How To Frost a Square Cake & Get Crisp Corners with Buttercream

Posted 08/21/12 • Last updated 08/12/05 • 14835 views • 35 comments

Posted by bkeith

This step-by-step guide with photos will teach how to get crisp sharp edges on any square cake covered in buttercream

	1. First, a square "cake" (sorry -- didn't have a real cake around to mess with). Slapped some icing on a square pan, and when I went to clean some icing away, I came up with a perfect square corner without even trying. So I took an intentional swipe at the corner to mess it up a bit so you could see what's what.
	2. With your left hand, hold a spatula vertically in front of you so the right edge of the spatula is where you want the corner to be
	3. With another spatula in your right hand, start adding dabs of icing on the side of the cake running away from you, building up the corner against the "dam" spatula in your left hand.
	4. Now gently slide the left hand spatula to the left, slowly bringing it away from the cake side to minimize the lift-off mark
	5. Once the corners are built, I generally go back with my bench scraper and clean up the sides between the corners.
	6. Same method works to do the corners on top of the cake too, just hold the left hand spatula horizontally (use a larger, elbow spatula to get a longer, cleaner edge)

Comments (35)

Anonymous 8/29/09 at 4:33am

I am going to try this on our next square cake, thank you so much you make it look so easy!

Anonymous 9/20/09 at 2:28pm

I can't wait to try this.

Anonymous 9/21/09 at 5:44pm

Swweeettt! I have been wondering how to do this! I am going to try it next time. Thank you!

Anonymous 9/23/09 at 3:26pm

Gosh, how come i never thought of that DUH! Thanks

Anonymous 9/29/09 at 9:25pm

It worked! Thank you so much!

Anonymous 10/4/09 at 11:30am

Love it, I'll have to try it.

Anonymous 11/12/09 at 7:00am

WOW....what an awesome technique! Many thanks.:)

Anonymous 11/23/09 at 3:33pm

thank you for taking time to show this, i need all the help i can get

Anonymous 12/3/09 at 2:35pm

YES!!!! awesome!

Anonymous 1/22/10 at 7:22pm

Thanks!!!

Anonymous 1/29/10 at 10:40pm

Tried it.... at first not too easy, but once you get the hang of it.... GREAT!!!! love it! thanks...... for a follow up you can add this link.... it's covering the square cake with fondant afterwards.... from ices.... here is the link: http://www.ices.org/newsletter/newsletter%20articles/Covering%20a%20Square%20Cake%20with%20Fondant%20by%20Kelly%20Lance.pdf copy and paste on ur browser... thanks a million!!

Anonymous 3/15/10 at 1:03pm

awesome. i want to definitely try this. Just hope i remember when i next have a square cake to decorate. what if i want to use a serrated scraper to make a pattern on the sides?

Anonymous 5/13/10 at 6:07am

Thanks!!!!!! I an going to try it......

Anonymous 7/3/10 at 1:24am

Great Advise, Im going to try it on my 4th of July cake Im in the process of making, will let you know how it turns out!

Anonymous 7/25/10 at 7:53am

What buttercream recipe works best?

Anonymous 8/2/10 at 6:54pm

It's genious how simple it is.

Anonymous 10/9/10 at 7:26am

definatley gonna try that!

Anonymous 10/29/10 at 5:42pm

so glad i found this working on a rubicks cube as I type!! Gonna attempt this!