Cracked Icing

Decorating By jelacop Updated 2 Jun 2006 , 8:41pm by DianeLM

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jelacop Posted 29 May 2006 , 11:06pm
post #1 of 9

What causes cracks in crusting buttercream icing and how can it be avoided?

8 replies
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DeniseMarlaine Posted 30 May 2006 , 3:00am
post #2 of 9

I've never had this happen but here's a bump. Anybody familiar with this problem?

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Loucinda Posted 30 May 2006 , 3:04am
post #3 of 9

I think it depends on what kind of crack you have first of all. If you let the icing crust too long, and then try to smooth it witht the Viva, you get tiny cracks in the icing.

One of the other crack issues is if you don't have enough support for the cake, you get those big cracks in it.

I had a new situation the other day....I made a cake with a dark John Deere green color to it, and I didn't let it set for very long before doing the viva - and there were a couple of areas that got the small cracks in it - I think it was actually from the coloring (??) Never had that happen before.

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Sammy-2002 Posted 30 May 2006 , 7:57pm
post #4 of 9

Is this happening when you move the cake? I used to get cracks in my cakes when I used cardboard cake boards. I've switched to plywood and it's eliminated this problem.

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ConnieB Posted 30 May 2006 , 8:07pm
post #5 of 9

I had that same cracking problem with a cake I made this past weekend. It seem to happen when I would lift the cake on the cardboard, and it made it bend. I was putting the cake in the box when my friend got to my house and it started cracking, I was so embaressed. Luckily, they loved it anyway and thought it tasted great! Originally I thought it may have happened because I had previously frozen the cake before I decorated it (first time I had done that).

Sammy,

Does it get costly using plywood? Sounds like a good idea but I don't know if I can afford that or not, I hate to go up on my cake prices. usaribbon.gif

Connie

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dolcesunshine20 Posted 30 May 2006 , 8:07pm
post #6 of 9

This happens to me unless I use a VERY sturdy board/method of support underneath.

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DRose Posted 30 May 2006 , 8:35pm
post #7 of 9

You could also use tempered masonite, I believe it costs less than plywood. Get a deposit for your boards also.

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jelacop Posted 2 Jun 2006 , 6:27pm
post #8 of 9

Thanks for all your advice. Now that I got input on this matter, I think the cracks came from when I would try the Viva towel method.

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DianeLM Posted 2 Jun 2006 , 8:41pm
post #9 of 9

If your icing is crusting before you can finish smoothing with the Viva, try adding a little more fat to your recipe. Also, icing crusts slower on a chilled cake (condensation). If your cake is big and you don't think you'll be able to hit every inch of it with Viva before it starts to crust, pop it in the frig for about 20 minutes before you ice it. Don't let it completely chill otherwise it will take FOREVER for the icing to crust.

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