Buttercream Cake Contest

Comment

Comment by JJ Becker on June 26, 2011 at 12:34pm

Aside from patience and practice I would say cold icing and a hot comb.  I don't like the Wilton brand plastic combs because they get to soft when they are warm, i use the ateco ones, they have good stiff plastic.

 

 I do my cakes in a few basic steps.  Fist I base Ice with a speed icer- take the time to get the icing on as evenly as possible.  Then I smooth the top first with the flat side of a bowl scraper and then with a Dexter Russel 12" spreader, then I do the sides. I always smooth the sides with the comb.  I get the icing as smooth and even as I can at first, then I put the cake in the fridge for a couple hours.  Once the icing is hard I use the same tools heated up to between 130 and 160 degrees to scrape off any excess icing and get the cake as smooth as you see in the picture. 

 

The only other word of advice I have is that I frequently fabricate my own tools depending on the application or modify the ones you can buy in the store to get better control.  Get yourself a heavy duty paper cutter for cutting down plastic spatulas and getting smooth sharp edges.  A couple of pairs of vice grips, an L-square and a craft saw with interchangable blades will come in handy for modifying and re-shaping metal tools.

 

Good luck, and let me know how I can help!

Comment by Anne Drew on June 26, 2011 at 11:50am

I love the style of your cakes.  What is the secret to scuplting the sides of the cakes as I bought a sculpting set but don't achieve the look that you do? Anne

Comment by JJ Becker on June 22, 2011 at 10:30pm

Thank You!

 

Comment by Faith Gealey-Brown on June 22, 2011 at 6:31pm

I love your BC roses!