Do you get bits of crumbs stuck in your frosting? You’re not alone. Many home bakers struggle to get a smooth finish on their cake, despite doing all they can to make their cake look “professional.” In cake lingo, the secret to a super-smooth cake is what’s called a “crumb coat”. A crumb coat is used to describe a thin layer of frosting that keeps crumbs where they belong–on the cake–not the frosting! This article outlines 3 simple steps you can use to create the professional look you’ve always wanted.

The Wilton #789 Cake Icer tip
can make applying your crumb coat
much easier.

1. After your cake has finished baking let it cool completely on a cooling rack. Level the cake using your preferred method (whether it be by hand or with a cake leveler) and brush off any remaining crumbs.

2. Gently spread a thin layer of frosting across all sides of the cake. Start with the top first and then do the sides. You don’t have to make it look perfect at this stage. A thin layer is all you need. You should still be able to see the cake itself through the frosting. A tool which may make life easier for you is the Wilton #789 Cake Icer tip. Some people prefer using this enormous cake decorating tip instead of a spatula. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen Buddy from the Cake Boss use this tip or a similar one to apply a crumb coat to his cakes before adding fondant. Except, instead of a crumb coat Buddy calls it “dirty icing”, probably because the crumbs in the frosting make it look dirty.

3. Place the cake in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours. This allows the cake to settle and the frosting will crust over and harden slightly. This settling will hold in any crumbs you missed brushing off earlier.

When the next layer of frosting is applied you won’t have to worry about any crumbs messing up your presentation. Applying a crumb coat is so easy. Yet this simple step is so often overlooked by many beginner bakers. In the video below a square cake is used for the demonstration but the same idea applies if you have a round cake.

For tips and tricks on getting a smooth finish after you apply the crumb coat, you can read this post: Cake Decorating Icing Tips and Tricks for a Smooth Finish.

Tags: Basic Cake Decorating, cake boss buddy, cake decorating, Cake Decorating Frosting, cake decorating icing, cake decorating tips, crumb coat, wilton 789, wilton cake icer tip