Help - How do I decorate my cake?

Counting_Pennies_2

Can anyone help.

I am short of time and I haven't done a Christmas Cake before.

I have bought a pack of marzipan and pack of hard icing and some Apricot Jam.

What do I do next?

The cake a round.

Sorry I am a complete novice!

Thanks

charliee_3

get the marzipan on quick, it needs to dry out for a few days or the oils will come through the icing!

cover the cake in warmed apricot jam. roll out marzipan (use icing sugar or cornflour ot stop it sticking) to about 1cm. cut out circle for the top using tin to cut round, stick it on. measure the diameter or the tin (all round it) and roll out another piece long enough to go round it, make the top and bottom and edges nice and neat, put it round, join up the edges with water, leave it alone a few days to harden a bit

after a few days repeat with the white icing... cover up any rough bits with plastic holly, ribbon, plastic robins, etc... jobs a good-un

Counting_Pennies_2

Thank you so much, will crack on and do it now, will have to decorate it with icing on Christmas Eve then to try to give it time.

How do I know it is ready for the icing, does it have to go completely hard?

Also do I put it in an air tight container, or leave it out in the air.

Many thanks

simpywimpy

leave it out to dry and preferably not in the kitchen as the air temp varies so much

craftdaft

When I'm put marzipan or icing on a round cake I roll out enough to do top and sides in one piece. I then put over top, smooth it on with hands then smooth down the sides. At the bottom I cut it then use the back of a knife to push the icing into/against the bottom of the cake. If you use this method there are no joins to worry about :j and it's actually really easy.

floyd

This guide is great http://www.cookuk.co.uk/cake/recipe_christmas-cake_marzipan.htm and for icing http://www.cookuk.co.uk/cake/recipe_christmas-cake_readyrollicing.htm

greenbee

Have a look at this thread