How do I become a better cake decorator?

Basic Cake Decoration Tips

Don’t Be Afraid to Spend a Little Money. This was the first thing I really learned about cake decorating.
Make Your Own Icing.
Left Handers are Unique.
Flip Your Cake Over.
Piping Gel and Parchment Paper are Pretty Amazing.
That Turntable, Though.
Smooth Out that Icing.
It’s Probably Not Stiff Enough.

How do you frost a cake for beginners?

Take about 1/2 cup of frosting and thin it out with a little milk or water so it’s very easy to spread. With an offset spatula, spread a thin layer of it on the tops and sides of the cake, then chill until set, about 15 minutes. Repeat if you can still see crumbs showing through the icing.

What to put on cakes instead of icing?

6 Quick Ways to Decorate a Cake Without Frosting

Whipped Cream. Looks like frosting, but it’s not.
Glaze. When it comes to Bundt cakes, glaze (or even caramel sauce) is a much better choice then frosting.
Powdered Sugar. Sometimes the simplest solutions can also be the prettiest.
Chocolate or Caramel Sauce.
Fresh Fruit.
Syrups + Edible Flowers.

How can I decorate a cake at home without cream?

So, keep reading.

Icing Sugar. If you wish to have a heavenly enticing cake without putting in much of your efforts, then decorate your cake with icing sugar.
Frosting.
Fondant Designs.
Chocolates and Candies.
Coconut Enveloping.
Fruit Toppings.
Real Flowers.
Sprinkles.

Can you cover a cake with melted chocolate?

You can decide whether you want to use the sponge mixture in one big cake or as cupcakes. When you are working with melted chocolate to create a rich cake covering, or when doing chocolate work, you’ll want to retain the glossy sheen. This means first tempering your chocolate.16

How do you melt chocolate to decorate a cake?

Chop the chocolate into small, even pieces. If using a microwave to melt the chocolate, place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and microwave on 50% power in 15-second bursts, stirring after each burst to make sure the chocolate doesn’t burn, until melted and smooth.23

What does adding butter to melted chocolate do?

Adding butter to chocolate not only improves the taste, but also the texture. Butter is added to chocolate to provide extra fat and so that the chocolate mixes even better with any other additional ingredients. Furthermore, it can be used to release seized chocolate and thin out liquified chocolate.19

What is the best brand of chocolate for melting?

9 Best Chocolates for Melting

Rank	Product	Best For
1.	Nestle Toll House Milk Chocolate Morsels	Drizzling
2.	Ghirardelli White Chocolate Baking Chips	White chocolate
3.	Lily’s Dark Chocolate Chips	Strawberries
4.	Merckens Milk Chocolate	Melting into molds

Should I add oil to melted chocolate?

Before you melt your chocolate, add a little vegetable oil. This will keep your chocolate from drying out. It can also fix slightly overheated chocolate! So next time you decide to dip chocolate, melt carefully, stirring frequently, and add a touch of vegetable oil to your chocolate to ensure perfectly dipped treats!21

What does adding oil to melted chocolate do?

Once chocolate is looking almost melted with just a few lumps, don’t microwave it again just stir the chocolate until it is completely smooth. Adding a tablespoon of coconut oil or vegetable oil while microwaving helps the chocolate melt more smoothly and makes it the perfect consistency for dipping!8

What does adding coconut oil to chocolate do?

We like to combine coconut oil and melted chocolate so that the chocolate hardens faster and a little thicker. The coconut oil makes the chocolate act like a chocolate shell. It’s not essential—and doesn’t add much flavor at all—but we recommend it.22

Can you use olive oil to thin chocolate?

I assume you are asking about using a little olive oil added to your chocolate while melting to help it melt easily and set. Technically, you “can” use olive oil, but it won’t be the same.

Why is my melted chocolate so thick?

When chocolate melts, it is ideally a beautifully smooth, shiny, satiny mixture. One case is when chocolate comes into contact with even a small amount of water, which is called “seizing.” Similarly, if chocolate is overheated, it will become quite thick and lumpy.16

How do you make melted chocolate shiny?

Warm the chocolate gently to 86 degrees for dark or 84 degrees for milk and white. Hold it at this temperature for a few minutes, then warm up to 91-92 degrees for dark (87-89 degrees for milk or white). As the chocolate warms, the undesirable beta-prime crystals will melt and the chocolate will be ready to use.27

Why are my candy melts so thick?

Temperature is very important when working with Candy Melts candy. A cold work surface or a cold room will cause the candy to thicken, then set. To avoid that, we suggest using the Candy Melts Melting Pot to help keep your candy at the right temperature for dipping and dunking, no matter what the environment.31

Can I use vegetable oil to thin candy melts?

Adding just a half teaspoon of oil can help thin candy melts but should only be used when in a pinch. Coconut oil will, of course, add a slight coconut taste so keep that in mind when stirring it into your candy melts! Vegetable or canola oil will also work and have no noticeable flavor.16

What can I add to chocolate melts to make it thinner?

Add oil, butter, or shortening to thin a small amount of chocolate. The best way to thin chocolate is with the addition of a fat. The exact amount of oil you will need will depend on the thickness of your chocolate and your desired consistency. Start by stirring in just a little splash, then add more if you need to.

What can I use instead of candy melts for cake pops?

chocolate

Why are my cake pops falling apart?

Cake Balls fall apart What a bummer, your cake pops fall apart because it seems that you are not using enough frosting. It has to be sticky in order to form a nice round shape. So add a little more frosting, bit by bit.28

Can I use chocolate instead of candy melts?

Many people use candy melts, a.k.a. candy coating, to make their confections. While they’re easy to use and come in many colors, frankly, candy melts don’t taste anywhere near as good as real chocolate.17

Can I use chocolate chips instead of candy melts?

Hi Jessie- I usually use the candy melts, but you can use chocolate chips. You do need to add some shortening to it (I’d use Crisco), otherwise it’ll get lumpy. The candy melts already have oil added to them, chocolate chips don’t have any oil added.29