How To Decorate A Cake – 5 Simple Things You Can Do To Get Started

If you want to learn how to decorate a cake, cupcakes, or cookies, and have never done it before, never fear! Here we will offer five simple ways you can get started without spending too much money on cake decoration supplies.

Even people who don’t regularly eat sweets and treats cannot help but admire the lovely ways professional cake decorators seem to effortlessly “whip up” their beautiful creations!

But, here is a little cake decorating secret for you. You don’t need a pantry full of expensive cake decorating supplies. Usually, when you first learn how to decorate a cake, it’s likely that some of the items you’ll need are already in your kitchen!

For example, do you have a hand-held mixer or a counter-top mixer? How about mixing bowls and spatulas? If so, you’re on your way!

If you are very new to learning how to decorate a cake, the most simple thing you can do is purchase an inexpensive cake decorating kit for a particular “theme.” By “theme” we mean something like “baby shower cake kit,” or similar term. Cake decorating kits exist for many popular television characters. There are also theme kits such as “pirate cake kit” or “castle cake kit” as well.

As a beginner, you can also find cake decoration supplies and kits made up especially for you! For example, there are famous cake decoration supplies and kits for less than $20.

Here are five simple things that you can do to get started as you learn how to decorate a cake:

1. Purchase the most basic of decorating tips. Most experts agree that you should have at least four primary pastry tips. These are the little tips that attach to the end of the pastry or icing bag. A “Round” tip, size 3 or 4, will be used to write on the cake. Also recommended is a #18 “Star” tip, a #352 “Leaf” tip, and a #102 or #104 “Petal Ruffle” tip. These tips are the ones that will help you make those little flowers, leaves, and other shapes!

2. Gather the other essential equipment such as your mixer, mixing bowls, flat spatulas (we’ll show you a source where you can see what these look like shortly), some icing gels (for coloring your icing), and the basic ingredients for your icing. Your basic buttercream frosting or icing will not take complicated ingredients! If you have confectioner’s (powdered) sugar, butter, shortening, clear vanilla extract, and a little milk or water, you are ready to begin!

(Here’s a quick note on why you need “clear” vanilla extract, which you can find in any craft or decorating aisle of the grocery store: If you use the usual “brown” colored vanilla extract, the brown color will tint your icing, giving it a “muddy” colored look. When you add your icing colors, it’s best to add them to a pure white icing base. Using clear vanilla extract will help give you that bright white color.)

3. Watch a couple of beginner videos, many of which are now free and easy to find on the internet before you begin. Just watching some of these techniques will help you gain confidence in trying them yourself. For example, you can watch one of the videos that show a professional making a classic buttercream frosting. Then, you can try making the frosting yourself and cover a simple cake or batch of cupcakes just to get started and to get the feel of how the spatulas and frosting will feel.

4. Take a look at the some of the easy start cake decoration supplies and kits for beginners. As mentioned, you can pick out an appropriate starter kit for very little money. You might even find something at a thrift store or yard sale if you keep your eyes open! If you know someone in your neighborhood who is an avid baker, you may even be able to borrow some cake decoration supplies just to see how they feel before you invest in your own.

5. You can join an online cake decorating community and forum and get expert advice and learn from professionals who not only post instructional videos on a regular basis, but who are available to answer questions. Cake decorating communities can help you determine what you may have done wrong when that little stripe you put on the side of the cake fell off, or offer suggestions if you show them a photo of your work. Online cake decoration communities are very helpful and the members take great enjoyment in helping others learn how to decorate a cake.

Finally, and this should probably be step number 6, but just do it! Bake a simple layer cake. Even use an easy mix to bake it, or a batch of cupcakes, and then just fill up one of the icing bags with some frosting (you can even buy some pre-made frosting at the grocery store for starters), and allow yourself to draw lines and figures on the cake or cupcakes.

It really all comes down to just taking the steps to get started, doesn’t it? You’ll have fun, and your friends and family will also enjoy your results!