How to Trim a Cake Before Icing it (5 Steps)

Ever wonder how to trim a cake before icing it to get it to look like a perfectly shaped bakery cake? With a few basic techniques and tools, it is relatively simple to trim a level cake and say good-bye to those lopsided cakes of the past. Another advantage of a level cake is that it is easier to put intricate frosting designs on and around it. Trim a cake before icing it to create shapes from it such as a bear, heart or triangles. Another option to trim cakes is to make a round scalloped edge.

Things You'll Need

  • Cake
  • Wire rack
  • Cellophane
  • Cake board
  • Sharp serrated knife
  • Icing

Instructions

  1. Bake the cake, cool it on a wire rack and remove it from the pan. Wrap the cake up in cellophane or put it on a cake circle and place in freezer for 4 to 24 hours to make trimming easier and more precise, as well as to keep the cake moist.

  2. Remove the cake from the freezer and allow it to thaw for approximately 20 minutes. The cake should be cool and firm but not frozen.

  3. Use a sharp, serrated knife to trim a cake before icing it. Trimming the cake includes leveling it or cutting it into a shape such as a star or a cross.

  4. Place the knife on the cake, hold it parallel to the surface of the cake and use a back and forth sawing motion to remove the crown of the cake and level it. A leveled cake is usually easier to frost and decorate. Other items that level a cake are a cake leveler, fishing line or dental floss. Cake levelers have notches to adjust to various heights.

  5. Let the trimmed cake thaw to room temperature. Spread icing on top of the bottom layer and then place the second layer on the first one. Ice the top of the cake first and then spread down the side.

Previous:

Next:

Food & Drink

Baking Techniques

Baking Techniques

https://en.drinkfood.biz © Food & Drink