how to frost a layer cake

Usually the first step in decorating a cake is frosting it! Remember, wait until your cake is completely cool before you start frosting. If you frost a cake when it’s still warm, the butter in the frosting will melt and the frosting will slide right off your cake!

An icing spatula—a spatula with a bend in the blade—is the best tool for frosting cakes, but a butter knife will also work. (An icing spatula is also called an offset spatula.)

Follow these easy steps to make a smooth frosted layer cake that’s ready for whatever other decorations you want to add, from colorful piped designs to sprinkles to a shiny mirror glaze. To easily move your cake, place it on a cardboard round before frosting.