Intro:
Before you begin
Step 1:
Prepare the icing
Step 2:
Level the cake
Step 3:
Assemble a decorating bag
Step 4:
Put in the filling
Step 5:
Ice the cake
Step 6:
Create borders
Step 7:
Add the final touches

2torial #0412:
Learn2 Decorate a Cake (continued)

Create borders

Borders add elegance and style to what would otherwise be an ordinary looking cake, but creating them takes practice. Usually they're placed around the top and bottom edges, but sometimes just the bottom. Where you put them will depend on the cake's design and shape. Use your best judgement to decide where your borders should be.

We'll discuss the "shell border," which is one of the most common styles. To practice making one, you'll need a star-shaped tip attached to your bag. You'll also want your icing to be of medium consistency (it should hold a 1/2-inch peak). Add some powdered sugar to thicken it as needed. Now use a sheet of waxed or parchment paper as your practice surface.

Hold the bag firmly at a 45-degree angle, with the base of its twisted top between your thumb and forefinger. Place your other hand lightly against the bag to keep it steady. Squeeze some frosting out, keeping the tip about 1/4-inch from the paper surface. Use steady pressure until there's a good-sized shell. It's not necessary to move your hand; just let the icing form its own shape. Then move the bag horizontally, just enough to make another shell behind the first. Continue squeezing and releasing in this manner to create a line of repeated shells that are uniform in shape and size.

Once you get the hang of creating borders, you can move on to the real thing. Begin along the top edge of the cake (if you prefer to have a border there) and create a border that covers the edge all the way around. Do the same along the bottom edge, but with a larger star tip so it creates a thicker border that will give the cake balance and style.