Icing top of cake with butter icing - help!

10 replies

Mumgenius · 31/01/2010 15:13

Have tried to ice a cake in butter icing but it has come out like a dogs dinner! The icing it too sticky and I can't get it to spread well or get a smooth surface. How are you meant to get a decent covering that doesn't look like a 4yr old did it??

I'm having another go this evening after DD is in bed, so advice before then would be great. Thanks!

OP posts:

displayuntilbestbefore · 31/01/2010 15:16

Is it too stiff to spread?
If so, when you do it next time,. add the teensiest bit of milk to the icing sugar and butter mix and beat it well, adding more icing sugar until the consistency is right.

Do you use twice the amount of icing sugar to butter? That always works for my icing.

Umami · 31/01/2010 15:20

Possibly up the proportion of butter and make sure it is really well softened? You could do a cream-cheese icing instead if you've got any Philly.

displayuntilbestbefore · 31/01/2010 15:28

Or if you want a completely smooth finish, make glace icing instead.

ALT2 · 31/01/2010 15:40

Sounds like not enough icing sugar in the mix, if you did and it still won't spread add a little corn flour, 3% of quantity of icing sugar. Also you could freeze the cake before you ice, that way crumbs won't lift of in the process and you don't have to worry about being too rough.

picklepud · 01/02/2010 12:39

more milk in the icing makes it easier to spread

Original poster

Mumgenius · 01/02/2010 13:28

Thanks all, last night turned out to be a bit random so didn't get a chance to ice, but will try again tonight. Thanks for all the tips

OP posts:

picklepud · 01/02/2010 13:38

when you do, bear in mind that if it still looks like a dog's dinner, you could look like a really relaxed child centred mother by pretending dd did actually do it! dependent on age of course!

Poledra · 01/02/2010 13:40

Along with what the others have said here, try dipping your palette knife into hot(boiling) water as you're trying to spread the icing.

AMumInScotland · 01/02/2010 13:58

I spread it as smooth as reasonably practical, then make patterns on it by running a fork across one way then sideways. It's not smooth, but it doesn't look like it's meant to be

GooberHasBookedHerHols · 01/02/2010 14:01

L know what you mean. I did one once, as I spread it around it picked up clumps of crumbs which all got mushed into cream. It was too thick. Making it less thick works much better.

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