Cake Hack: How to Get a Smooth Buttercream Finish

If you're struggling to get a smooth buttercream finish on your cake, here is what I recommend:
1. Use your icing smoother to make sure the sides are level, then clean up the edges real quick. Don't worry about perfection at this point - it's more about getting the foundational shape of the cake looking level. If you don't know how I got to this point, please watch my KZbin video on how to frost a cake here: • How to Frost a Cake wi...
2. Pop the cake into the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes to let the frosting firm up.
3. Apply a super thin layer of fresh buttercream over the sides of your cold cake and smooth it down. It will be much easier to smooth when the layer is so thin and it will fill in all the imperfections in the cold buttercream layer beneath.
For more cake tips, tutorials, and recipes, head to my blog: sugarandsparrow.com/
My Cake Basics series: • Cake Basics
Find me on Instagram: / sugarandsparrowco

[@hollylehmann2845]

This is the best video to get a smooth edge. I seen soo many online and the first coat is so important thank you for this

[@prawedyariniwulandari9329]

It's really a great thing i find this video. Thank you sooo much ❤ for the tips

[@richabhagat4205]

Will try soon. Thanks for sharing ❤

[@miacamilahenriquez2258]

Thank you so much! I needed this

[@laurazeller2014]

Thank you, Whitney!

[@timlawton58]

You are a freaking genius!!!! Thank you!!!

[@cake3020]

great hack thanks for sharing!

[@brianacarter2443]

Sooo helpful ! I struggle so much with smoothness

[@sofiaguzmanordonez1645]

So helpful !!! 😍😍😍

[@Lola.004]

I’ve dabbled in decorating cakes before, but it was my friend who has created some real works of art, who convinced me to try taking my otherwise simple cakes to the next level. You are a really good teacher, and are now inspiring me to try more challenging decorations. ☺️

[@SugarandSparrow]

Thanks so much, Lola!

[@awakenthegoddess1491]

Perfection✨

[@seamus6994]

You ROCK!

[@ashleerobinson5]

Do you use more liquid to make this buttercream smoother

[@nursecathy123cat]

At an old (decades ago) Wilton class, the instructor told us to whip just the butter/shortening with the mixer for a few minutes. This whipped it up well. Then add the rest of the ingredients but don't over-mix. Over-mixing with the sugar in it creates those air bubbles that are hard to get rid of.

[@SugarandSparrow]

Yes! Always keep the mixer on low speed when adding the powdered sugar and for the rest of the recipe.

[@lindadoran6062]

What can I use if I don't have a metal bench scraper?

[@shobaelizabethantony6706]

Just wanted to know.....how do you decide for this many no: of people this much cake weight is required.... a particular cake tin size....and the no: of cake layers needed to be stacked....?

[@MrsOrtiz-jv3ck]

Is there a certain recipe you use for the buttercream I use the Wilton ready to use one and I can’t get this level of smoothness maybe I press to hard idk?

[@maritzamartinez8702]

I suscribe.!! 😋

[@ashleymarler28]

My buttercream always looks shiny and that makes it not look as nice. How can I fix that?

[@u.p4993]

Hello! I was wondering if you wouldn't mind helping me with a small issue. I've bought some vegan frosting, and I am aware it is very sweet. I would like to tone down the sweetness and the richness without ruining the texture, do you by chance have any suggestions? You're videos have been absolutely incredible by the way, I am making your pink and orange watercolour drip cake for a birthday party!

[@kiwi007]

You could try making it yourself using vegetable shortening and icing sugar and boiling water. There's youtube tutorials I saw. It would probably still be pretty sweet I'm guessing as the ratios are 50 fat, 50 sugar. The meringue ones are out being vegan.

[@periwinklepony5625]

Hello! Thanks for this short tutorial but I have this problem with the buttercream changing from cream to yellow when put in to chill and touched with a scraper. Even the fresh buttercream turns yellowish when scraped to smoothen. How do I prevent that from happening?

[@SugarandSparrow]

Interesting! I’ve never had that happen before. What kind of buttercream are you using? And is your scraper heated up or cold when you’re smoothing?

[@periwinklepony5625]

@@SugarandSparrow I use either italian buttercream or swiss buttercream. Colors deepen when scraped or touched if cake comes right out of the fridge/chiller. My scraper is neither warm nor cold. A gender reveal cake colored a very pale green turned out 2 shades darker. I had to repeat the whole thing. 😬😵 This only really happens when coming from the fridge. Condensation perhaps?

[@melissab2112]

What’s the white stuff between the cake layers before you add the buttercream. ? Is it frosting or icing?

[@SugarandSparrow]

It's buttercream just without color added. Here's the recipe I use: sugarandsparrow.com/vanilla-buttercream-recipe/

[@wesleyandbengames]

What kind of buttercream did you use In this video? American?

[@achiniabeykoon4887]

When um smoothing the cake in some some pots my cake is visible. How can i fix. All icing comes to the smoother tool

[@SugarandSparrow]

Hi there! Add more buttercream to the sides and use a softer touch when smoothing the cake, it sounds like you're scraping too much off when smoothing.

[@ohHellYes10]

Do you do 2 top coats? Crumb coat, top coat and then the final thin coat? I struggle with getting the top edges of the cake smooth, the sides are fine. Maybe my one top coat is too thick? So much trial and error in making cakes 😂

[@sgurung1529]

😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@sgurung1529]

😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@SugarandSparrow]

Hi Sophie! I crumb coat, refrigerate, top coat, then if I need another final thin coat because the top coat wasn't as smooth as I want it to be I'll add that after refrigerating the top coat.

[@sandalilakmali9222]

🥺❤️

[@EquitableStreet-ie4ph]

I'm just going to be honest, this video didn't help me at all. What did help me was learning that my icing was too thick. Thin it out with heavy whipping cream. I could follow all the steps in this video and still not be able to get a smooth cake whatsoever. It's just not that easy. It comes down to the thickness of the frosting you're putting on your cake. The vast vast vast majority of icing recipes out there are going to give you a very chunky icing which is absolutely impossible to smooth down, even with all of her tips.

[@funandlala]

Thank you ♡

[@talabiborode446]

Thank youu

[@laurenl8664]

Anything else that can be used to thin it out? Thx