I'm working on a three tiered square stacked wedding cake today. I've been working on getting the corners squared up and all the edges straight and am having a horrible time getting it all to look right! I saw the article from BKeith about how to frost a square cake. That has been very helpful except that my frosting wants to stick to the spatula. Does anyone have any helpful hints for me? I've thought about dipping the spatula in some hot water but that always makes my frosting shiny and I don't want that! The Bride doesn't want any border along the top. She just wants it plain with ribbon around the bottom. I WISH I could put a border on and hide all the unevenness! Help?

Anna

They are some of the hardest to get correct. Try moving the spatula away from the sides gradually instead of lifting it right off. I also to the melvira method afterwards so if you have some of the buttercream not completely smooth I wouldn't worry about it...just get the good corners.

I move the spatula away very slowly pulling it back, I don't just lift it off. I love the Melvira method and have been doing that to. My main problem is when I add frosting to an area that has already crusted, it shows. I'm afraid a hot, wet spatula may be my only option. I'm hoping that when it's all put together it will look better. I'm also going to ask the Bride if she would be upset if I added a small border around the top edges. That would help immensely! Anyway, thanks for your ideas. I have just decided I hate squares!

Anna

I LUV doing square cakes!!

Here a photo step-by-step on how I do corners. http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-5396443-.html#5396443

Sounds like your icing may be too thick?

Put LOTS of icing on the cake, then use a bench scraper to remove the excess and smooth the sides. Then Melvira the whole thing.

For top edges, after icing the sides smooth, I take a hot (dry) spatula and gently fold the top edge onto the top of the cake. Then Melvira the top.

Okay, I have to ask...

What's the Melvira Method?

Elizabeth

Dip your spatula in a pan of hot water or run it under running hot water, then wipe it off with a clean towel.

For years, I just used a hot wet knife with no problems. Then, as I moved into doing colored icings (left the 70's and 80's when all wedding cakes were white icing!!!), I found that the water from the spatula would run down the side of the pink-iced cake and leave lines of discoloration. So a wet knife is not always a good idea.

It depends on your time, but a couple of times I HAVE removed the icing and started over.

Okay, I am going to try the hot spatula! I peeked at your websites, I can't believe you have the time to help little old me! I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge with me! I really want this cake to be great! I've been decorating for only 4 years, doing weddings since January. SO I have allot to learn. Thank you Debi!

Anna

This was posted earlier this week and I really liked her videos. It gave me some help in understanding the angle I was supposed to be holding my scraper at when I moved the spatula toward it.

It won't help you for this cake, but Sugarshack's video on buttercream is awesome and she shows you how to do a square cake. Hot spatula (dip it in hot water and dry it off before using) and some Viva paper towels should help. Start at the corners and work towards the center of each side.

Anna, I just want to say good luck and that I'm rooting for ya!

Let us see how it turned out, ok?

Indydebi - thanks for sharing those pictures. I am a lot better at squares than I used to be, but they never come out looking crisp and clean. I'm going to try this way and see if it helps!

Amber

Thanks Amber! I need all the help I can get! I will be posting the finished product in the galleries, will probably put it on this thread to. That is if it isn't so horrible I am too embarassed to post it! Actually I'm feeling better about the whole thing. I used Debi's hot spatula idea last night. It definately helped! I think once I get the ribbon on it and everything it will look good. I hope!

Anna

Thank you to everone that responded with help for this person. It also helped me a great deal!

It's DONE!!!! I ended up calling the Bride and asked her if I could put a small border along the top edges. She did not mind at all, in fact asked me to add swiss dots as well! I was so relieved I felt faint! I am happy with it although it is far from perfect. Wedding cakes are so much harder than they look! Hats off to all you amazing Cakers that do this all the time! I am glad I only do this once in a while. I think I'd have an ulcer! I'll post pics soon.

Thanks again for all you help Ladies!

Anna

Yay! You did it!!!! I can't wait to see the picture!!!

Amber

Thanks to Indydebi (again) for her tutorial! This topic came in handy. I just did a bingo cake (in my pics) and the corners were my best so far!

Amber

Here it is!!! This cake was the most difficult one I've done yet. Just gave me fits. I'm happy with the end results though. Thank you all that gave me your words of wisdom! SO glad it's over!!!!!! Whew!!!!

I love it. I don't see a thing wrong with it. It turned out perfect!

What's that plastic thing in front? Probably a dumb question... but I'm curious..

What a beautiful cake! Wonderful. I love the swiss dots, and your borders are flawless.

That's the topper she gave me! It's just a 4X4 square piece of acrylic with their names engraved on it. Thanks for the compliments!

Anna

I see now! I was looking at it wrong! I thought you put an edible image on the cake and the plastic was just a clear plastic square.. Excellent job on the cake!