I'm icing my daughters cake - help!!

Josie_Jump_3

I'm ready to embarke on icing my daughters birthday cake this morning and I need a little advice...I was planning on using Royal Icing (the stuff you mix out yourself rather than ready to roll) but have never used this before, can anyone give me any tips?

I'm icing straight onto a sponge cake - so no marzipan, do I still need to put apricot jam/glaze? I also want to do some piping round the edges, do I need to wait for the main icing to completely set before I pipe and if so will I have enough time as her birthday party is tomorrow afternoon? Shall I just nip out to the shop any buy some ready to roll instead?!

Thanks for reading!
Josie

Laneyboo

oh you are brave.. ive only ever iced a cake with butter icing/frosting.. good luck though im sure you will have a fab looking cake by tomorrow

Bossyboots

I would go for the ready to roll to be honest as you have left it a bit too late. You can make your own, it is dead easy and much easier to handle than the stuff you buy.

I really don't think Royal Icing is going to be successful straight onto a sponge cake with or without a glaze. It might be dry enough on the surface to ice tomorrow but would need handling with exceptional care.

stevenevermind

No need for apricot coating - it's just an aid for the marzipan to stick to the cake.

If it's for a kids cake why not use buttercream icing, it's easier to use on a sponge cake.

Josie_Jump_3

Thanks for your replies. Phew, I went for Royal icing that you mix with water and spread on. That looked ok perhaps a tad too much water, and I've just piped the edges - overall doesn't look to bad, the nice pink piping saves it (as well as the pink ribbon to cover up the sides!).

I've got a buttercream and jam filling so didn't want to put that on top as well, I'd also got a Dora the Explorer transfer for the top with DD's name on it so I really wanted a flat surface to stick it on!

Now lets just hope we can get it to the party in one piece....