Icing, Finishing, & Garnishing

Using a Cake Comb

     

1. Using a cake comb.
2. Hold the comb in place while turning an iced cake to create a straight pattern.
3. Move the comb up and down while turning an iced cake to create a wave pattern.
4. Hold the comb in place on the top of the iced cake while turning to create a straight pattern.
5. Move the comb back and forth while dragging across the top of the iced cake to create a wave pattern.
6. Move the comb back and forth while dragging across a sheet cake to create a wave pattern.

Using a Leaf Tip

       

1. Fit a pastry bag with a coupler leaf tip and fill with desired icing.
2. Hold the bag with one hand at the top to apply pressure and use your other hand to guide the tip.
3. A leaf tip can be used to make leaves as shown.
4. A leaf tip can also be used to create a border around a cake.
5. By varying the way you hold the tip, you create a variety of borders.
6. Practice on a sheet of parchment paper to create a shape and texture that you like.  

Using a Rose Tip

  

1. Fit a pastry bag with a coupler, rose tip and fill with your desired icing.
2. Use the rose tip to make small flowers.
3. Create rows or small bunches of flowers to finish your cake.
4. Finished cake with a rose bud border.

Using a Star Tip

     

1. Fit a pastry bag with a coupler, star tip and fill with desired icing.
2. Use a star tip to create rosettes on top of your cake.
3. Use the star tip to create borders on your cake. A shell border is shown here.
4. Create a reverse curl border by alternating the direction of your piping as you go.
5. The star tip can be used to pipe small flowers.
6. The star tip can also be used to fill and decorate cupcakes.

Finishing a Layer Cake

     

1. Fill the layer cake by topping the first layer of cake with icing. Stack the second layer of the cake on top.
2. Use a cake spatula to ice the sides and top of the cake. Use a turntable for best results.
3. Drag a cake comb in the icing while you turn the cake to create a straight pattern on the top and side of the cake.
4. Using a star tip, you can pipe a border around the edge of the cake.
5. Using a rose tip, you can pipe flowers on the top of the cake. Finish each flower with a leaf using a leaf tip.
6. Cut and serve finished cake.

Finishing a Sheet Cake

    

1. Using a spatula, ice the sheet cake.
2. Drag a cake comb across the cake, moving it back and forth to create a wave pattern.
3. Use a spatula to mark off your desired number of portions.
4. Using the pastry bag and a star tip, pipe small figure eights onto each portion.
5. Cut and serve the finished cake.

Finishing Cupcakes

     

1. To dip cupcakes, melt Gold Medal^® Ready-to-Spread Icings in a microwave or over a double-boiler.
2. Melted icing can be drizzled over dipped cupcakes to create a color contrast.
3. Use a rose tip to create small flowers with colored icing.
4. Use a star tip to fill cupcakes before icing the tops.
5. Use a tip to create a contrasting center for cupcakes.
6. Use a tip to pipe a contrasting border.