Question About Frozen Buttercream Transfers
Decorating By lizzard14 Updated 14 Jul 2007 , 2:51am by icantcook
Okay, I'm fixing to attempt a FBCT, my question is...After I outline the design, Which is the best frosting tip to use to color in my design? Do I use star tip? or just a dot tip? I have the directions off of here, but I wasn't sure on the tip. I wasn't sure how to color in my picture exactly.
Any help will be appreciated. Thank you. Lizzard
I just used a round decorator's tip to fill it in! Good luck with your transfer.
I made my first one last week and used the small round tip too.
I also read on another site to put another piece of parchment (or wax paper) over top, once you've finished coloring everything in. This is instead of smoothing it out with an off set spatula. I thought it worked pretty well.
Good luck!! Post pictures!
I tried this once but even though I smoothed everything out, you could still see the lines of frosting I piped in. That, and it stuck to the waxed paper. I'd like to know how to do this better too.
I used the Buttercream icing recipe from Wilton and didn't have a problem with it. I also didn't have to thin it out. When I did the little mermaid FBCT I put another piece of parchment on top and gently smoothed it out. You couldn't see the lines. At least I don't think you can.
Once you're ready to put it on the cake I would recommend removing the parchment while on a flat surface. I removed it while in my hand and Ariel broke in 3 places. I think my hands warmed it up too quickly. Thankfully I was able to repair it (it wasn't as noticeable in person as it is in the picture).
I recently did my first butter cream transfer, it took me 3 trys but I got it. I used a buttercream recipe off of this site that has more butter in it so it is lighter. One thing I did notice was that if I left it in the freezer too long it did stick to the wax paper. Also I put a thin layer of butter cream on the back of the transfer once it was all together, kept it from breaking. A helpful point was I froze the transfer inbetween making the colors and filling them in, this eliminated colors running. I did have lines from filling it in but I just flipped the transfer right side up and smoothed it out with my finger nail, waxed paper still on it LOL. Hello Kitty came out beautiful!
I also did my first FBCT this weekend and it went fabulous 
.
The icing I was using was a white chocolate cream cheese BC. I had no issues with it, and it piped easily. I used #5 and #3 tips for detail spaces, and a basketweave tip (flat side down) for my fill-in. I did have lines when I was done, but it was a western-theme cake, and the lines looked like planking .
I don't keep wax paper in my house, only parchment paper. I've found the parchment paper to peel much easier from icing (both RC and BC) than waxed paper. I did have one small corner break off, but I was able to repair it once the icing warmed up a bit.
I can't wait to use this technique again. Worked like a charm for me 
.
I use round tips to fill it in. The size of the tip depends on how big of an area I am filling in.
I also think it helps to use a thin medium icing. I have had problems with sticking when my icing was too thin. I use my regular all crisco buttercream. I don't, personally, think there is one recipe better than the other. I just prefer to use what I use for my cakes so I am not making two kinds of icing. As long as your buttercream will freeze hard, it should work fine.
Some key points is to make sure your transfer is thick enough. The thin transfers are the ones that will usually stick to the backing and break. This is because they thaw alot faster than the thicker ones.
If you have small parts sticking off of the transfer, those are places that will often stick as well. If you can you can do a background around it to keep them all stuck together.
Here is my take on FBCTs: http://www.baking911.com/asksarahbb/index.php?showtopic=441
I recently did my first FBCT and it went pretty well. I did use Wilton black for the outlines and it didn't transfer as well as the rest of the design so next time I'll make my own black. I used round tips to fill in, smoothed it with a spatula and there were a few spots you could see the lines but it wasn't terribly noticeable. Overall it went well for my first time.
How far in advance can you make a FBCT? I'm thinking about doing it on a cake for next week but I would like to make a few days ahead. Is that possible?
Thanks
Amy
I also use the round tips. Usually a #1 or #2 for the outline. #'s 3-12 for fill-ins. When I do a "full top" FBCT I pipe my background layer on with the large icer tip (flat side down). Then I don't even have to ice the top of the cake or put a border around the FBCT.
To get all the lines out of it I use a sponge roller and roll over it before I put my background layer on. Then I do it again after I put the background layer on to help level it.
TexasSugar ~ I refer a lot of people to your tutorial 
. It's GREAT!
BTW ~ I love FBCTs
How far in advance can you make a FBCT? I'm thinking about doing it on a cake for next week but I would like to make a few days ahead. Is that possible?
I never do mine ahead of time since this is my go to for the last minute cakes. I am using doing them while the cake is in the oven or cooling.
But I have read people that said they have done them in advance and haven't had a problem. Just make sure you seal them up in a plastic bag so it doesn't pick up the freezer taste.
The one that I did a while back seemed to thaw immediately after I removed it from the freezer. What could I have done wrong? I haven't tried it again, but I really wanted to do my "WICKED" cake this way. Any advise on why it thawed so quickly?
Thanks!
Wanda
For me the beauty of this method is not having to pipe all those little stars. I used my regular BC and thined it some. When I was done I let it freeze then turned it to the front and peeled off the waxed paper and added another clean layer of waxed paper. I think this helped with the sticking. You have to work really fast because the transfer does thaw right away. I too used a round tip to pipe the outline and fill in.
I made one this week and had the problem of it thawing to quickley also. My problem is that it has been 117 + to hot even with wall unit on. I fared better at 4:00 in the morning. I cooled my hands with ice and then worked with the FBCT. I'm guessing you are in so. carolina and the heat and humidity may be a problem for you also.
I read a tutorial on another site (Sweet Tracy I think). They recommended using a piece of plexiglass to put the wax paper on to do the transfer. This way you can look through it to see if there are any spots that you missed. I haven't tried one of these yet but it is on my list of things to try (which seems to be getting longer every day!).
My last FBCT (Merchant Marine) stuck also, but I just fixed it the best I could. I had to pipe in more to fill in the areas that stuck. After it crusted I used my Viva smoothed it out.
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=744303
If anyone has the wormy lines in your FBCT, you can use Viva to smooth it out once it crusts over.
My John Deere cake had those wormy lines and they disappeared after I used the Viva.
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=657743
darkchocolate
The one that I did a while back seemed to thaw immediately after I removed it from the freezer.
I don't think you did anything wrong. These thaw very fast. The thinner they are the faster they will thaw. Do not pull it out of the oven until you are ready to put it on the cake. As soon as you flip it on the cake you have to start pealing it off.
If it is a thin it will sometimes thaw before you get it off the backing off of it. That is why they sometimes tear.
If you have a large freezer and have a piece sticking or thawing way to fast, stick the whole cake into the freezer and let the FBCT harden up agian before you finishing pulling it off.
I read a tutorial on another site (Sweet Tracy I think). They recommended using a piece of plexiglass to put the wax paper on to do the transfer. This way you can look through it to see if there are any spots that you missed. I haven't tried one of these yet but it is on my list of things to try (which seems to be getting longer every day!).
Yes, it works really well! Just wanted to add that when I went to the hardware store to get a piece, they asked me what size. I told them I was looking for 8x10 or 11x15. They sent me to the back cutting area and I was able to buy scraps for about $2 a piece. Their whole piece comes in like a 4x6 foot section, and I would have had to buy the whole $45 piece if they would have done a custom cut for me. If you don't have any luck finding a plexiglass scrap, see if you can find an inexpensive photo frame with shatterproof glass.
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