What's the most idiotproof way to pipe a message on a birthday cake?

[franch]

DD1 wants chocolate buttercream icing with her name on. I thought I'd use white chocolate or white icing for the name. I am completely cackhanded at this sort of thing so please tell me the absolute easiest way for a novice with zero patience.

You can do a bit of origami with greaseproof paper and make a little piping bag (have a look on you-tube).

Even easier though is to get a little sandwich bag and fill it with a little bit of plain white icing (icing sugar and water, you don't need loads, and you don't need much water - add by the half teaspoon) or melted chocolate (in a bowl in the microwav). Squish all the icing down into one corner, tie or tape the top closed and then snip the corner of bag off (make the snip small at first, you can always cut off more if the hole is too small).

Practice a bit icing on a plate/work surface then off you go.

Or I've seen they've now brought out melt-in-the-bag chocolate which is basically the same thing (but probably 3x the price of melting it and putting it in a bag yourself)

Brilliant - thanks Himalaya

Lightly indent the cake with the writing you want before you let yourself loose with the icing, that way you've got something to follow and you don't run out of space on the cake. I use the wrong end of a teaspoon, or a skewer.

...also when you get to the end of a letter you sort of push down to break off the icing, rather than pulling straight off and leaving a trail between the letters.

Ooh good tips, thanks both

talking of idiots - you'll love this site (mis-understood instructions to decorators)
CakeWrecks

Oh yes I do I love that site!!

Icing pens.....

If you're worried about spoiling the cake. You could practise on a bit of greaseproof paper. If it looks good when it's set, you could peel it and put it on the cake.