Food & Drink

How To: Icing Tips!

Zoe Clark, from The Cake Parlour, shows us the proper technique for icing. She demonstrates how to properly ice a cake board and in the second segment, how to ice a cake. She also gives us tips on how to avoid lumps, air bubbles and fingerprints. Enlarge

How To: Icing Tips!

Zoe Clark, from The Cake Parlour, shows us the proper technique for icing. She demonstrates how to properly ice a cake board and in the second segment, how to ice a cake. She also gives us tips on how to avoid lumps, air bubbles and fingerprints.

Prep:
10m
Total:
10m

Step 1: How to Ice a Cake Board

Roll out a piece of sugar paste, moving it quarter turns to keep it even. Use a needle to remove any crumbs or bubbles that appear. When slightly bigger than the size of the cake board, pick it up with the rolling pin. Unwind it over the board and gently go over with a smoother. Also use the smoother to trim away the edges. Smooth the top again, cut away the little bits at the edges with a knife, and finally smooth over the top again. Leave to dry, ideally overnight. It is ready when tapping with a finger leaves no print.

Step 2: How to Cover a Cake

Brush the top of the cake with a small amount of clear alcohol such as vodka. Roll out the icing paste evenly to a round shape. Pick it up with a rolling pin and unwind over the cake. Trim away the excess icing from the edges. With your hand, push any bubbles out from the top and softly press the sides of the icing in. Trim away excess hang. Gently go over the top and sides with the smoother. Use a needle to remove remaining air bubbles. Use the smoother to make a clean line at the bottom to cut away the excess icing. Smooth all over.