Getting your icing perfect can be one of the most important basic cake decorating skills you learn. A well-prepared cake comprised of even layers is essential to getting professional results. Here’s a few tips to make sure you get the end results you want:

1. Frost your cake with a thin covering of icing then place it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. This will “set up” the cake properly so it can be covered with a second, final coating later. Cake decorators call this a crumb coat and it prevents crumbs from being dragged around on the surface of the cake. It also stops the cake from moving as you frost it. This can be especially useful when icing tall cakes.

2. A cake leveler and slicer is a great tool to use. Instead of trying to slice and level your cake by hand, this tool makes it virtually impossible to create an uneven cake.

3. To frost your cake, place a large amount of thin consistency icing on the top of your cake. With a large, angled spatula, spread the icing across the top of the cake, pushing excess icing down over the edges onto the sides. Then cover the sides of the cake with icing.

To smooth the cake decorating icing, run the spatula upright against the side of the cake without lifting it off and going around the entire perimeter of the cake (a turntable makes this task much easier!). Return excess icing back the bowl or piping bag. You’ll want to smooth the top of the cake last, using the edge of your spatula.

After the icing has crusted over, lay parchment paper on the top of your cake. Gently smooth over the paper with your spatula or the palm of your hand to create an ultra-smooth surface. Repeat on the sides of your cake.

4. Never allow your spatula to touch the surface of your cake as you spread the icing. This is the trick to keeping crumbs out of your icing (in addition to storing in the refrigerator for a couple hours).

5. Place your cake on a piece of cardboard before placing on a turntable. This makes it easier to lift off with disturbing the cake’s smooth surface.

6. If the consistency of your cake decorating icing doesn’t seem to be working right, try adding a few drops of water. A thin consistency usually works best when icing cakes.

7. Another trick you can try is to place a glass of hot water next to the cake after it receives the final layer of frosting and has been chilled in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Dip your spatula in the water and let it sit for a few seconds. Dry it off, and then use it to smooth out the frosting. You’ll probably have to do this several times. Just make sure to dry the spatula off each time. The warm spatula will really make the cooler frosting smooth out nicely.

Remember that PRACTICE-PRACTICE-PRACTICE is the best way to achieve consistent results with your cake decorating icing. The best way to develop your basic cake decorating skills is to make mistakes and learn from them. Luckily, when it comes to the craft of cake decorating, your mistakes can still be edible!

A lot of people want to know which KitchenAid stand mixer is best for cake decorating. Well, it really depends on what types of cakes you plan on making! Are you just planning on making cakes for small family gatherings? Or do you plan on decorating cakes for larger groups and events?

If your only intention is to bake cakes for small family gatherings, then the KitchenAid Classic K5SSWH is probably all you need. This stand mixer definitely has enough power to help you out. On the other hand, if mixing cake batter is the only kitchen task you need a stand mixer for, you might be better off spending less than a hundred bucks on a good hand-held mixer instead. You don’t really need an expensive stand mixer to beat egg whites and stir cake mix!

However, if you enjoy cake decorating, chances are you also enjoy the other kitchen “arts” such as cooking, baking cookies, and kneading bread. It might be worth it to upgrade to a larger, more powerful mixer such as the Artisan. Two very popular mixers in this series is the KSM150PSER Empire Red model and the KSM150PSPK Pink KitchenAid mixer which helps support breast cancer research. An Artisan mixer doesn’t cost much more than the Classic version, and you also have a wider selection of colors to choose from. I’ve found that Amazon.com offers the widest selection of colors and often has the best price available both online and offline.

The Grand-Daddy of all KitchenAid mixers is the 6-Quart Professional stand mixer such as Nickel Plate model KP26M1XNP. This stand mixer will enable you to mix enough batter for a very large cake and is often used by “professional” cake decorators for sheet and wedding cake batter. If you’re into bread making in addition to cake decorating the KitchenAid Professional stand mixer is definitely a wise investment and will last for generations to come.

Again, if you want to know which KitchenAid mixer is best for cake decorating you need to take into consideration what size cakes you bake most often and what other creations you plan on making in the kitchen. Remember–there’s a also a wide array of KitchenAid mixer attachments to choose from that handle tasks such as making ice cream, stuffing sausage, rolling noodles and shredding cheese. KitchenAid mixers aren’t just for mixing batter and dough!

Learning how to get perfect looking cake decorating frosting can require a lot of time and patience. However, you don’t have to own an expensive bakery to get professional results. While frosting a cake is more than just plopping some icing on and spreading it around, it doesn’t have to be terribly complicated. A few simple tools can also save you a lot of time and frustration.

First, you want to make sure that your frosting is the right consistency. Too thin, and your cake will look ugly and unfinished. Too thick, and you’ll be sure to tear your cake as you try miserably to make it spread. If your frosting seems too thick add a little milk or water. If it seems too thin, try adding some confectioners sugar or place in the refrigerator for a few minutes. As you learn to work with cake decorating frosting you’ll quickly be able to tell whether or not it’s the right consistency.

You can keep your frosting from drying out by placing a damp paper towel over the bowl. If you make your frosting ahead of time, be sure to cover tight and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.

Be sure to follow these steps to frost a round layered cake:

1. Prepare your tools including wax paper, spatula, frosting knife, silicone brush, and turntable (optional but very handy)
2. Place bits of wax paper around the bottom edge of your cake round or turntable to keep clean during frosting. Set the first layer of your cake on the board or pedestal. Sweep off all excess crumbs with a silicone brush. Scoop about 1/2 cup frosting on the cake and spread with an offset spatula. Spread evenly over the top only. Coat the cake to about 1/4 inch thick.
3. Place the second leveled layer on top of the first, flat side up. Sweep off any excess crumbs. Again, use 1/2 cup frosting and spread evenly across the top.
4. With the extra frosting left over begin the frost the sides of your cake. This is there the pedestal comes in handy. Use the flat edge of the spatula to create a smooth and even finish. This can be your crumb coat.
5. Keep adding and subtracting frosting until you have the look you want.
6. Refrigerate your cake again for at least an hour. Use a piece of parchment paper or paper towel and gently rub the frosting to get a smooth finish. You can also use the flat edge of an icing spatula with a continuous motion to smooth out any rough spots.

Again, getting your cake decorating frosting to look perfect doesn’t have to be rocket science. Just take your time and be patient. With a little practice you’ll be decorating like the pros in no time.

After I saw the commercial on TV I had to investigate the Personal Trainer Cooking video game for myself. Actually, Personal Trainer: Cooking isn’t really a video game at all, even though it was manufactured and developed by the folks at Nintendo.

Personal Trainer Cooking is like a cookbook that comes to life, complete with audio and video instructions. This is a great idea for those new to working in the kitchen or if you’re just interested in checking out some new recipes. You can learn how to make over 245 recipes from 30 different countries.

Most people have questions about how to do certain tasks in the kitchen (how to clean a fish, or cut up a special type of vegetable) and unfortunately don’t have easy access to a computer near the countertop! Cookbooks often omit crucial steps and can be clumsy to work with. The Nintendo DS Lite and Personal Trainer Cooking make it easier for you to work in the kitchen, view tutorials, and follow instructions all at the same time.

Here’s a video demonstration of how it all works:

Click here to learn more about Personal Trainer: Cooking by Nintendo DS Lite

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