How Do American Cakes Always Look So Shiny
Decorating By kbaby Updated 23 Jun 2010 , 9:34pm by Connie1027
just wondered because when I look at any american website or cake on flikr they always look slightly shiny and any black is glossy. Whereas the british cakes never do and look flat in comparrison
What do you use on your fondant to get that apearence
Thanks
Steam! Once the cake is done we use a steam machine (to press clothes) to attain the shinny finish on the cakes it is mostly done to eliminate the cornstarch or powder sugar residue on the cake.
It could be from many different types of methods used here in the States. We use luster dust to paint on our cakes in a wet method or a dry method. Also alot of people have been steaming them with small hand held clothing steamers. This is be greatly influnence from the " Cake Boss" on T.V and his popular cakes show. I hope this helps. Happy Cake Decorting 
It could also be the type of buttercream used. I noticed Seriouscakes cakes are shiny and she uses a buttercream that is part butter and part Crisco. In the book whimsical cakes, they use a 50/50 buttercream and they are shiny too.
Also could it be the photo itself? I just wonder if they are that shiny in person.
The moisture can mark the fondant. I've tried using my steam iron to steam a cake, and had it spit out a few drops of water that left marks I couldn't get off. I changed the placement of my decorations to hide them. So be careful when using steam.
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