Here's how to ice a cake with buttercream for a smooth and delicious finish:
1. Prepare Your Cake and Buttercream
- Cool the Cake: Ensure your cake layers are completely cooled before frosting. This prevents the buttercream from melting. You can even chill them briefly in the refrigerator for easier handling.
- Make or Buy Buttercream: Prepare your buttercream frosting. It should be softened but not melted. If it's too stiff, it will be hard to spread; if it's too soft, it will be runny. A good consistency is similar to softened butter.
- Crumb Coat (Optional, but Recommended): A crumb coat is a thin layer of frosting that seals in any loose crumbs. Apply a thin layer of buttercream to the entire cake, then chill the cake in the refrigerator for about 15-30 minutes to firm up the crumb coat before proceeding to the final layer of frosting. This prevents crumbs from getting into your final frosting layer.
2. Frosting the Cake
- Top Layer: Spoon a generous dollop of softened buttercream onto the top of the cake.
- Smooth the Top: Use an offset spatula or palette knife to spread the buttercream evenly across the top, working from the center outwards to the edges.
3. Frosting the Sides
- Apply Buttercream to the Sides: Use the spatula or palette knife to apply smaller amounts of buttercream to the sides of the cake in sections. Don't be afraid to be generous.
- Smooth the Sides: Hold the spatula at a slight angle and rotate the cake (a turntable is extremely helpful for this!) to smooth the buttercream around the sides. Remove excess frosting from the spatula as you go.
- Repeat: Continue adding and smoothing until the entire cake is covered.
4. Achieving a Smooth Finish
- Dip Your Spatula in Warm Water (Optional): Dipping your spatula in warm water and drying it before each smoothing pass can help create an ultra-smooth finish.
- Clean Up Excess: Use the spatula to remove any excess buttercream from the top edges, creating a sharp or softened edge as desired.
- Final Touches: You can create designs in the frosting with the spatula, such as swirls or ridges, or leave it smooth for a clean, modern look.
5. Chill and Decorate
- Chill the Frosted Cake: Place the frosted cake in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the buttercream to set. This will make it easier to handle and decorate.
- Decorate (Optional): Decorate your cake with sprinkles, fresh fruit, chocolate shavings, or any other toppings you like.
By following these steps, you can achieve a beautifully frosted cake with buttercream. Remember to practice and experiment to find what works best for you.
