Simple Iced Birthday Cake

malamay

If you do want to write on the cake with icing, find a writing nozzle (just a small, round hole in the tip) load up your piping bag. Before writing on the cake, I like to trace my message or design with a cocktail stick. Remember to leave a little more space between letters, as the icing will be thicker than writing with a normal pen. This usually keeps me from mis-spelling, or writing on a slant, and ensures I do not run out of space for my message!

When using your piping bag, hold it at about a 45 degree angle from the cake, and squeeze using even pressure. Keep your cocktail stick nearby in case you need to reposition a bit of stray icing, or if you need help cutting off the 'flow' of icing.

It is a messy job, and I have invested in single use icing bags, as I could never get my reusable one clean enough!

Chris25

The Range has paper mini bunting - you can string that between two bamboo skewers & write your daughter's name on, then just ditch the skewers after everyone's admired the cake or put them aside out of harm's way


http://www.blovedweddings.com/blog/diy-5-mini-bunting there are some downloadable bunting shapes on here

For my daughter's b'day, I made a double string of bunting, 1 tighter than the other to hang higher.
Or, coctail sticks with paper flags glued on or sandwich markers would do.

helenrachel_2

Thanks everyone. I have been putting pressure on myself to make a cake and ice it with a personal message but think simple is probably best. I think I am going to do a big number one out of smarties or an A. I think her name is too big for writing in smarties.

Just out of interest, in case I do make my life more difficult than it needs to be, how do you make the icing that you pipe? And can you pipe on top of the buttercream or fudge topping?

mrcow

I'm sure I'll get shot down by all the hard-core old stylers here for this but......

If you want to save time on the icing or are worried that you may make it too runny etc, Betty Crocker's Chocolate Buttercream icing is lovely and always turns any cake perfect (even mine!). It comes in a tub in the baking section and you just spread it with a knife.

Personally I think the costs are comparable to making it yourself, but it's quick and one less thing to be stressing about.

The advantage is that you'll also probably have some left over so can use it for other baking too.

theseeker1

Re: Recipe

Wow! Thanks for this recipe. I would love to try making one.

Anyway, I assume the birthday party went well. Cheers!

debbym

helenrachel wrote: »

Thanks everyone. I have been putting pressure on myself to make a cake and ice it with a personal message but think simple is probably best. I think I am going to do a big number one out of smarties or an A. I think her name is too big for writing in smarties.

Just out of interest, in case I do make my life more difficult than it needs to be, how do you make the icing that you pipe? And can you pipe on top of the buttercream or fudge topping?

I cheat on this one thing and buy the tubes of ready-made - less stress and I hate cleaning piping bags, nozzles etc. if you have made your own sponge and buttercream then even with this its still under the price of shop-bought. You want to remember your daughters first birthday for the fun not the stress!

babyshoes

Buttercream will pipe fine, just make a bit extra and add colouring to the leftover bit before putting it in your piping bag.

Or, if you want an easy life, just buy a tube of writing icing, it will be fine on top of whatever type of icing you have on your cake.