I'm reading alot about this technique using Viva towels to smooth Buttercream. Could someone please explain how this is done? It sounds like everyone is very happy with the results.

If you do a search you will get hundreds of thread on it - all good info!
Shirt story - ice the cake with buttercream - let it crust a few minutes - lay a WHITE VIVA paper towel down and GENTLY smooth over it with your hand or a spreader. VIOLA! smooth cake.
Read the threads they go into great detail.

Thanks so much! This site is so helpful!

I love using the viva method, my cakes have never turned out so smooth. It is the fastest and easiest way that I have found to smooth out a cake.

I agree- works like a charm! I have also used textured paper towels (i.e.- cheap other brands) that will leave an imprint in the icing and you have a fun littlle design like circles or diamonds after you are done smoothing.

dumb question - is the paper towel damp or dry?

Dry.

I also use parchment paper and white computer paper with excellent results.

I used the paper towel method this weekend and it worked like majic. I imprinted a name in the wrong spot on the cake and used the Viva towel and smoothed it right out. I will never go back to the parchment paper method again

I have a roll of Viva that says on the outside of the package FOR CAKES ONLY DO NOT USE. Hubby loves them but they are too expensive for us to use everyday. I don't make that many cakes yet so one roll is all I need right now.

That's funny... I thought I was the only one who used computer paper! It works pretty well but I don't have anything else to compare it to. I just bought a roll of Viva yesterday to try out next month on a wedding cake. I can't wait to see what all the buzz is about! I'm sure Viva must work better because there isn't alot of mention about paper being used.

This is the ONLY way to smooth a cake in my humble opinion! I love it. I have tried other ways, only to be disappointed with the results. Viva is the best!

A stupid question I know, but why doesnt the cream stick to the icing? Even if its cold, I would have thought it would come off?

Every time that I have tried it, the frosting stuck. I would guess that it means that my frosting was not dry enough, too much moisture.

Hey, if anyone has the sterilite 7 drawer roller cart - 2 rolls fit perfect in the bottom drawers - out of everyones sight!

Be sure you are using a buttercream that will crust a bit. I usually wait 30 - 60 minutes before I try it.

Just my two cents. I tried the viva method like three times with my regular buttercream which is made with crisco and has meringue powder in it. I thought this was considered a crusting buttercream but I could never get it to smooth out. It either stuck to the towel or I would smooth and none of the lines would come out. I don't know if this is due to the high humidity here or what. Then I tried the recipe that's posted on here that has flour in it and it worked, but in my opinion the icing tastes terrible. Anyway, I wanted to add this because I saw one of the posts said that they could never get it to work.

I have not tried the Viva method yet (can't seem to find that brand) but is the buttercream dream recipe on this site considered a crusting frosting? I have a cake to make next week and I am using the buttercream dream frosting. If the viva towels work on it, I need to go on a search for some.