Cake Decorating Ideas

Decorating a Cake with Chocolate and Nuts

For a more distinguished looking cake, try decorating with chocolate or nuts. The following tips will help.

Melting and Piping Chocolate

Here's the equipment you will need to melt and then pipe chocolate: 

·         cutting board 

·         paring knife 

·         glass measuring cup 

·         small saucepan 

·         rubber spatula 

·         small zipper-style plastic food 

·         storage bag 

·         kitchen scissors 

·         Unsweetened, semisweet or milk chocolate (squares or bars)

1.     Place chocolate on cutting board; shave it into small pieces with paring knife.

Be sure to use a sharp knife  that won't catch or slip.

2.     Place shavings in measuring cup. Fill a saucepan one-quarter full (about 1 inch deep) with warm (not hot) water. Place measuring cup in water to melt chocolate, stirring frequently with rubber spatula until smooth. (Be careful not to get any water into chocolate.) Remove measuring cup from saucepan. Let chocolate cool slightly. 

3.     Fill plastic bag about half full with melted chocolate. Seal bag securely.

Use care when pouring melted  chocolate into plastic bag.

4.     Cut off very tiny corner of bag with scissors.

Start with the tiniest cut off the corner.  You can always enlarge the  hole if it isn't big enough.

5.     Gently squeeze bag, piping chocolate onto cake using an even, steady flow.

Chocolate Shapes 

1.     Complete steps 1-4 above.

2.     Gently squeeze bag and pipe chocolate in a steady flow onto sheet of waxed paper, making a variety of small shapes. Stop squeezing and then lift bag at end of each shape. Create flowers, hearts, Christmas trees, lattice shapes, or any lacy pattern.

Make chocolate shapes as  fanciful as you want.

3.     Let stand in cool, dry place until chocolate is firm. (Do not chill in refrigerator.) When chocolate is firm, gently peel shapes off waxed paper. Store shapes in cool, dry place until ready to use.

It might be helpful to use a small knife to  peel the shapes off the waxed paper.

Melting and Piping White Chocolate

Here's what you will need to melt and pipe white chocolate:

·         small resealable plastic freezer bag

·         microwave oven

·         kitchen scissors 

·         white chocolate baking bars

1.     Place white chocolate baking bar in small resealable plastic freezer bag.

2.     Microwave at MEDIUM (50% power) 2 minutes. Turn bag over; microwave at MEDIUM 2 to 3 minutes or until white chocolate is melted.

3.     Knead bag until white chocolate is smooth. 

Kneading the melted white chocolate helps smooth out any lumps.

4.     Cut off very tiny corner of bag with scissors.

5.     Gently squeeze bag, piping white chocolate onto cake, using an even, steady flow.

Use a zigzag motion to get a pretty drizzle effect.

Adding Nuts or Crumbs to the Side of the Cake

1.     Tuck small strips of waxed paper under a two- or three-layer cake to keep plate clean. Completely frost the cake with frosting of your choice.

2.     Place cookie crumbs, chopped nuts, chopped candy bits, or coconut in small bowl.

3.     Using palm of hand, pat crumbs onto side of cake. Work on one small area at a time and rotate cake plate as you go.

4.     When finished, remove waxed paper strips.

An edge of crumbs or chopped nuts  makes a cake look elegant.

Sifted Cocoa and Sugar Patterns

Here's what you will need to form sifted cocoa and sugar patterns:

·         waxed paper

·         doily with large pattern 

·         large spoon 

·         fine-mesh sieve 

·         skewer or toothpick

·         unsweetened cocoa powder or powdered sugar

1.     Cut waxed paper into strips, each 2 to 3 inches wide. Tuck strips under cake to keep plate clean.

2.     Position doily on top of cake. 

Carefully position the doily in  the center of the cake.

3.     Spoon cocoa powder or powdered sugar into sieve.

Hold the sieve over a sheet of  waxed paper for easier cleanup.

4.     Holding sieve over cake, gently tap sieve with hand to sift cocoa powder or sugar in an even layer over entire surface.

Move sieve over cake slowly and  smoothly for an even effect.

5.     Carefully remove waxed paper strips. Remove doily with skewer or toothpick.

Work carefully so you  don't disturb the pattern.

TIP: Cocoa powder works well for light-colored desserts; powdered sugar is best for dark-colored desserts. 

Gingham Variation

Omit doily. Cut clean sheets of paper into 8 to 10 strips, each strip 1/2- to 3/4-inch wide and long enough to fit across top of cake you wish to cover. Arrange paper strips in crisscross pattern on top of cake. Continue as directed in steps 3-5 above.

This simple paper strip technique  produces a very impressive look.

Tinting and Toasting Coconut

1.     To tint coconut, place coconut in resealable plastic food storage bag. 

2.     Combine small amount of food coloring with water in small bowl; add to bag. Seal bag; shake until evenly coated. 

3.     To toast coconut, spread coconut evenly on baking sheet. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Toast about 5 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring coconut occasionally to ensure even browning.

Chocolate Curls

Here's the equipment you will need to make chocolate curls:

·         cutting board

·         paring knife 

·         glass measuring cup

·         small saucepan 

·         rubber spatula 

·         baking pan 

·         metal spatula 

·         small skewer or toothpick 

·         waxed paper 

·         semisweet chocolate (squares or bars) 

·         shortening 

1.     Place chocolate on cutting board; shave it into small pieces with paring knife.

The finer the shavings, the faster the chocolate will melt.

2.     Place shavings in measuring cup. Add shortening. (Use 1 teaspoon of shortening for every 2 ounces of chocolate.) Fill a saucepan one-quarter full (about 1 inch deep) with warm (not hot) water. 

3.     Place measuring cup in water to melt chocolate, stirring frequently with rubber spatula until smooth. (Be careful not to get any water into chocolate.) 

Be careful not to get even a drop of water  into the chocolate. It will seize up.

4.     Remove measuring from saucepan. Let chocolate cool slightly.

5.     Pour melted chocolate onto back of baking pan. Quickly spread chocolate into a thin layer (about 1/4 inch thick) with metal spatula.

A long, flat metal spatula makes it easier  to spread the chocolate in an even layer.

6.     Let stand in cool, dry place until chocolate is firm. (Do not chill in refrigerator.) When chocolate is just firm, use small straight-edge metal spatula to form curls. Holding spatula at a 45-degree angle, push spatula firmly along baking pan, under chocolate, so chocolate curls as it is pushed. (If chocolate is too firm to curl, let stand a few minutes at room temperature. Refrigerate again if it becomes too soft.)

Scrape slowly and deliberately  so curls don't break

7.     Using small skewer or toothpick, transfer curls to waxed paper. Store curls in a cool, dry place until ready to use.

Just slip the curl onto a skewer  and lift it off the baking pan.

Chocolate Cutouts

1.     Complete steps 1-3 above. 

2.     Line inside of baking sheet with waxed paper. Pour melted chocolate into prepared baking sheet; quickly spread chocolate into a thin layer (1/8- to 1/4-inch thick) with metal spatula.

Work quickly when spreading the melted chocolate, but try to keep an even stroke with the spatula.

3.     Let stand in cool, dry place until chocolate is just firm. (Do not chill in refrigerator.)

4.     Cut chocolate into shapes with hors d'oeuvre or cookie cutters, placing cutters as close together as possible.

Use cutters in simple shapes  for best results.

5.     Carefully remove cutouts with metal spatula. Store the cutouts in a cool, dry place until ready to use.

You might need to use the tip of a small paring knife to start lifting the cutouts. Finish with the metal spatula.

TIP: For ease in cutting chocolate, slightly warm cutters with hands before cutting out shapes.

White Chocolate Curls

Here's what you will need to make white chocolate curls:

·         cutting board

·         paring knife

·         2-cup glass measuring cup

·         waxed paper

·         cookie sheet or baking pan 

·         sharp knife

·         metal spatula 

·         white chocolate baking bars

·         shortening

1.     Place white chocolate on cutting board; shave it into small pieces with paring knife.

2.     Place white chocolate shavings and shortening in measuring cup. (Use 1 teaspoon of shortening for every 2 ounces of chocolate.)

3.     Microwave on HIGH (100% power) for about 11/2 minutes or until melted, stirring after every 30 seconds of cooking 

4.     Pour melted white chocolate onto back of baking pan. Quickly spread chocolate into a very thin layer (about 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick) with metal spatula. Refrigerate white chocolate about 10 minutes or until firm, but still pliable.

Spread the melted chocolate  quickly and evenly.

5.     Use small straight-edge metal spatula to form curls. Holding spatula at a 45-degree angle, push spatula firmly along baking pan, under chocolate, so chocolate curls as it is pushed. (If chocolate is too firm to curl. Let stand a few minutes at room temperature. Refrigerate again if it becomes too soft. 

Try to maintain a 45-degree angle for the best curls.

6.     Using small skewer or toothpick, transfer curl to waxed paper. Store curls in a cool, dry place until ready to use.

White Chocolate Cutouts

1.     Melt white chocolate baking bars (do not add shortening) in small bowl set inside larger bowl half filled with very hot water, stirring occasionally. 

Melting the white chocolate  will take about 10 minutes.

2.     Line cookie sheet or baking pan with waxed paper. Pour melted white chocolate onto waxed paper; quickly spread chocolate into a thin layer (1/8- to 1/4-inch thick) with rubber spatula.

If you use a cookie sheet, keep melted  white chocolate a couple of inches  from the edge.

3.     Refrigerate until white chocolate is just firm, about 15 minutes.

4.     Cut chocolate into shapes with sharp knife (or use hors d'oeuvre or cookie cutters).

Large geometric shapes can make dramatic decorations.

5.     Immediately lift cutouts carefully from waxed paper with metal spatula or knife. Refrigerate until ready to use.