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The first cakes baked in the US were simply small loves of sweet bread, so imagine how far cake making has progressed. Today, we have a huge collection of cakes using almost every ingredient available under the sun-indeed what a far cry from the early days of cake making. This should make any homemaker delighted, as they are now able to choose from a wide variety of cakes to bake. The person who dreams of baking gorgeous cakes needs to be aware that it takes knowledge and tremendous patience to be able to create the effects you want. The right set of tools is very important to help you achieved the results you want.

Every little cake creation starts with the foundation, so you need to begin with a real nice coating of smooth icing, enough to cover the surface of this cake. It is a good idea to start your cake decorating with a thin layer of frost, enough to cover all crumbs from ever getting into the regular layer of your icing. When you are done with this layer, leave them in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. This will set the first layer and lock in all crumbs from ever rising to the external layer of your icing. Now you can have fun decorating you cake without having to worry about those dreaded crumbs suddenly appearing.

Now get your icing spatula and apply a nice coat of icing layer. Place a nice amount of icing on the cake and stat smoothing it by running the spatula along the perimeters of the cake. There is one well-kept secret you can use, dip the spatula in cold water before you start smoothing, it makes the job a whole lot easier. Dip it again in cold water as you hold the spatula horizontally over the top, and start smoothing the surface of the cake. Use both hands and drag the spatula towards you, starting at the furthest point.

Simple Designs

Learning to smooth the icing is the hardest part in cake decorating. Practice will make you a pro in not time. Does not be bashful about showing off your work once you get to right, it is a milestone in your cake decorating adventure.

Instead of icing, cake tops can be dusted with powdered sugar. You can use pure dusted sugar powder for an elegant look or use stencils for a more complicated effect. One good addition is to see edible cake decorations. To really make your cake stand out from the crowd, use colorful candies, nuts and other fun stuff where applicable.

You can create a textured look by using a cardboard comb, which you can get easily from baking supply store. Piping is achieved by using a pastry bag fitted with a metal tip that is held on by a coupler. This is the most important part in your cake decorating adventure because it opens up whole new possibilities-you can create flowers, shells, and anything you can virtually imagine. Fill your bag with one cup of icing and start decorating your cake. You may use your other hand to move the tip safely without smudging. It is wise to find out everything you can about piping before you begin.

If you wish, fondant is another great way to decorate your cake. Fondants are used to cover cakes, kneaded and rolled to create a beautiful classic look. Used to created 3-D design, they are exceptionally elegant.