Hi guys,

I know this topic has been posted before, but for some reason I can't find it right now. I was hoping you guys could help me out...

How does the Viva papertowel method work for smoothing buttercream on a cake again? Is it the same way I would use wax paper? (I place wax paper on the cake after the bc has set a bit, then use my roller to smooth it out.) Does it work that way? Does it ever stick to the bc? I have a big cake coming up and would like to try anything that will give me the smoothest cake possible. All tips welcome!!!

Thank you!

After the buttercream crusts you place the paper towel on the cake and rub smooth with your hand or fondant smoother or roller or whatever you find works best. I use my hand. It doesn't usually stick to the buttercream as long as the buttercream is nice and crusted over.

I love the paper towel trick. I did it yesterday and it works wonderfully!!!

Don't wait too long after it's crusted...just do it right after it crusts.

There is also a link on the home page with illustrations that may be helpful.

Angie

There is also a link on the home page with illustrations that may be helpful.

Angie

I can't wait to try it myself. I went out yesterday just to buy some viva paper towel. They only had a 6-pack available, so I bought the whole 6-pack! LOL. I'm curious tho, why is Viva any different from other brands? I've also used parchment paper, and as someone here said, they used wax paper. Why is Viva prefered over the others? Just wondering........

Be Blessed,
Ellie

I thought Viva was prefered because it doesn't not have a design on the towel and is flat. Someone posted a cake they had done with a paper towel that had a paisely design to it and it looked really neat as well.

Viva does NOT leave a design on the cake, that's why it's preferred....I've seen my sister-in-law use a printed towel on her wedding cakes and they turn out so pretty........I wonder exactly which one she used.

My friend and I tried the Viva papertowel method the other day - it left little circles all over the place b/c it is not perfectly smooth. How do you guys do it?!?! We must have done something wrong that is for sure!!!

Thanks so much guys!!! I'm going to try the Viva method on my next cake. Now is it any different from using wax paper (which is what I normally use)? Is Viva preferred over wax paper, and why?

Thanks!

I stll think the best method for smooth buttercream is the squirt bottle trick. I tried the Viva and it didn't work. Maybe the cake was too crusted.

Now I've never heard of the squirt bottle trick, I can even image what that is? Like Alicia, I would really like to hear what that is. Thanks!

I am curious about the squirt bottle trick. I use Viva towels also for smoothing my buttercream because they don't stick. I also use patterned towels sometimes, but you have to use a new one after a while because it starts to stick from the oil that comes off of the frosting from the shortening. I like to use both for a change of pace. Does anyone know about the squirt bottle trick? I would love to find out.

I think she is refering to when you mist a cake with a squirt bottle and then lightly go over it with your spatula.

Here is a step by step article with pictures on how to do this method:

http://www.cakecentral.com/article10-How-To-Create-Faux-Fondant-The-Paper-Towel-Method----Viva.html