I need to have a completely smooth top for a cake. I'm using buttercreme. I have always had a hard time getting it completely smooth. How do you get your cakes completely smooth on top.
Laurie

check out tonedna's awesome video here:

And Melvira's roller method (home page .... scroll down thru articles).

once you paint-roller a cake, you'll never go back!

I recently had to ask this questions myself. I would have to say the viva paper towel method works well, the only think I personlly don't like is the icing doesn't look quiet as crisp as it does before you do it. I did find making my scrapper warm under hot water and completely drying it off did help before even doing the viva paper towel. Best of luck!!! I haven't done the roller method yet but have it in my stack of must do's.

sugarshack's DVD on buttercream helped me out a lot! She shows you how to get completely smooth buttercream!! Worth the $$$

Good luck

I had a difficult time getting the tops of my cakes smooth, then I saw the article for the upside down icing technique. I love it! Works great for me. I use a combo of that technique and the Viva papertowel method. The link for the upside down icing technique is below. HTH.

http://www.cakecentral.com/article6-Upside-Down-Icing-Technique-for-Perfectly-Smooth-Icing.html

Sugarshack's DVD!!!! Amen, Amen, Amen!!! Works everytime and my frustration level when attempting smooth BC has gone way, way down--If only I'd had her video 5 years ago when I started this!!! Ditto on what becklynn says--so worth the $$$$.

I use a big metal scraper from the hardware store. I can usally smoothe the top with one or two sweeps.

I use the Melvira (paint roller)method too. I wish I had known about it sooner. It makes such a difference in my cakes.