Spreading Frosting

Spread frosting smoothly on cooled cupcakes and cakes with an offset spatula, starting with a thin crumb coat on layer cakes.

Frosting is the creamy, sweet topping that makes a bake look finished. Spreading it smooth takes a light touch and a little patience. In this lesson you will learn the tools and tricks for neat, smooth tops.

You will learn

• How to use an offset spatula
• What a crumb coat is
• How to make a smooth top

What you need

• Cooled cupcakes or cake
• Soft frosting
• An offset spatula or a spoon
• A plate or cake stand
• Your grown-up

Steps

1. Start with cool bakesWash your hands first, and check every ingredient with your grown-up for allergies. Only frost cupcakes or cakes that are cool all the way through, because warm cake melts frosting into a puddle. Stir the frosting so it is soft and easy to spread.
2. Meet the offset spatulaAn offset spatula is a long, flat spatula with a bend near the handle. The bend keeps your knuckles out of the frosting. A small one is just right for cupcakes.
3. Plop and pushPut a big spoonful of frosting in the middle. Push it out toward the edges, keeping the spatula on the frosting, not the cake. Touching the cake pulls up crumbs.
4. Bonus: crumb coat a layer cakeOlder bakers making a layer cake can add a crumb coat, a thin first layer of frosting that traps loose crumbs. If a layer needs trimming flat first, that is a sharp knife job for your grown-up. Spread the crumb coat thinly all over, then chill the cake in the fridge until it feels firm. Your second, thicker layer will go on clean.
5. Smooth the topHold the spatula almost flat and slowly turn the plate as you glide across the top. Wipe the spatula on the edge of the bowl often. Little swoops and swirls look lovely too.

Try it

• 
  Junior Bakers

  Vanilla Cupcakes

• 
  Junior Bakers

  Funfetti Cupcakes

• 
  Junior Bakers

  Spice Cupcakes

Check yourself