How To Frost A Cake

There are countless ways to frost a cake, whether you’re trying a loose, rustic look or a smooth professional finish. But no matter what the look, there are several techniques to employ when frosting a cake to make sure it comes out looking picture-perfect.

STEP 1: Plop the frosting onto the cake

Scoop a mound of frosting on top of the cake (after the crumb coat).

STEP 2: Spread the frosting

Use a spatula to spread the frosting around. Do not let the spatula touch the base of the cake. Continue by turning your cake on a turntable and gliding the spatula along the frosting.

STEP 3: Spread the frosting down the sides

Spread a thick layer of frosting onto the sides of the cake, turning all the while and pulling excess frosting from the top edges down onto the sides.