I have read all about the viva paper towel way of smoothing buttercream..I never could get it to work unless I spent an hour smoothing. So I always stuck to my messy hot knife and wiping and god, I hated buttercream!

So I had this cake to do that was going to be covered with fondant strips on top of buttercream and decided to try these rollers. I figured if it didnt work, then I only have to cover the yecky spots with fondant.

It was very easy, very fast..I still need practice on the edges, but I just love the results!!!

So thank you Mr or Ms Melvira...!

I'd like to add my thanks also! I have never been able to smooth a cake to my satisfaction until I read her tips & instructions with the roller method. God bless you, Melvira, for sharing with us!

Shelle

PS Love your cake, Loriemoms!

I think she should be put in the Cake Hall of Fame
(if they were a cake hall of fame).

Well I am happy for you! And your cake looks gorgeous!!

But I still can't do it right Can I ask what recipe you used? And how long after icing the cake did you wait before "melvira-ing" it?

I use a recipe I invented, after having to deal with humid summers, not having a fridge big enough to put all my cakes in and being able to do assembly line work. It is made up with hi ratio shortening only, and I think that helos a lot with the smoothness.

I think any good crusting buttercream works. The big secret though is to mix your buttercream at a vewy low speed , with the mixer FULL for about 10 minutes. Let it get nice and smooth. Then let it sit overnight. This will obsorb all the sugar and make it even smoother. I make big batches at a time and freeze it in 2 lb tubs I bought at CK Products (they are just white tubs)

I am a crumb crust type of person and I crumb coat, and let it crust and di the rolling, then did my final coat, let it crust and then smoothed again.
I even did this method for a fondant cake and the fondant went on much nicer and smoother too! I dont know how long it took to crust, as I line up all my cakes and just frost away. Maybe 15 minutes?

Don't press too hard and do nice long strokes. I wish there was a curved tool to do "corners" for square cakes! Wouldn't that be cool?

I ahve yet to try the Melvira Method (I can't spend monay on the stuff-there's too much other cake stuff to buy )

Here is photo that I used the Viva method on. I Love it and it works great Every time!!

PM me if you want the recipe!!

here are the pictures...

Grrrr....

They did not upload. I will try this one more time.

Because now I'm just determined to get it up

lets see

Beezaly
That cake is so beautiful just love it. Can you please email me that recipe at [email protected]

Thank you in advance for that

God Bless Michelle

What beautiful cakes, both of you.

I did a cake last weekend and used my favorite Melvira method as well. When the hubby was cutting the cake our friend said, none for me, I don't like fondant.

I use Melvira with any crusting buttercream or cream cheese recipe. I let it crust for about 15 minutes. I start out rolling it with a piece of parchment between the roller & icing. Then I give it a final "go-over" with just the roller. I have also tried this with my pampered chef hand rolling pin thingy and it works well, too!

Shelle

Hi guys! Thank you lchristi27 for pointing me to this thread! I just want to say thanks to all of you who have tried it, and liked it! To those of you who are having trouble, DON'T GIVE UP!! Once you 'get it' you won't believe it! If you are having a specific problem, feel free to let me know and I'll see if I can't figure out what is going wrong for you. It's really quite easy, but there are a few things that can stand in your way!

And, BTW... this IS the cake hall of fame! Hearing people tell me how much easier it is for them, or how much work I've saved them, or how many compliments they get, that is the best 'prize' I could receive. Threads like this make me feel so special!! (Oh.... and it's MRS. Melvira!! Hahahahaha! ) Thanks again to all of you!!!

Thank you! Mrs. Melvira darling, you have saved me many a headache and time with this method. People LOVE it.

The guy who said he 'didnt like fondant' is a home repair type. When I told him how I did it, he is like that is genius! Then he told me to stay out of his tool box

Thank you! Mrs. Melvira darling, you have saved me many a headache and time with this method. People LOVE it.

The guy who said he 'didnt like fondant' is a home repair type. When I told him how I did it, he is like that is genius! Then he told me to stay out of his tool box