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How to Use Cake Stencils on Buttercream
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How to Use Cake Stencils on Buttercream: Easy Guide

Wanting a simple way to decorate buttercream? Let's a look at how to use cake stencils on buttercream.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: How to Use Cake Stencils on Buttercream
Author: cakedecorist.com

Equipment

  • Cake Stencils
  • Wax or parchment paper
  • Scissors
  • Piping Bag

Ingredients
  

Instructions 

  • Step One: Frost Your Cake
  • Frost your cake with buttercream frosting. Place it in the fridge and allow it to chill for at least an hour.
  • Step Two: Prepare the Stencils
  • Decide on what stencils you are going to use on your cake and wash them before using it. You may need to trim the stencils down with scissors, so they fit on the cake. Then take your stencil and lightly coat it with a layer of shortening, as this will allow it to stick to the cake.
  • Step Three: Place the Stencil on the Cake and Add Buttercream Frosting
  • Once your buttercream frosted cake has been chilled, take it out of the fridge. You may place a piece of wax or parchment paper on your cake with a thin layer of shortening on the cake side to avoid smearing, and give you a place to rest your hand.
  • Take your stencil and place it on your cake, shortening side down. Take a piping bag of frosting and carefully fill in the stencil with your desired color of buttercream. You may also use a frosting spatula to gently smooth out the frosting.
  • Step Four: Remove the Stencil
  • Carefully remove the stencil from the cake. If any of the stencils smeared on the cake, carefully take a knife to remove it. Wipe the excess frosting off of the stencil. Repeat until you have reached your desired design on the cake.
  • You may use just a cake spatula when frosting the stencil. Just be careful not to accidentally spread the frosting underneath the stencil while filling it in. Using the shortening will act as a glue and help keep your stencil in place, so make sure to put some on to lessen the chance of the stencil slipping.

Notes

  • It is important to make sure that the buttercream frosting on the cake has fully chilled. Freshly frosted buttercream will smear and be hard to get a smooth finish from using a stencil. Chilling the cake prior allows the buttercream to stiffen up, lessening the chances of the buttercream smearing and making it an easier surface to work with.
  • Some stencils are a lot more detailed than others. It is best to start out with a simpler stencil and work your way up to something more intricate.
  • If you are planning on using multiple colors, it is best to use gel food coloring. Gel food coloring works best with buttercream frosting because it is less likely to leave a taste and requires less drops. However, if you do not have gel food coloring, any food coloring will work fine.
  • You can also use the stencils to decorate with sprinkles on top of the cake. Just be careful when removing the stencil, that the excess sprinkles don’t spill onto the cake. Airbrushing is another technique used to decorate cakes with stencils, but it can be a bit tricky at first to get the hang of.
  • You can store your buttercream frosted cake at room temperature for up to three days. It can also be stored in the fridge for a week and in the freezer for six months. Allow the cake to reach room temperature before serving.
  • Buttercream frosting does not hold up well in the heat, so if you are serving your cake at an outdoor event in the summer, store your cake in the fridge until it is ready to serve. The heat may cause the designs done by stencils to melt and run some.
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