Cake Decorating - How to Put Icing on

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Sandy Sheppard

Confectioner's Art

www.confectionersart.com

703-550-6978

sandyscakes2000@yahoo.com

Sandy Sheppard, an award winning Master Cake Designer, and owner of Confectioner's Art, has over 25 years experience and has been published in Who's Who.”

Cake Decorating - How to Put Icing on

Master cake decorator Sandy Sheppard demonstrates how to put icing on your cake.

This series: 3,435,784 views

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Sandy Sheppard: Hi! I am Sandy Sheppard, a master cake decorator, and now that I have got my cake crumb coated, I am going to show you how to ice your cake. Normally when I crumb coat my cake, I let it set for at least an hour or so that it is dry to the touch and that sealed in those crumbs nicely, so that when I ice it, it wont pull that icing off again or pull those crumbs back to the surface.

I have got my icing and my angled spatula and the first thing I do and this always freaks out my students, is I put a large amount of icing on top of the cake. Now, it is not going to all stay on the cake, but it makes it easier when you are icing a cake, if your pushing icing and not reaching the cake. So, I have got a nice pile of icing on the cake and I am going to start pushing it and as you see, it will go near the edge and right on down the edge of the cake and I am just going to smooth that, push that gently right on down around the side, until I have got the top of the cake covered.

Now, I am going to work on the sides of the cake. I will use some of that icing that is hanging over the edge, as well as adding on a little bit more and I am just going to push that icing along. Now, I dont know if you can see this, but I am actually holding my spatula slight angled to the cake not flat to the surface but add an angle, so that I can push that icing and it gives the room for the icing to move along in front of the spatula. Whenever you started to run out of icing in front of your spatula, make sure to stop and reload it and add it on. Yes, you are thinking I havent taken off any of that icing I told you I would, just give me a minute here.

Okay. I should probably use my bigger turntable, thats alright. I dont want to see a shadow on my cake when I am decorating it and this is what I call a shadow; when part of the cake shows through that icing. All you need to do to correct that is, go back and add a little bit more icing in that place, before you start to smooth out your icing.

I am going to start now smoothing the icing that I have got on the cake because I got it all spread on there fairly nice and I start at the edge opposite myself and pull it across the top and turn my little turntable around and continue that. Little crumb manages to get to the top. Now, my working with chocolate cake and chocolate is the crummiest cake. Its the also the yummiest cake. Alright. I am just taking a hold of that icing and bring it around until I get a nice smooth top to the cake. I am going to clean up this icing a little bit around the bottom. Oops! I missed the bottom edge there even. Lets pull that icing down to the bottom edge as well.

Once I have got the icing on the side of the cake then I want to smooth it and this is simply done by turning your turntable and pulling along. You see this big pile of icing I have got on the side of my bowl, all of that has come back off of the cake. So, even though I put a lot on to begin with, now I am taking a good bit of it off. Anytime your spatula starts to get a good bit of icing on it that is the time to scrape it off so you wont go too far.

Now, I am just cranking it back across the top because sometimes forms a little crust at the top edge and I am pulling that back towards the center to smooth it again, so that it all blends in. I worked at local bakery for many years and to them that was a finished ice cake they were ready to decorate it, but thats not quite the way I wanted to look. First of all, I got a couple more shadows here, I noticed I scraped my icing off; I pulled it a little too thin. I wanted those to get nicely covered and there is a dark chocolate crumb sticking right there in the cake, lets get that out of the way. A lot of times when you decorate a cake, you can cover up crumbs. So, if you get just a couple of little arrant crumbs, you could probably ignore them. I am going to re-smooth that and there we go and my favorite technique works only with the type of an icing that dries to the touch, like mine does. It takes at least five minutes to let it dry. So, I will show you that technique on another video, but this is how to ice a cake smooth with a spatula.

cakie icing by jyceaser1 at 02/13/12 03:38AM Flag

Are you using a swiss buttercream icing?

by berlincitygirl at 10/13/11 08:33PM Flag

hi i really want to know what kind of icing you use in this video and how do you make it. please can you send me the recipe at i_am@live.de? thank you & your cake looks very good

How do you make it? by DollieMowles at 05/17/11 02:46PM Flag

Hello! Please can you email me your icing ingredients? Pegasus11@hotmail.co.uk I love your videos. Thank you!!

Cake decorating icing by 1BarbaraT at 04/30/11 08:55PM Flag

What is your recipe for wedding cake icing? Email at applause2@verizon.net.Thank you.

by tayibah at 04/25/11 07:28PM Flag

hi i really want to know what kind of icing you use in this video and how do you make it. please can you send me the recipe at tayibah02@hotmail.co.uk Thank you so much

Wedding Cakes by glennpearl at 04/08/11 04:54PM Flag

We are a start up bakery doing mostly fondant design cakes and cupcakes. We have an order for a 3 tier wedding cake and in the process of making our third practice cake. The first one slumped, the second one slumped and we have finally figured out why. But all three, we are struggling with icing the cake to be smooth. We keep getting air holes and pockets. the paper towels are useful, but the cake looks dull afterwards. Do all wedding cakes have this look? We would like to see a wedding cake clo

recipe by Martha at 03/02/11 10:33PM Flag

May I have your icing recipe?

Icing recipe by noakesm at 01/08/11 11:56PM Flag

Like all the others, I'd love to get a copy of your icing recipe! Your tips have been so helpful! noakesm@gmail.com

icing by pickles at 11/18/10 07:55PM Flag

i love your video on crumb coating never have done this before its a crunb saver! thanks a million! will you e-mail me your icing recipe and technic for dry icing thanks K

icing by duckmom at 11/15/10 06:35PM Flag

Oops, I would like a copy of your icing recipe. Email debbie@lanecc.edu. Thank you very much

icing by duckmom at 11/15/10 06:33PM Flag

May I have the icing recipe also?

icing by tammyt at 10/29/10 06:43AM Flag

hi i just watched your video and i was wondering if you could email me your icing recipe i would like to use it on my daughters birthday cake next month nov 2010....t.thorp@live.com.au thanx

Icing by slovato at 10/20/10 03:20AM Flag

Could you please email me your icing recipe? Thank you cameroloverz@hotmail.com

Icing by cakemomma at 09/14/10 02:22AM Flag

I know you've gotten a lot of requests, but could you please send me your icing recipe? Right now I use a buttercream and modify the amt. of shortening depending on humidity but I'd like an alternative. Also, thank you so much for the wonderful videos and tips!

Great Article! by leighleigh11 at 09/04/10 02:54AM Flag

Icing can be so hard!! I enjoyed your article, thanks. I also found this great site while searching for decorating tips. You should all check it out! <a href="http://68a5a9riuiq-x6w3b4iagbqm2c.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=2DRBL6KL" target="_top">Click Here!</a>

making icing by kietha at 08/26/10 07:16AM Flag

I watch cake boss alot and I would like to know what is used in making that kind of icing. their icing is rolled out on a table then they would use a stick to roll the icing around and then roll it on top of the cake then smooth it out, can you tell me how to make it like that! my e-mail address is ghetto30003@yahoo.com oh I would also like for you to show me how to make a rose with icing.

icing by zainab at 08/07/10 09:18PM Flag

please i need a tip on how to put icing on my son's birthday cake tomorrow. pls help, my e-mail is xee04@yahoo.com

icing by zainab at 08/07/10 09:17PM Flag

please i need a tip on how to put icing on my son's birthday cake tomorrow. pls help, my e-mail is xee04@yahoo.com

Thank you and please! by rjohnson20 at 07/27/10 09:15AM Flag

Your videos have been very helpful as I prepare to bake my first wedding cake for a good friend. I wonder if you can share your icing and cake recipe with me too. I live in bush Alaska and do not have access to a bakery of any sort. THANKS!

icing sugar recepie by suzieboo at 07/20/10 04:13PM Flag

Hello fantastic and very helpful, could you please give me the icing sugar recepie. I am making my son a birthday cake and not sure what icing to use until I saw your vid. Gr8 thank you

Need Icing receipt by heba at 06/11/10 07:16PM Flag

hii I just need the Icing receipt

Icing recipe by tamsyn888 at 05/20/10 07:47AM Flag

Hi, I to would LOVE the icing recipe! Could you email it to me at tamsyn88@hotmail.com Thanks so much.

icnig recipe by Gerts at 05/11/10 03:27PM Flag

Thanks you have been a savior, but can i have the recipe for the icing? pls. email me at (gertigal@yahoo.com) thanks

the recipe for icing by zena at 05/04/10 07:00AM Flag

Hi, your video is good and very educative. I have tried it but my icing disappointed me. Please email me the recipe for your icing..h.zena@iname.com thanks

icing recipe by makuda at 02/23/10 01:02AM Flag

i like your icing, please email me your recipe at makuda_ida@yahoo.com, thank you

by makuda at 02/23/10 01:00AM Flag

i like your icing, how do you make your icing? please email me the recipe at makuda_ida@yahoo.com thank you

by lnh1986 at 01/17/10 10:48PM Flag

sorry.. my email is nichole_2000_sweetheart_2000@yahoo.com

Icing and cake batter by lnh1986 at 01/17/10 10:47PM Flag

May I have the recipe to your icing please? Also If you would please send me your recipe you use for your actual cakes? Thanks so much Leslie

Icing Recipe by ngennusa at 11/18/09 10:21AM Flag

Hi Your videos are great, can you please email me the icing recipe at n_laughton@hotmail Thank you

cake decorating Sandy Sheppard by mebab2 at 09/26/09 05:12AM Flag

Your video is very helpful. Can I please have your receipe for the icing?

icing by romainesilva at 08/27/09 02:13PM Flag

Please tell me how to make good butter creaM icing.

icing procedure and recipe of icing by nabs at 08/17/09 11:11AM Flag

Thanks for the great tips but please avail me with the indredients of the icing mixture and also the procedure of icing. Another email address is znabitiko@yahoo.com

by sweettooth1 at 06/23/09 09:26PM Flag

HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR ICING. CAN YOU E-MAIL ME AT GLENDASTEVENSON_8@HOTMAIL.COM THANKS

Janice1960 by janice1960 at 03/26/09 11:26PM Flag

Please make a video showing how to make and decoratr a wedding cake

Incredible! by darqueangel02 at 02/19/09 05:53PM Flag

Thank you so much for posting your helpful tips! I watched all of your videos before I made two cakes for my husband's birthday and they turned out wonderful thanks to you! The moist towel around the pan really works! and it saved me 7 dollars for the ones they sell at the store. Like the others, could I get (or could you post a video) the recipe for that great icing you use? Thanks Again!

Icing recipe by samuelandrea at 02/01/09 02:33AM Flag

Where can I get a copy of the recipe that you use for icing???? andreakbusic@hotmail.com

ladies by charlotte at 01/24/09 06:13AM Flag

is there a special technic to icing a octagon cake

by sharonioannidou at 10/22/08 09:17AM Flag

your tips are great!!! I'm going to try and make a cake for my daughters 3rd Birthday. Could you please email me the recipe of your chocolate cake and your icing, thnks. My e-mail is sharon.ioannidou@gmail.com. Would appreciate it a lot.

by khawk at 10/20/08 04:30AM Flag

Can you please make a video on how to make the icing. :) thank you

by khawk at 10/18/08 04:09AM Flag

how do you make your icing? can you email me the recipe at k_hawk_96@hotmail.com thank you

Hello can you please give me a recipe by Jenny777 at 07/22/08 05:56PM Flag

i want to know how to make icing and what is the difference on using frosting or icing

how to make roses by helsper2 at 06/13/08 05:34AM Flag

can you please show a viedo how to make roses please. is thier a easy why to make them

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