Cake Decorating for Beginners - How to Get a Smooth Buttercream Finish with Sharp Edges

Welcome to my Cake Decorating 101 series! I will be breaking down the basics of cake decorating for beginners, because I truly believe that making a beautiful cake is something everyone can do with enough practice.
Part 1 of this series goes over how to stack, fill, and crumb coat your cakes. This is the essential first step of all cakes to be decorated.
• Cake Decorating for Be...
Part 2 is How to Get a Smooth Buttercream Finish with Sharp Edges. I share all my tips for getting that absolutely perfect final swipe of buttercream, with crispy sharp corners on top to give you the most clean blank canvas to start decorating. I also share some tips on the ideal buttercream consistencies for decorating.
Part 3 is How to Level up Your Cakes with Fillings! I share my fruit filling recipe, my chocolate ganache recipe, and a few other special fillings I like to add to my cakes.
• Cake Decorating for Be...
Part 4 is Drip Cakes! I go over 6 different kinds of drip cakes, using 5 different materials. I will share all of my tips so that you can achieve perfect drips! Using chocolate ganache, white chocolate ganache, pre-made drips, Biscoff spread, and another all-new ingredient :)
• Cake Decorating for Be...
Next up will be number cakes, the basics of piping, and a few birthday cake design ideas.
Please make sure to leave a comment if you have any questions, or if there's a specific topic you want to know more about!
TOOLS:
benable.com/steph/cake-decora...
BUTTERCREAM RECIPE:
still-busy-baking.ca/classic-...
RECIPES:
still-busy-baking.ca
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[@Irisandstuff]

I would love a full chapter on vintage cakes!

[@StillBusyBaking]

Ok noted! (also, I have a video on a black lambeth cake already 🥰)

[@missharvey87]

1st person I have seen do the sharp edges this way. Definitely going to try this method. Thanks for sharing❤

[@sherrybane5616]

thank you ! you gave us so much helpful information. you have answered questions that some youtubers has gotten mad about even been asked! It is not like we are taking their business and customers! thanks again

[@bronwyncarman9123]

Just found your page! THANK YOU. I'm amateur baker (friends and family only) so LOVE the advice

[@GrammaPatriot]

I just adore your videos.

[@hayley.James.0]

Wish me luck with my wobbly plastic turntable 😅😂

[@StillBusyBaking]

I used to have one of those!! You’ll be ok 😂😂

[@luscious_RKT]

Awesome tips! Love this❤

[@monicamacneille3372]

Really great tutorial! Thank you!

[@apinchofpatience991]

Thank you for sharing this!

[@stillpickinganame5350]

This was very helpful! And you're very talented! Thank you❤

[@jodiemansi6933]

Love your videos Steph ❤

[@niwa1945]

Thank you for uploading such a tutorial video. Absolutely, will work well. And, though “Patience”is one of energy source to take care kids, have realized to work making cakes.

[@ginamarquez2196]

Can’t wait for the next how to video!!! ❤❤❤

[@robind8149]

Your speed and technique are really improving, Steph!😊❤️

[@sallyvelazquez6316]

Thank you ! I really want to start baking cakes as a side income, you’re doing great very detailed:)

[@carmenknipe2504]

So good!

[@auntiedough2488]

Awesome tips! I’m baking two anniversary cakes in April, so I’ll be closely watching for decorating tips! Have you ever made gelatine spheres? They’re adorable spilling over the side of a cake.

[@keyashukla4726]

Hi! Love this new series ^-^ Just wanted to know how your cakes come out of the pan so smoothly?

[@Nirual]

This is beautiful 😍

[@TheAnamaria08]

Thanks!!!🎉🎉🎉

[@natalie82477]

This is great! What if you put sprinkles on the side and top. Do you do that before you cool it and cut the edge off?

[@lalardz90]

So all of these smooth frostings that i see being used to cover (and possibly decorate), has been regular american buttercream but just soften in the microwave most likely?

[@maleehamunawarrana6766]

Thank you 😅

[@Ayan_Salah]

Thank you for sharing this with us ❤ Can you make a video for the buttercream recipe? 🤗

[@StillBusyBaking]

If you look in the description of the video it says BUTTERCREAM RECIPE with a link :)

[@judyfm6]

So helpful! Do you leave the buttercream on the counter while the cake is cooling?

[@StillBusyBaking]

I don’t usually make my cake and buttercream on the same day

[@ajourneytolove]

What turntable do you have? I’ve been looking online, but I’m not sure if just any old aluminum turntable would work or if there’s a specific brand/kind that is best. 😅

[@StillBusyBaking]

Linked in the description :)

[@Summerr200]

Hello! I was wondering if you ever freeze leftover buttercream? If so how do you personally do it? I’ve seen videos of bakers just wrapping it in plastic. Also thank you for this video🙏

[@StillBusyBaking]

I do! And I actually have filmed a video on this, hoping to edit it this week and have it live soon!!

[@Summerr200]

@@StillBusyBaking Awesome! Will be watching😄

[@trinityg8511]

Can this be done with any cake? I will be baking my boyfriend a carrot cake for his 21st, I’m concerned as carrot cake is very oily & moist already- So will the freezing make it too moist? Will the frosting need to be a thicker consistency? Or is it the same for carrot cake vs a regular sponge?

[@StillBusyBaking]

I do this with my carrot cakes too :)

[@trinityg8511]

@@StillBusyBaking thankyou!

[@charmaineterblanche2417]

Hi. Do you loosen up the thick buttercream in the microwave for the final layer or do you add fluid

[@StillBusyBaking]

2:24 ❤

[@charmaineterblanche2417]

Don't understand your reply

[@diaz3266]

​@charmaineterblanche2417 Click and it takes you to the exact time stamp in the video where she says the answer. Microwave 10 sec

[@anonmouse6437]

So I shouldn't use my tongue 😋 as the final swipe on my cakes anymore? This is going to be hard 😕! Really though, great tips 😃!

[@StillBusyBaking]

Hahahaha I love

[@user-lr8sm5nw4m]

When is it necessary and unnecessary to dowel a cake? Is it just for tier cakes? For example this cake you didn’t add dowels? Or did you just not add them yet bc we aren’t on that part? And are cake boards always used between tiers or only sometimes? And if so do the dowels go thru the cake board of the tiers or do they just sit on top of the tiers? Or both… I’m probably overthinking this.

[@g.allifreyans]

how long do you freeze your cakes for before you start stacking and decorating?

[@StillBusyBaking]

2 hours - 2 weeks

[@amandahernandez5128]

Can you include what to do if you mess up your decoration? Like, you tried to pipe on a design and it doesn't look right, but the buttercream base is white and the messed-up design is red?

[@StillBusyBaking]

Oh good idea!!

[@akshataagarwal5932]

can you plz share how to crumb coat and ice double decker cakes...

[@StillBusyBaking]

Plz watch part 1 of the series

[@HaydeeNunez]

Do you dry the scraper and the knife after warming them up with the hot water? Thanks so much for your videos!

[@StillBusyBaking]

I just kinda shake them off!

[@HaydeeNunez]

@@StillBusyBaking thank you so much. I know it seems like a dumb question, but I genuinely wanted to know. Shaking the water off makes it very easy! ☺️

[@getsiology]

Do the cakes ever absorb fridge smells when they’re setting? 🤔

[@StillBusyBaking]

Nope (but also my fridge doesn’t smell lol)

[@getsiology]

@@StillBusyBaking fair 😂

[@_.Free_.Palestine_.]

What if you don't have that much butter cream? Like it is just enough to make a thin layer around the cake. How do we get it smooth without adding more buttercream to it? 😔

[@StillBusyBaking]

You need more buttercream

[@peacelove35]

I just cant same to get the right butter cream consistency😩😩 its discouraging

[@galacticbananas482]

I'm sorry but what does being a triathlete and engineer have to do with the cake decorating? O.o

[@StillBusyBaking]

Nothing :)

[@galacticbananas482]

Haha okay ^^ thanks for the beginner series!

[@sarahshoaib928]

Buttercream recipe

[@StillBusyBaking]

It’s on my website

[@judyhaines1227]

That is waaaayy too much icing on that cake you put that whole bowl of icing on there. And you can tell you have thick and thin parts of the cake. A cake has to taste delicious and not just look pretty from putting a ton of icing on it.

[@StillBusyBaking]

One of the main problems people have when trying to get smooth frosting is not putting enough on in the first place! Most of it actually gets scraped off. But you need a lot to start with so you can get proper coverage :)