To put royal icing on a square cake using a smoothing method, you gently smooth the icing over the top and sides, carefully easing and stretching it over the corners.
Applying royal icing to a square cake requires attention to detail, especially around the sharp edges and corners characteristic of this cake shape. While royal icing can be applied in various ways, such as piping or flooding, a common method involves spreading or smoothing the icing directly onto the cake's surface.
The Smoothing Method for Square Cakes
This technique focuses on achieving smooth coverage across the flat surfaces and ensuring the icing conforms neatly to the cake's distinct corners. It often involves using your hands or a spatula to manipulate the icing.
Based on the provided reference, one approach is to use your hands for smoothing the icing:
- Apply the Icing: Place a sufficient amount of royal icing onto the top surface of your prepared square cake.
- Smooth the Top: Using your hands, gently smooth the royal icing across the entire top surface of the cake, working towards the edges.
- Cover the Sides: Continue by smoothing the icing down and over the four sides of the cake. Ensure even coverage from the top edge down to the base.
- Address the Corners: Pay particular attention to the eight corners of the square cake. While smoothing the icing, focus on easing and stretching it gently over the corners. This helps prevent cracks and ensures the icing follows the sharp angle, creating a clean, defined edge.
- Refine as Needed: Continue gently smoothing and shaping the icing until the entire cake is covered evenly and the corners are well-defined.
This method allows for tactile control, helping you feel how the icing is settling and allowing you to guide it smoothly over the cake's surfaces and sharp corners. The goal is to achieve a seamless, smooth coating that highlights the clean lines of the square cake.
