much for this!! I just tried it for the first time on a sesame babies cake and I have to say this was the easiest thing I have ever done! Your instructions worked beautifully!!! Thanks again I am really glad that this sight exists for people like me who are just starting out!! : )
DeRobison
April 2nd, 2011 at 8:26 am
I can not wait to try this!!!
anikaxova
May 20th, 2011 at 10:46 am
Hi Dawn,
Thanks for such a great tutorial. I just made my buttercream transfer cake and it worked pretty well! I had a couple questions though if you might answer:
1. In the webshots tutorial, you mention that the buttercream glaze will crust and remain shiny if the frosting used underneath is crusting buttercream. Is it okay to use a non-crusting buttercream?
2. This is kind of general: what is the best way to store lleftover buttercream? (for longer storage, e.g. 1 to 2 weeks, in the fridge since there is butter?) I used thin plastic sandwich bags for most of the colored buttercreams — so I’ve just kept them in the same bag in the fridge. I guess if I use them next I may have to thin them if liquid has evaporated and readjust the colors? Is it necessary to rewhip refrigerated buttercream?
Thanks again!
Anika
Redvet
June 11th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
I clicked on the link for the Buttery Buttercream icing, but it didn’t work. Can you give me the recipe you use?.
kristiemarie
June 15th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
I am trying this out next week for a cake. Yeah!
LVC1179
June 30th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
Thanks for the step by step with pics…. So excited to try this out!!!
SweetBakesOfMine
July 28th, 2011 at 9:22 am
I was wondering, I wanted to make a dragon but wanted my transfer image to be standing up. I have something behind it like maybe a rock (fondant of course) supporting my transfer image. How long you think will it last before it starts to melt??
Thanks!!!
SugarMonkeys
August 1st, 2011 at 5:59 pm
THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
redtang
October 8th, 2011 at 8:13 am
Thanks for posting!!!!!
haddur
October 9th, 2011 at 5:15 am
This is awesome thank you!! I just used it using cream cheese frosting (for a carrot cake) and it worked out perfectly! I did not use the Wilton black icing but I think the black cream cheese frosting was thick enough (I stuck it in the fridge for a few minutes before I started to thicken it up). Perfect!!
eatmyart
October 31st, 2011 at 10:37 am
Thany you soooooooo much. I am also pretty new to cake decorating and I have an elmo cake to do this weekend. I think this will work great.
MaryB_011
January 5th, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Thanks, for this, couple of questions – will regular food coloring “water down” the buttercream ? what do u recommend for coloring the buttercream? also instead of buttercream would store brand tub frosting (white) be OK to use in main sections – and again, is food coloring OK ? thanks for the help!
ckeel127
January 17th, 2012 at 9:39 am
I’m not sure if I follow the recipe for the buttercream glaze. You say use the tinted buttercream and add equal parts of corn syrup. So is it safe to say that if I use 1 cup of buttercream, I should add a cup of corn syrup? It’s sounds like it would really make it very ” syrupy”. Am I right in thinking that this is what you want us to do for the recipe.
it’s just mixiing two ingredients together (buttercream and corn syrup). I’m excited about this and want to try it this weekend. Thanks for all of your great tips, recipes and expertise. You are awesome!
farley4ohana
January 20th, 2012 at 9:23 am
MaryB–regular food coloring WILL water down the buttercream. At the grocery stores and craft stores in the cake decorating section, there are little jars of gel coloring. It’s concentrated, so a little goes a long way. The buttercream recipe that I use is Bunnywomans recipe that is on the Wilton forum. You want a recipe that has half butter so it will keep it’s shape, and half Crisco. It’s very easy and fun to do this. I first saw it on Wilton.com as a video.
heynannie
February 11th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
lookin forward to trying this….great explaination Thanks for sharing <
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