topic Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It???? in Kitchen

How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

MagnoliaMs — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 20:00:30 GMT

This is really frustrating. I go to put my icing on my cake and it lifts the top of my cake right off with it. It looks terrible. What am I doing wrong?

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

VaBelle35 — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 20:06:13 GMT

You have to do what they call a "crumb coat."

If you are using home made icing, you thin a little bit of icing out in a cup and make a glaze consistency and coat the cake with it. Let it dry. Then you ice.

If you are using store bought icing, I think you just do a thin layer first and then a thick layer over it.

Wilton forums should have great tips on this.

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

LiveLaughLove — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 20:10:09 GMT

Sounds like your icing is too thick. Using a crumb coat will keep crumbs from getting in your icing and you should really do that too, but if your icing is too think and stiff it will pull part of the actual cake up when you frost

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

MagnoliaMs — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 20:11:17 GMT

On 8/27/2014 VaBelle35 said:
You have to do what they call a "crumb coat."

If you are using home made icing, you thin a little bit of icing out in a cup and make a glaze consistency and coat the cake with it. Let it dry. Then you ice.

If you are using store bought icing, I think you just do a thin layer first and then a thick layer over it.

Wilton forums should have great tips on this.

Thank you for such a quick reply, VaBelle35. I'll certainly give it a try.

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

VaBelle35 — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 20:11:52 GMT

Also, don't lift your spreader that you are using. You put a big old glob in the middle and you keep spreading, but never ever lift the spreader up or your cake will come up with it. You just keep spreading (and turning if you have a turntable).

Take a cheap Wilton class at Michaels or AJ Moore. You get a lot of good practical tips in there.

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

AnikaBrodie — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 20:12:16 GMT

In addition to what LaBelle said make sure your cake is fully cooled before you frost it. If it's even a little warm the top will lift off in spots.

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

MagnoliaMs — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 20:12:40 GMT

On 8/27/2014 LiveLaughLove said:
Sounds like your icing is too thick. Using a crumb coat will keep crumbs from getting in your icing and you should really do that too, but if your icing is too think and stiff it will pull part of the actual cake up when you frost

Thank you LiveLaughLove. I had no idea what was causing this. I thought I did not let my cake cool long enough.

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

MagnoliaMs — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 20:13:40 GMT

On 8/27/2014 AnikaBrodie said:
In addition to what LaBelle said make sure your cake is fully cooled before you frost it. If it's even a little warm the top will lift off in spots.

AnikaBrodie, I just stated to another poster that I thought maybe this was what I was doing wrong. I'll definitely make sure it's cool enough this go around. Thanks!!!!

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

susan kay — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 20:13:42 GMT

Make sure that the cake has cooled down. I know that some people freeze theirs before they ice it even though I've never done that. I do a light glazing by putting some icing in a cup or small bowl, then add a bit of water. Apply a VERY thin layer on the cake before you do the final icing. Also, whatever you spread the glaze with, take it from one side of the cake to the other, without constant lifting. That will help to minimize the crumbs, too.

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

MagnoliaMs — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 20:15:23 GMT

On 8/27/2014 VaBelle35 said:
Also, don't lift your spreader that you are using. You put a big old glob in the middle and you keep spreading, but never ever lift the spreader up or your cake will come up with it. You just keep spreading (and turning if you have a turntable).

Take a cheap Wilton class at Michaels or AJ Moore. You get a lot of good practical tips in there.

These are all just good tips. Thank you so much. I have a Michael's close by and will check when their next class is. I've ruined too many good cakes to not attend

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

MagnoliaMs — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 20:16:17 GMT

On 8/27/2014 susan kay said:
Make sure that the cake has cooled down. I know that some people freeze theirs before they ice it even though I've never done that. I do a light glazing by putting some icing in a cup or small bowl, then add a bit of water. Apply a VERY thin layer on the cake before you do the final icing. Also, whatever you spread the glaze with, take it from one side of the cake to the other, without constant lifting. That will help to minimize the crumbs, too.

Thanks, susan kay. How long does this first thin layer need to set?

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

jackthebear — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 20:20:55 GMT

http://cakewhiz.com/cakewhiz/post/How-to-frost-a-cake-smoothly.aspx

this is a neat idea on how to get the frosting smooth, I have an offset spatula but never thought of the taping tool

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

luvdoodles — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 20:25:02 GMT

Very good tips here because I always have that problem. That's why I never make a cake when we have company. I will make one for my family because they really don't care as long as it tastes good. I will experiment with my family again.

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

Sooner — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 20:59:00 GMT

I find that is often a problem on cake mix cakes, not so much on scratch made cakes

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

susan kay — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 21:20:04 GMT

MagnoliaMs, not long....just enough time so that it "sets". Off the top of my head, I would say between 5 and 10 minutes, but to be safe, try 10-15 minutes. It's kind of an "eyeing" thing where you can tell it has set somewhat. BTW, I have definitely had my share of crumbs in the icing. I think that everyone does it at some point!! A decent amount of icing, though, will hide anything!!

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

MagnoliaMs — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 22:49:35 GMT

On 8/27/2014 susan kay said:
MagnoliaMs, not long....just enough time so that it "sets". Off the top of my head, I would say between 5 and 10 minutes, but to be safe, try 10-15 minutes. It's kind of an "eyeing" thing where you can tell it has set somewhat. BTW, I have definitely had my share of crumbs in the icing. I think that everyone does it at some point!! A decent amount of icing, though, will hide anything!!

Thanks again, susan kay. I let my cake cool all afternoon. Then, I thinned my icing for about a minute in the microwave. It went on beautifully. I kept checking to make sure it was cool enough to put the first layer of icing on and when I touched the top of my cake some of the top came off. You gotta' love it. Icing didn't take the top off this time, but I did all by myself.

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

MagnoliaMs — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 22:52:15 GMT

On 8/27/2014 susan kay said:
MagnoliaMs, not long....just enough time so that it "sets". Off the top of my head, I would say between 5 and 10 minutes, but to be safe, try 10-15 minutes. It's kind of an "eyeing" thing where you can tell it has set somewhat. BTW, I have definitely had my share of crumbs in the icing. I think that everyone does it at some point!! A decent amount of icing, though, will hide anything!!

Thanks again, susan kay. I let my cake cool all afternoon. Then, I thinned my icing in the microwave for about a minute. It went on beautifully. I kept touching the top of my cake to make sure it was cool enough for the icing and some of the top came off. You gotta' love it. The icing didn't take the top of the cake off this time, but I did all by myself.

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

sfnative — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 06:39:20 GMT

On 8/27/2014 Sooner said:
I find that is often a problem on cake mix cakes, not so much on scratch made cakes

I totally agree. I've never had this issue on any of my cakes and I previously owned a cake only bakery business.

It's great that you'll be able to take an inexpensive course at Michael's. Good luck and enjoy!

Re: How Can I Keep the Icing from Lifting the Top of My Cake Off When I Frost It????

BichonEmma — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 14:27:27 GMT

On 8/27/2014 Sooner said:
I find that is often a problem on cake mix cakes, not so much on scratch made cakes

I keep a box mix or two on hand for my 9 year old, she's still learning to bake and being able to make a cake all on her own gives her a confendance a boost. We frequently have them un-frosted because of this.