Hi fellow cakers!! Is it just me or did Viva paper towels get "bumpier" than they used to be. I have always used the "viva method" to smooth my buttercream and I am just not getting the results I used to. I thought it was just me but I look back on photos of previous cakes and I swear, they looked way smoother. Anyone else experiencing this??

I bought a large package last week and mine are just as smooth as always. I haven't heard of any changes. You can always use typing paper instead.

I thought so, too; but they smoothed just the same for me so I thought my memory was faulty.

Hi,,I also thought the viva paper got a little heavier with more tecture in it,,,It still works but I can tell the difference...not as smooth as before but still good.....

it seems different to me too but I also think the humidity seems to be causing some of my smoothing problems!

You have to pay attention when you pick up the Viva paper towels because some of them do have designs on them. I picked up a large pack at Target because they were on sale and they are very smooth.

I never really paid attention because I always use the viva towels first, and the I use parchment paper after that. Always.

Has anyone tried this (with Viva or parchment or whatever) with the buttercream sold at Sam's club? I just couldn't get it smoother than it was before it crusted. Is it possible I didn't let it crust enough? Finally I put it in the fridge overnight and the next day was no easier. I wonder if I should add meringue powder to it.

Thanks mamawrobin. It was my first time using SC's buttercream and it was on a frozen cake. It was for an event the next day and I knew I wouldn't have time to ice it so I did it the night before and it didn't smooth well. The next day after refrigerating it tried smoothing it again, but maybe the frozen cake + the fridge made the buttercream "wet." I'll try things differently next time.

I agree with mamarobin.............The only time I have issues with viva is if I take a cake out of the freezer and it's still kinda cold or I add a little too much liquid to the BC, viva doesn't like dampness I found out. At least not for me.

I've noticed lately that it makes a difference which side of the viva paper towel you use when you lay it on your cake. One side smooths it out just fine, but the other side is not as smooth. I had never noticed this in the past, so I think there might be something different about them.

I have noticed a difference also. The Viva paper towel use to be softer like Kleenex and thicker. I have thought about switching to Sparkle because of it.

I don't use Viva but I do refrigerate cakes...the few times I do need to smooth a crusting icing with paper towel or something (usually some sort of design) I find I just leave the cake out at room temp long enough for it to dry out the bit of condensation and then crust...and then I use paper towel. (Had to do that tonight with a dino cake...long explanation so I'll spare you)...but yeah I just left it out like 45 mins or so and then went back with a paper towel and it had crusted just fine...but it was a cold crumb coated cake before I started working on it.

Perhaps we should email the company and let them know they are risking losing part of their market segment by changing their product?

Hmmmmmm, that's not a bad idea.

I've noticed it too. I thought to myself..."maybe it's economy", lol.

You have to be "picky" when picking your viva!! Some of the rolls are not as tightly wound and they are a bit baggy and not as smooth. I bought a pkg of two at walmart the other day and they are soooo smooth I have been hiding them at the shop!!

That's a good tip jksheik! I will pay more attention to that in the future. Thanks.