I made a cake today with a beach theme and could NOT get the brown sugar sand to stick to the sides. What's the trick? I was trying while the cake was completely iced and attached to the cake plate and was attempting to use my fingers to press it on. 
the trick is to put your sugar on as soon as you ice your cake before the icing hardenes. if it crusts over before you get it done you'll have to use the piping gel like ladycake suggested or even spritz it with alittle water. i'd be careful doing that with the sugar though .. it might run. i use to do this with sprinkles, sugar gran's, coconut ... whatever i wanted on the sides of the cake. hope this helps 
! danielle
didn't work. anything you want to put on the sides of your cake should go on as soon as you're done icing it. get a handful of nuts, sprinkles, sugar ... whatever you want ... tilt the cake alittle and "smoosh" your handful of goodies where you want them make sure you do this over a bowl, trash can, or counter top because not everything you put on the sides will stay there, a few pieces that can't get to the icing will fall back off. hope this helps!
Thank guys! I think I probably waited too long. I'll move faster next time. And I might try the graham cracker idea because the sugar did make it a little too sweet. 
I have used both types of buttercream icings for my cakes and had the most success with the non-crusting ones. They are always "sticky" and you have time to do as you need to and finish up at the end once your cake is on the plate.
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