DIY CAKE DECORATING RECIPES

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake according to package directions for two 9-in. round baking pans. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely., In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla, salt and enough milk to achieve spreading consistency. , Place 1/4 cup frosting each in three small bowls; tint one blue, one yellow and one green. Set aside 2-1/4 cups of remaining frosting for basket weave decoration and shell border. Spread remaining frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake., To decorate, cut a small hole in the corner of pastry or plastic bag; insert medium basket weave tip. Fill the bag with reserved white frosting. Decorate sides of cake using basket weave pattern (see diagrams at right). Change to medium star tip to pipe shell border along bottom and top edges of cake., For writing, use medium round tip and blue frosting to pipe desired greeting off-center on top of cake. Use medium round tip and green frosting to pipe vines around writing. Switch to medium leaf tip to pipe green leaves along vines. Use small flower tip to pipe yellow and blue flowers along vines. Leftover frosting can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Steps:

• Using electric mixer (prefereably not handheld), cream shortening until very soft.
• Add salt, a little powdered sugar and flavorings.
• Alternately add water and powdered sugar, beating on medium speed until frosting is smooth after each addition.
• ***Do not mix on high speed as it will cause bubbles in the finished frosting.
• ***NOTE: This frosting makes enough to frost a 2-layer cake with enough left to make decorative roses, etc.
• for the top of the cake.
• DECORATIONS: Roses, leaves and other decorations can be made by adding tasteless food coloring paste (Wilton is one brand) to the frosting.
• Make decorations, place on plastic wrap on cookie sheet and cover gently with plastic wrap.
• Freeze for up to 1 month.
• ***If you decide to freeze your frosted cake, DO NOT put the decorations on it until after you have thawed both the cake and decorations, as the colored decorations will bleed into the cake frosting when they thaw.
• ***Defrost cake and decorations separately and then place decorations on the cake.
• VARIATIONS: For chocolate frosting, add 3 tbs powdered cocoa to the sugar mixture.
• For lemon, omit butter and vanilla flavorings and add 3 tsp.
• lemon extract.
• COLORED FROSTINGS: Frosting can be made any color you want with tasteless food coloring, but be sure to mix well after adding the coloring.
• WEDDING CAKES: Five recipes of this frosting will decorate wedding cakes as follows: top layer 6-inch cake, middle layer 14-inch cake and bottom layer 18-inch cake.
• This will serve 50-60 people.