For anyone who's been interested in the world of cake decorating but who may be intimidated by the amazing antics of those hyper-talented TV decorators: it really doesn't have to be difficult ! Here are just a few basic tips for beginners that will allow you to hone your decorating skills today:
Practice your decorating and piping skills on something, such as a cake dummy (they come in all shapes and sizes) or a piece of cardboard, before applying your decorations to an actual cake. Whip up a batch of "decorator's icing" (using shortening rather than butter) to use for practicing borders, flowers and writing, building your confidence as you go.
Practice using the icing spatula too; sometimes the "simple" act of icing the cake smoothly can be one of the biggest challenges! Try icing a cake dummy or piece of cardboard first, before preparing your cake. One tool that can really make this task easier is called the "Quick Icer"...an extra large tip (around 2" in opening length) that has the appearance of a basket weave tip, smooth on one side and serrated on the other. Apply icing to the cake with the serrated side down; this will be extremely helpful in laying down a smooth and even layer of icing, one that won't drag up a heap of cake crumbs into your surface as you smooth it with a spatula.
Do research before you begin decorating the cake. There are many offline and online publications which offer very good ideas for decorating cakes. Once you do the research and you practice, you will be able to come up with ideas on your own to fit your own style.
