Whats Your Favorite Fast Decoration For A Cake?
Decorating By melysa Updated 28 Aug 2007 , 7:48pm by lynseyg2002
i'm used to having weeks to plan a cake design. lately it seems that i've had lots of last minute (and i mean LAST minute) requests where i dont HAVE 10 hours to make a fancy cake. so it got me to thinking...what are some ways to do a cake on short notice and have it look absolutely delicious AND attractive. i've been doing lots of chocolate wraps, fresh fruit and piroutte "wraps" . i've yet to do basketweave, i never had the desire to before, but now i'm thinking its kind of neat.
does anyone want to share a technique or method that is your favorite to do when you are in a hurry ? i think when i lack time, the look i am going for is a YUM look, but i also want it to be a WOW look. looking for new fresh ideas....thanks !
now see, THATS http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=90354 what i'm talkin' about! bkdcakes, this is beautiful AND begs for me to dive in without a fork.
Thanks, Melysa! I didn't even think about that one! I do that on my Italian Cream Cakes, instead of mixing the nuts into the frosting. I saw it on Emeril, he's not big on decorating cakes. It's really easy to do, but a little messy. Just grind up the nuts (I use pecans) & sprinkle liberally on the cake. Then take handfuls of nuts & pat them into the frosting.
HTH!
I pre make a lot of various ri (or fondant)flowers...those have really helped me in a pinch 
Cornelli is a good one.
Any type of impression mat is good too. I just bought 3 new ones. Quick texture to the sides..add a flower or two here and there and you're done.
I finally just bought some sheets for chocolate wraps. Are they pretty easy? I'm not sure when I'll get the opportunity to try it.
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_456423.html
what about this one...this one is a fav around here
Cornelli is a good one.
Any type of impression mat is good too. I just bought 3 new ones. Quick texture to the sides..add a flower or two here and there and you're done.
I finally just bought some sheets for chocolate wraps. Are they pretty easy? I'm not sure when I'll get the opportunity to try it.
ah-ha! impression mats!
the transfer sheets? they are REALLY flimsey. i use double sided tape to attach them to a less flexible piece of mylar or stencil plastic to strengthen it, then i proceed with the melted chocolate. shirleyw suggested to do a plain wrap, then do the transfer wrap on top of that so that it has something firm to stand up against. i havent tried it that way yet because i dont want to use twice the chocolate, but it may work better. here's one i did recently: http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=835753
if you meant a PLAIN wrap, YES, they are easy!!! as long as you've got stiff mylar or stencil plastic. i love them!!!
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_456423.html
what about this one...this one is a fav around here
yum! the chocolate almond cream sounds delicious. i'm drooling...really.
I know it's not terribly original or anything, but last minute cakes from me usually get 4-6 roses, leaves, vines, rosebuds & a border. Somehow they look better to me than grocery store roses, maybe because of the extra greenery or the buds, maybe because I use IMBC. Dunno. I've also done random dots (think swiss, not polka), and I did stripes on the side for a last minute male b-day.
I'm definitely interested to see some more responses on this one.
I love cornelli too, and rolled roses are great for adding girly bits to a cake without too much planning!
Sometimes when I'm decorating I will cut out lots of various shapes out of fondant, mostly flowers, and leave them to dry. I keep them in an airtight box, and they are great for decorating a girls cake in a hurry, just BC then stick the flowers all over. Its best if they are in a lot of colours. And my girls raid them sometimes when they are making cupcakes. (I have a couple of their photos in my pics, they are bright green with bees and flowers, they are adorable!) I also do this when I make bows, I make a ton of loops knowing I won't use them all at once. They come in really handy when you have a cake to make in a hurry, and the bows look like a lot of planning and effort went into them!
and yes, imbc makes everything look better (except my behind)
I think I just peed myself!
Bought sugarpaste flowers help me out in a pinch. And for chocolate lovers; the drizzled chocolate on the sides and chocolate dipped strawberries on top always looks delicious and pretty and yet is simple to do. Double loop bows have to be made ahead of time; but you can always do a bunch of extras to use on last-minute cakes.
Cornelli is a good one.
Any type of impression mat is good too. I just bought 3 new ones. Quick texture to the sides..add a flower or two here and there and you're done.
I finally just bought some sheets for chocolate wraps. Are they pretty easy? I'm not sure when I'll get the opportunity to try it.
ah-ha! impression mats!
the transfer sheets? they are REALLY flimsey. i use double sided tape to attach them to a less flexible piece of mylar or stencil plastic to strengthen it, then i proceed with the melted chocolate. shirleyw suggested to do a plain wrap, then do the transfer wrap on top of that so that it has something firm to stand up against. i havent tried it that way yet because i dont want to use twice the chocolate, but it may work better. here's one i did recently: http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=835753
if you meant a PLAIN wrap, YES, they are easy!!! as long as you've got stiff mylar or stencil plastic. i love them!!!
Yeah, the transfer sheets - thanks for that tip. I'll look around for some mylar. Your cake looks beautiful and yummy! I love that cute design on the chocolate.
I found a diamond impression mat with an oval cutout - for monograms or whatever. I may try it this weekend.
I have recently become addicted to ribbon. Michael's always has some on sale or in the dollar bins - cute designs. I've wrapped the bottoms of cakes for instant decoration. I've been challenging myself to match a cake to the ribbon.
I also make extra royal flowers and they're all saved in a box.
Extra pearls too.
I once tried taking a #12 tip and going up and down on the sides...making fat lines. Cute and quick.
Sometimes we forget that simple COLOR is nice also. Tint buttercream a color you haven't tried yet.
keep alot of royal icing flowers on hand and when the time comes you can just throw a cake together and put tons of flowers on it..fill in with leaves and sit back and relax . plus the royal icing flowers are good for up to 6 months so you can make a tons anynight when you're bored. GL
Everytime I have an order that requires flowers, I always make extra and put them away - that way when I have a quick order out come the flowers I already made - also, candy melts in little shapes are good too - for example, 2 of my baby shower cakes have booties on top and those were done with candy melts - easy and quick - add a bit of luster dust and you are ready to roll!
[quote="melysa"]alimonkey...
...i dont...know...(how to make...roses....) SSSHH!
isnt that awful? i need to learn how to make a rose.
quote]
Awe don't feel bad, I didn't know how up until about 3 weeks ago. I was having the hardest time following instructions in a book and finally I took the Wilton class and learned in a 2 hour time frame. Who knew, I'm a visual learner and I love making roses now. They're super simple......I just wish I could find the right way to tell you. Much easier to show in person.
One of my quickest designs is using a leaf tip for the top border and a tip 12 for the bottom border and fresh fruit as garnish. Here's an example - http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=18006
I also use the leaf tip to cover the whole side of the cake vertically. This is good when i don't feel like (or don't have time) to have perfectly smooth sides.
For me the fastest way to decorate is the mock cornelli. First I ice my cake with a base color, then with white icing I just let it go where ever leaving enough space for the color to show thru. Flowers, leaves, bow loops or any other shapes I have laying around. I can spit out a full sheet in 1/2 hour or less. and it can look very elegant. Works great on tierred cakes as well.
OK you fondant and gumpaste decorators....you are jerking my rope now....so here goes.
If you decorate with buttercream flowers..they are ALL fast and easy. This cake, not counting putting the butterflies on and after your cake is baked and your icing is done, takes about 20 minutes to ice, put together and add the flowers.
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=860403
Ironbaker said.....
That you found an impression matt with a cut out. Ok where did you find an impression matt with a cut out? Thanks That sounds so neat.
I got it at our Georgia ICES DOS the week before last from Kathy Scott - awesome decorator who started making her own molds and now sells a ton of impression mats. Here's her eBay store:
http://stores.ebay.com/Sweet-Expressions-Silicone-Molds_Impression-Mats_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ19QQftidZ2QQtZkm
It was a great DOS, I got to meet Bronwen, who was such a pleasure and fun to watch in action.
I always make sure I have lots of flowers ready for last minute cakes or cake disasters. (I have 4 tupperwar containers of "stock" fondant and royal icing flowers and decorations) I use them and the basket weave. works like a charm and no one knows the difference. 
ooh i like the idea of the marbled fondant, i use fondant alot so thats something cool and easy that i hadnt even considered for a fast cake.
and ribbon roses. yippee i am so excited, sweet_as_tisse just gave me her wonderful intructions on her whimsey ribbon roses and leaves. AND i did my first bows following the tutorial by franjmc a couple weeks ago and loved it.
now i have this itch to do a girly cake with ribbon roses and bows.
great ideas everyone, keep it coming !
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