When I'm making my dam, I use a piping bag with only the coupler so that a uniform long sausage of frosting comes out, then I fill in the dam.

If I want a thicker layer of frosting for the filling, should I pipe two dams one on top of the other, thus making it higher and allowing for more room for frosting??

Of course after that I would have to ensure that everything is settled before covering with fondant so as to avoid the bulge.

TIA!

I've never piped a dam on top of a dam. I have used a coupler and have gone really slowly around the cake - letting the icing puff up taller and bigger than if I had gone slowly.

I'd say try it though. It never hurts to try.

Sure you can.

Awesome! It sounds like I'll have to do that next time then! Who knew? LOL. Obviously not me!

I have been doing a new technique for the dam. I make the buttercream really stiff, and instead of putting it in the piping bag, I make a "snake" out of it (rolling it with my hands like fondant) and set it on the cake. Works out fine, and I don't mess with filling another piping bag. Doing it this way, you can make the snake/rope of icing however thick you want it to be.

Wow Loucinda that's an interesting technique and I think I will have to give it a try

Thanks for sharing

Oh, Loucinda... I LOVE YOU!!! You are my newest bestest friend!!! And I paid outrageous shipping just to get a handful of stupid couplers without that little notch in them!!

Good to know that I can adjust the thickness of the dam. I've found that when I only pipe one line of frosting, then fill the dam, the frosting is only a very thin layer when we cut the cake. I would like my cakes to have a little more filling in them.

Thanks for the replies!

I do it the same way Loucinda! I hate messing with piping bags.

If you want a bigger dam, use a disposable bag and just cut a bigger hole in the end.

I actually do pipe two dams, one on top of the other. It works pretty well. I dont fill my filling all the way to the top of the icing then when I put the layers together I squish down really hard and amost never have any bulge.

Glad to know there are others out there who use the same technique! I LOVE it - don't have to waste a bag - and I just keep a bowl of the stiff stuff made up, so I can make the dams whenever I need one.