Cake decoration- any experts out there?

[Mishy1234]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but here goes.

I made my son's 3rd birthday cake yesterday (a tractor) and decorated it using pre-coloured fondant icing. Following the instructions from the book, I rolled one piece of icing to cover the tractor. I found it impossible to get a smooth finish around the shape. There were bits which I needed to cut where there was spare icing (e.g- on a corner), but the join is still visible.

How on earth do you get the seamless finish you see in books? I used a smoother thing, but that didn't get rid of the joins.

I am pleased with the cake as it was my first real effort at something 3D, but I can't help being a but disappointed with the finish.

If it looks too perfect then no one will believe you did it yourself. Revel in the imperfection.

That's a great way of looking at it llareggub!

hi, you need to roll the icing quite thin, then hold it sort of flat over the cake (it will look huge!) and lower it on, smoothing from the top down and around with your hands. It will stretch a little to go around the corners and dips etc, but shouldnt tear if you are gentle.

a tractor is pretty complicated though so fair play for making it!

also make sure you knead the icing for ages to properly soften it up, that helps a lot.

Dip your finger in water and rub over the join gently until it disappears. If it's actually over a corner it might not disappear completely but worth a try.

(Or just lick your finger if it's only for immediate family! )