How To Crumb Coat A Cake? - Coffee House and Pastries

To crumb coat your cake without getting any crumbs in your batch of frosting, you’ll want to start by adding about one cup of that frosting into a small bowl. This is what you’ll use to crumb coat instead of dipping your spatula in and out of the larger bowl of frosting. Place your filled and stacked cake on a turntable.

Do you need a crumb coat for fondant?

All you need is a simple crumb coat This often-omitted step is the key to professional results, even when you aren’t planning on a traditional fondant-covered cake. Read over our friendly guide, watch our helpful video, then… get ready to (c)rumble!!!!

How long do you let frosting cool before applying Crumb coat?

If it works with your schedule, place the cake in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours), for the frosting to chill and harden a bit. This interim step, while not crucial, means there’s no chance of the top layer sliding around on a slick of warm frosting as you try to apply your crumb coat. Apply the crumb coat

Do you Chill cake before crumb coat?

Refrigerate the cake for at least 30 minutes, until the crumb coat is chilled, and no longer feels sticky. If it’s a warm day, and your buttercream was warm and soft to begin with, you may need to chill the crumb coat for 45-60 minutes.

How long do you leave a crumb coat to set?

Once your cake is crumb coated, place it in the fridge to set for 15-20 minutes, or until firm to the touch. If you’re working with American buttercream, the cake can be left at room temperature until the buttercream has formed a crust (about 20 minutes).

What do you use for crumb coat?

Crumb Coat for Style

To apply a crumb coat, simply use an offset spatula or knife to spread a thin coat of frosting over the sides and top of the cake.

How thick should a crumb coat be?

Apply the crumb coat

Honestly, the frosting should ideally be no more than 1/8” thick. It’s fine for the cake itself to show through in places. If you do find the frosting too thick in spots, a bowl scraper is the perfect tool for smoothing and ‘trimming’ your crumb coat.

Why your icing is full of crumbs?

Make sure your icing is the right consistency! Of course you don’t want it too loose, as that may cause it to slide off the cake and/or your layers to move around. But too thick of icing can really tear a cake up and cause a plethora of unnecessary crumbs. 3.

How long should a cake cool before cutting?

Let your cake cool for about twenty minutes or so and then use a serrated knife to gently cut horizontal layers through it. Set each layer out separately to help them all cool faster. Leave the cake alone at first. Let your baked cake cool on its own before doing anything to expedite the cooling process.

Is a crumb coat necessary?

It’s simply a thin layer of icing applied to seal the cake layers, trapping errant crumbs. It’s all too easy to jump right in with a generous dollop of frosting, but skipping the crumb coat isn’t recommended. Anyone who has ever botched a frosting job can relate!

How do you ice a cake after crumb coating?

Don’t worry: its role is simply to seal the surface. Fill in any cracks or divots in the cake. After smoothing the surface of the crumb coat (don’t worry if it’s speckled with crumbs), refrigerate the cake for 5 to 10 minutes to let the frosting set.

Should you chill a cake before putting fondant on it?

In hot humid weather, fondant tends to melt with condensation. So, chill the cake well before you cover with fondant. That way you will have a nice firm cake to work with. And yet, once you cover the cake with fondant, DO NOT put it back in the fridge.

Do you have to crumb coat a cake before fondant?

Before you can cover your cake with fondant, you need to crumb coat your cake. This thin layer of frosting traps any cake crumbs and acts as an adhesive so your fondant doesn’t fall off or move around.

What is a crumb coat?

A crumb coat is a very thin layer of icing used to “glue” crumbs down, seal in the cake’s moisture (super useful when you need to store the cake before decorating it) and provide an even base for additional frosting. It’s basically a delicious primer for your cake masterpiece that keeps the cake on the cake side, and the icing on the icing side.

How do you use buttercream to coat a cake?

2. Coat the Cake To crumb coat your cake, put some of your buttercream into a separate, smaller bowl — that way you won’t risk getting crumbs in the frosting you’ll use for the final, perfect coat. Use an offset spatula to add a small amount of buttercream to the top of your cake, then smooth it out with your bench scraper.

What is crumb coating in icing?

Simply put: crumb coating is a very thin layer of icing that will “glue” any crumbs down. The key is thinning your buttercream icing to a consistency that will not tear your cake as you spread it on. When thinning your buttercream start with small amounts of water until you reach the desired consistency.

How to Crumb Coat Cakes (and Why it’s Important)

It’s tempting to move forward to the final application of frosting after you’ve filled and stacked your cake layers throughout the cake-making process, but resist the temptation.Even if you’re a perfectionist to the point of obsession (like I am), it’s well worth the extra effort to crumb coat your cake before serving it.In addition to keeping crumbs from getting into your final layer of frosting, this will aid in the creation of a firm foundation for your final coat of icing.

In fact, if you’ve ever wondered how to get a buttercream finish that is very flawless, crumb coating is one of the most important processes.
If you’ve never heard of crumb coating a cake before, it’s just the process of icing a thin layer of buttercream all over your cake after it’s been filled and stacked with other cakes.
Before I guide you through the stages below, I’d want to show you a little video I recorded of the process: Do you want to see more videos like this one on Cake Basics?

See the increasing collection on my YouTube channel by visiting this link: You’ll also discover a plethora of cake recipes and decorating tutorials to help you get creative and improve your skills – be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any new content!

Why Crumb Coat?

There are two major reasons why you would want to crumb coat your cake: first, it looks nicer.In addition to capturing any stray crumbs that could try to find their way into your last layer of buttercream, you’ll want to make sure your cake has a smooth, even surface and that it’s level before adding your final layer.However, merely crumb coating your cakes will not enough in this case.

When you chill your cake after it has been crumb coated, it helps to glue all of those troublesome crumbs together and helps the entire structure solidify into a hard, sturdy base.
When it comes to baking, it’s a process I never skip.

What Type of Frosting is Best for Crumb Coating?

The frosting you use for crumb coating your cake may be whatever type you choose – basically anything you plan on using for your final layer of icing.Please note that my Basic Vanilla Buttercream is the right consistency for both crumb coating your cake and adding your final layer of frosting, so feel free to use it if you’re looking for a vanilla buttercream recipe that works well for everything.Any of the flavors in my Buttercream Recipe Collection will work perfectly if you’re seeking for more buttercream tastes to experiment with.

How to Crumb Coat Your Cake

For the best results when crumb coating your cake without getting any crumbs into your batch of frosting, start by placing roughly one cup of the frosting in a small bowl and whisking it together.Instead of dipping your spatula in and out of the bigger dish of frosting, you’ll use this to crumb coat the baked goods instead.Place your filled and layered cake on a turntable to allow it to rotate.

My cake board is resting on top of this turntable, which has an anti-skid part built in that makes it really easy to frost a cake on!
Prepare your cake by spreading a thin layer of icing on the top and smoothing it down with an angled spatula to make it look like snow.
After that, spread a thin layer of frosting all around the sides of the cake and smooth down the sides using an icing smoother to make them smooth and even.

The basic technique is to hold the icing smoother at a 45-degree angle towards you while rotating the turntable and scraping off the extra icing onto the side of the bowl.Make sure to fill in any uneven places with extra buttercream and to repeat the smoothing and scraping procedure until you have a thin, yet flat crumb coat over your cake or cupcake.As you look over your cake, you’ll note that a frosting ″crown″ has developed around the top borders, which is exactly what you want to see.Swipe those edges toward the center of the cake with a clean, angled spatula to produce sharp edges all around the top of the cake, if desired.

As soon as the cake is level and covered with a good, thin crumb coat, place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, turning the turntable as needed.The buttercream will become hard as a result of cooling your cake, which will act as glue to hold any crumbs inside the crumb coat together and provide a strong foundation for your next layer of frosting.

Next Steps

Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before proceeding to the next step, which is applying the final coat of icing. If you’re pressed for time, though, it’s absolutely OK to chill a crumb covered cake overnight before serving. Despite the fact that the crumb coat layer of buttercream is thin, it aids in the preservation of the cake layers beneath and the preservation of the overall moist and freshness of the cake. Keep in mind that the more time that elapses between baking your cake layers, decorating them, and serving them, the less fresh your cake is going to be. For me, a typical timeline looks somewhat like this: Bake the cake layers and create the buttercream on Day 1, then fill, crumb coat, frost and decorate the cake on Day 2, and finally photograph and serve the cake on Day 3.

However, it is completely acceptable to divide ″Day 2″ into two consecutive days: filling and crumb coating on one day, frosting and decorating on the following day.This will shorten the time between baking and serving the cake to four days, but it will ensure that the cake remains fresh.Keep an eye out for a future Cake Basics article where I’ll share all of my best techniques for creating cakes ahead of time and planning ahead of time to minimize the stress of baking, decorating, and serving on the same day, so be sure to check back!

Want to learn more about Cake Fundamentals?
Visit this page to read all of the postings and to learn about the caking ways that I’ve learned to like over the years.
Every step of the way, I’ll be there to support you!

What is a crumb coat?

A crumb coat is a very thin layer of icing that is used to ″glue″ crumbs to the cake, lock in the cake’s moisture (this is especially important if the cake needs to be stored before being decorated), and give an even basis for more frosting to be applied.It’s essentially a delectable primer for your cake creation, serving to keep the cake on the cake side and the icing on the icing side of the cake.Everyone is dancing in their own personal place.

Ready, Set, Spread

It’s important to apply a crumb coat to ″glue″ crumbs down, lock in moisture (which is especially important if you’re going to be storing the cake before decorating it), and give an even basis for extra frosting.The cake stays on the cake side and the icing stays on the icing side, which is a delightful primer for creating your cake masterpiece.It’s a private dancing party with everyone in their own place.

That’s It?

Yep! Once the crumb coat has dried, you will be able to finish frosting and embellishing your cake. Maintain your regular icing technique and rely on your beloved crumb coat to protect the cake surface from contaminating your frosting at this point. It’s a lovely, crumb-free confectionary. Suggestions and Techniques When preparing your pan, use only a small amount of flour since too much flour might result in crumbs.
In order to avoid melting the crumb coat, the cake must be totally chilled before proceeding.
If you’re preparing a tiered cake, make sure the cake is level and tort before you start
To crumb coat your cake, you may use any type of buttercream frosting
just make sure it is thin enough so that it does not tug at the surface of the cake.
Keep glazes and royal icing from being used for crumb coating
they may be delicious, but they are too sticky for a crumb coat.
To crumb coat your cake after you’ve decorated it with a star fill-in, use the same color icing as your star fill-in.
If you’re using fondant, apply one extra layer of icing over your crumb coat before draping your fondant
this will assist the fondant adhere to the cake
if you’re not using fondant, do not use fondant at all.

Are you ready to put your spatula talents to the test on your own crumb coat? Take a look at our video, get your equipment together, and get to work! We’d love to hear how it went in the comments section below, or you can tag us on Instagram @WiltonCakes.

How (and why) to crumb coat a cake

There are those who create cakes – for special occasions such as birthdays and workplace parties, or just because it is so quick and simple to get from ″I NEED some chocolate″ to ″I HAVE some chocolate″ and make a chocolate Cake Pan Cake.Another type of baker is a cake baker, who has a complete arsenal of tools including multi-sized cake pans, cake strips, offset spatulas, piping bags, and the all-important revolving cake stand, which is required by any self-respecting cake decorator in order to complete their perfectly baked confection.You’re aware of which camp you belong to, aren’t you?

If you’re a Cake Baker, feel free to skim through this page only to have the satisfaction of saying to yourself, ″Yeah, yeah, I know all that; it’s SO simple,″ after reading it.
However, if you prepare cakes without the full support of a trained Cake Baker, continue reading this article.
The crumb coat is one of the first steps in your journey from ″sure, I can slap icing on a cake″ to ″Every cake I bake is a reflection of my bright inner artist.″ Learn how to accomplish it here.

I bake cakes, but I’m not what you’d call a Cake Baker.So, until recently, I had never done a crumb coat, which is essentially your layer cake’s underwear: a thin coating of frosting placed prior to the thicker layer of ″actual″ frosting to give the cake some structure.″She’s being too picky,″ I thought.″It takes too much time.

″Can it truly make that big of a difference?″ As it turns out, a great deal.By using a crumb coat, you can ensure that your final cake will never expose any of its flaws, such as a crumbly side, a dimpled top, or a thumbprint produced by your oven glove accidently.A crumb coat essentially smooths over all of the imperfections in your cake, giving you with a perfectly smooth surface on which to swirl, pipe, and style the remaining frosting.

And the greatest part, at least for someone like me who is only a casual cake baker, is that it is free.
It’s a simple process.
And with lightning speed.

Although the cake will need to be chilled in the refrigerator for a couple of minutes to set the frosting, these brief breaks provide the perfect moment to dig out your sprinkles, plan your spatula strategy, and maybe even check Instagram.To demonstrate, let’s take a look at Classic Birthday Cake, which happens to be one of our favorites.

Prep your baked cake

First and foremost, make certain that your cake layers are completely cool.Frosting a warm cake is a futile endeavor analogous to producing iced coffee by putting ice cubes in hot coffee – you can accomplish it, but you won’t get fantastic results if you do it that way.Your cake might be completely crumb-free — or it can be a little crumb-y, like this one, which is delicious.

Using a pastry brush, remove any visible crumbs from the top and sides of each layer of the cake.
When I use cake strips, my layers stay delightfully flat, but the delicate sides of the layers are occasionally prone to a small cracking, which is something I dislike.
This, I believe, is due to the strips of parchment paper protecting the sides of the pan, preventing the cake from producing a nice brown crust on the top.

To be honest, I’d rather use the strips and take the chance on the small crumbiness; I appreciate not having to cut a large dome off the top of each of my layers, nor do I mind the possibility of rough, overcooked edges.Begin by lining a serving dish with three or four pieces of parchment or waxed paper, then placing the bottom layer of cake on top of the paper.As you frost the cake, the paper will keep the serving plate from becoming soiled; once you’re through, you’ll just remove the strips out of the dish.Ta-da!

The plate is in pristine condition.

Frost the bottom layer

After that, apply the main layer of icing.Our Classic Birthday Cake recipe calls for 1 cup of chocolate icing, which is included in the price.Spread the frosting over top of the cake with a metal offset spatula (if you have one), a nylon spreader, a table knife, or any other favorite tool; you won’t have to worry about any crumbs because the main layer of frosting will be buried within the cake.

Spread the frosting evenly over the top surface, allowing it to extend a little over the edge if desired; there is no need to be precise.
Placing the second layer on top of the frosted bottom layer is recommended.
Run a spatula over the edge of the cake to flatten any icing that has risen above the edge.

By the way, make sure you have a place to put your tools; I normally just lay everything on a sheet of waxed paper, which can then be thrown away later.If it is feasible for your schedule, leave the cake in the refrigerator for approximately 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours) to allow the frosting to chill and solidify a little more before serving.This interim step, while not absolutely necessary, ensures that the top layer does not slide about on a slick of warm frosting as you attempt to put the crumb coat on top of the cake.

Apply the crumb coat

Crust coat: Once the cake has been refrigerated, it is ready for its crumb coat, whose ultimate objective is to collect and trap any loose crumbs, anchoring them in place before to applying the next layer of frosting to the cake.Apply a thin layer of icing all around the sides and over the top of the cake to get started.You’ll notice that I mentioned ″thin layer,″ which means that you just want to slightly cover the cake.

In all honesty, the frosting should be little more than 1/8″ thick at the most.
It is OK for some of the cake to be visible through the frosting.
The appropriate tool for smoothing and ″trimming″ your crumb coat is a bowl scraper if you notice that the frosting has become overly thick in some areas of the cake.

Up addition, you want to fill in any little divots and smooth out any slight depressions that may have occurred.While it is not intended for this purpose, a crumb coat may be used to correct some very severe mistakes, such as the grape-sized chunk of cake that got stuck as you were turning the cake out of its baking pan.Whatever method you use, the end result should be a smooth, crumb-free surface.

Chill to set

Refrigerate your crumb-covered cake for additional 20 minutes after it has been coated.You want the frosting to dry and stiffen sufficiently so that you can easily apply additional frosting to it without it dragging or sticking.If you run the tip of your finger across the crumb coat and it comes away clean, your crumb coat is ready to use.

Oh, and here’s a hint: no matter how tempting it may be, resist the temptation to scrape your spatula full of crumb-y remaining frosting back into the large bowl of icing.
All you’ll do is to incorporate crumbs into your crumb-free frosting, so undermining the benefits of your crumb coat.

Finish frosting your cake

Now comes the fun part: decorating your cake with your last, gorgeous coat of icing.I prefer to start by spreading icing all over the cake in a haphazard manner, then, if I’m feeling very creative, I’ll shape it into a ″look.″ For example, these vertical scallops, which I created with nothing more than a nylon spatula.I could have done a better job with the top if I had been more creative.

If you add some tall candles, it’s not a bad-looking cake for someone who will never achieve the prestigious position of Cake Baker!.
Now that you’ve mastered the art of crumb coating a cake, you’re ready to go on to more elaborate frosting methods.
Our Cake Styling Guide contains six basic yet visually appealing methods for frosting a cake.

How to Crumb Coat a Cake (And Why You Should Consider It)

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The process of creating a cake for a particular occasion is something that you may look forward to doing.
In case you enjoy baking, it’s good to be able to create something unique for someone close to your heart.
You might wish to experiment with different varieties of cakes from time to time to keep things interesting.

While it’s wonderful to indulge in a classic cake with traditional frosting, it could be good to experiment with a crumb-coated cake instead.When you know how to go about it, crumb coating a cake isn’t all that difficult to achieve success with.If this is your first time attempting to crumb coat a cake, you may be completely baffled as to where to begin the procedure.Continue reading to find out what you need to do to properly crumb coat a cake.

This will allow you to enjoy the nicest cake possible, and you’ll be happy to offer your masterpiece to your special someone as a result of your efforts.

What Is a Crumb-Coated Cake?

Cake that has been crumb-coated has had a crumb layer put on top of a thin coating of icing to give it the appearance of being frosted.The frosting serves as an adhesive, allowing the crumbs to adhere to the cake.After you’ve completed putting the crumbs on top of the cake, you’ll want to continue icing it.

Essentially, this means that you’ll be icing over the top of the crumb layer that you’ve just finished creating.
This gives the cake a unique flavor and texture that is worth trying.
It has a significant impact on the overall experience, and many people consider crumb-coated cakes to be among their favorites.

Some individuals use the crumb coating method to separate the cake and icing layers on a cake or a cupcake.Simply said, the crumbs serve as a barrier between the cake and the frosting, preventing the cake from falling through.

How Do You Do This Properly?

Crumb covering a cake properly isn’t that difficult to do correctly.
Start by baking the cake as you would typically do to get the process started.
Specifically, cakes baked in round cake pans are often crumb-coated, as opposed to other types of cakes.
When baking a tiered cake, it’s typical for individuals to do this as part of the process.
However, once the cake is ready to be frosted, you’ll want to cover it with a thin coating of icing to prevent any cracking.
Make careful to wait until the cake has completely cooled before applying the frosting.

It may take an hour or perhaps slightly longer for the cake to cool completely in some situations.
This will be determined mostly by the size of the cake, but other elements such as the temperature of the room will also be taken into consideration.
The thin frosting layer will be applied after you are certain that you are ready.
Step 3: Enjoy your cake!
It is advised that you use a tiny angled icing spatula to make this process as simple as possible.

Using a device like this, you may spread the icing thinly around the cake.On the whole, it’s a lot less difficult than using a regular butter knife.You want to make every effort to maintain the icing coating as thin as possible.

It should be so thin that you will be able to see through it to the cake underneath.
It’s also important to wait until the icing is completely dry before continuing.
When touched, the icing should be dry to the touch or have formed a crust.
The cake crumbs should be applied to the cake after the thin layer of icing has been placed on top of it.
Place the crumbs on top of the cake and spread them out as evenly as possible throughout the whole surface of the cake.
If everything goes according to plan, the crumbs should readily adhere to the thin coating of icing.

The crumb layer should not take more than a few minutes to apply.It will be ideal if you wait until the crumbs are totally dry before adding any additional icing to them.Lightly touching the crumbs will make it easy to decide if it is ready to move forward with the process.Finally, you’ll be able to apply the final layer of frosting on your cake.A thicker coating of icing will be applied on top of the cake than you would ordinarily see on a conventional cake.This may appear to be a significant amount of effort, but it will be well worth it in the end.

It isn’t difficult, but it may take a little longer than if you were to just ice the cake the traditional way.

Some Experts Recommend Chilling After the Crumb Coat Is Applied

It’s worth adding that some professionals recommend chilling the cake once it has been covered with the crumb coat.
This implies that you would come to a halt and set the cake in the refrigerator to chill for a few minutes before applying the final layer of frosting.
A robust, stable foundation is ensured by following these instructions.
Additionally, it will aid in the crumbs adhering more firmly to the thin icing coating.
Choosing to do so, however, will need a little extension of your waiting time.
Whatever the case, it’s well worth it simply to ensure that the cake comes out as well as possible.

It will be possible to apply the final layer of frosting when the cake has been allowed to cool completely.
At this point, you may just frost the cake in the manner in which you typically would.

Why Should You Crumb Coat Cakes?

Even if you don’t want to crumb coat the cake, you can skip this step.
Several people believe that it adds a little of texture to the cake, while others believe that it is a fantastic approach to guarantee that the cake has a smooth finish.
Some bakers think of crumb coating as a kind of hidden weapon that they might use to their advantage.
They do this in order to ensure that the cakes are as flawless as possible when served.
If you are not intending on coating the cake in fondant, this might still be a valuable technique.
It will be up to you, though, to choose whether or not it is worthwhile investing your time.

Generally speaking, this is an excellent course of action to follow if you want to get professional outcomes.
Crumb covering the cake is highly suggested if you want your cake to seem as professional as possible when it is finished.
Moreover, it shouldn’t add too much time to the whole procedure.
As long as you are not in a rush, it will be feasible to carry out this procedure.

Preventing Crumbs From Making it to Your Final Icing Layer

You may not have realized it, but crumb covering a cake can help to keep the final frosting layer from becoming damaged.
When you’re icing a cake, it’s possible that some of the cake’s crumbs will accidently end up in the frosting by accident.
While this isn’t a problem in terms of flavor, it might detract from the overall aesthetic attractiveness of the cake if done incorrectly.
The purpose of crumb coating a cake is primarily to preserve the aesthetic appearance of the cake, thus it seems to reason that it would be beneficial in keeping crumbs from making it to the final layer.
The crumb layer that you adhered to the thin layer of icing works as a buffer between the two layers of icing.
The crumbs will be simpler to keep in place when you’re adding the final coat of frosting, which will make it easier for the icing to show through.

In order to guarantee that your cake looks wonderful whether you’re baking it for someone’s birthday or another special event, it’s a good idea to go the additional mile.
You’ll most likely be so pleased with how things come out that you’ll opt to apply the crumb coating process on every single project from now on in the future.

Using a Turntable Helps

Does it seem to you that icing cakes might be a bit of a challenge at times?
Perhaps you get the impression that it is difficult to go to specific locations.
A typical issue, and it may be rather frustrating to attempt to correctly frost a round cake when you aren’t properly prepared for the task.
If you plan on baking cakes on a regular basis, it will be beneficial to have a turntable that you can utilize.
Turntables for baking will allow you to turn the cake as often as you need.
Instead of having to travel around the entire cake or reach for a specific location on the cake, you can just frost it from one side to the other.

If you have a baking turntable, you will most likely be able to frost a cake in a shorter amount of time.
These turntables aren’t even prohibitively costly, since you can get a simple one for a reasonable amount.
In order to simplify your life, it is sense to invest in a turntable that you can put to good use.
They are available for purchase in department shops, and you can even get one online if that is more convenient for you.

Final Thoughts

Having a basic understanding of how to crumb coat cakes can be beneficial.
You should have an easier time creating beautiful cakes that you’ll be happy to serve at special occasions now that you’ve learned how.
This is a method that experts employ to guarantee that the buttercream icing is applied to the cake with a flawless surface finish.
As you have learnt, the procedure for crumb coating a cake is rather simple.
It is just a matter of applying a thin layer of frosting and then sticking crumbs to the icing.
After you’ve completed this step, you’ll find it much easier to decorate the cake with the icing and make it appear as attractive as possible.

Always use a decent angled icing spatula to get the job done well the first time.
Use of a turntable is also recommended since it will make it easier for you to frost the cake without missing any places or feeling like you need to grab for something.
If you’re planning on baking a cake for someone special in the near future, you should definitely give this a shot.
You now have all of the knowledge you require to be successful in your endeavor.

How to Crumb Coat a Cake: Buttercream Techniques

Let’s face it: cakes are as much about their appearance as they are about their flavor. Consequently, understanding how to crumb coat and frost a cake is a talent that should be learned and practiced. Learn how to make your confections appear like they were created by a professional by following the steps outlined below.

What You Need

Baked cake (use your favorite recipe), turntable, offset spatula, bench scraper or straight icing spatula, buttercream, leveler or serrated knife, and a cake stand
The following items are optional: piping bag
large circular piping tip

How to Crumb Coat a Cake

Before you can learn how to frost a cake, you must first understand what crumb coating is.
In order to finish the exterior of the cake, you should apply a thin coating of frosting before applying a thicker, final coat of icing on top.
The thin coating of frosting acts as a catch for wayward cake crumbs, preventing them from appearing in the final product.
Up addition, using a crumb coat helps to fill in any gaps between your cake layers, resulting in a more firm surface.

1. Stack the Layers

The first thing you must do is level the surface of your cake.
All cakes must be leveled before baking, or otherwise the cake may break and lose its form.
To gently cut the tops of the cakes off, you can use a leveler or a long, serrated knife to do so.
Stack your cakes on top of one another once they have been flattened.
Spread a liberal quantity of buttercream between each layer of the cake with the offset spatula, securing the cake in place with the spatula.
To stack the layers, start with the top of each cake and work your way down to the bottom of each cake.

This will help to limit the amount of crumbs.

2. Coat the Cake

For the crumb coat, place a portion of the buttercream in a different, smaller bowl – this will prevent crumbs from getting into the frosting you’ll be using for the final, flawless coat.
Apply a little quantity of buttercream on the top of your cake with an offset spatula, and then smooth it out with your bench scraper.
Repeat the process with the sides, until your buttercream is evenly distributed throughout the cake.
Don’t be concerned if the crumb coat isn’t perfectly smooth; nevertheless, be sure to capture any gaps that may exist because a gap-free surface is essential for a faultless final coat.
Advice from the pros: If you notice that the layers of your cake are sliding about while you work, put the cake in the refrigerator to solidify.
After around 20 minutes, the cake should be considerably more manageable to handle and decorate.

Once your cake has been crumb coated, lay it in the refrigerator to set for 15-20 minutes, or until it is firm to the touch, before serving.
If you’re using American buttercream, you can leave the cake at room temperature until the buttercream has hardened and formed a crust on the top (about 20 minutes).

How to Frost Cake Rustic-Style

Once the crumb coat has dried, you’ll be able to begin frosting your cake properly. A loose, rustic design is a simple aesthetic to achieve, even for novices.

1. Plop the Frosting on the Cake

Make a mound of frosting and place it on top of the cake.
Aim for just more than 1 cup for a 6′′ round cake, or slightly more than 2 cups for an 8′′ round cake.
This may appear to be a large amount of icing, but it is accurate.
Spread the frosting out with an offset spatula while spinning the turntable, pressing the frosting over the top edge of the platter to create a slight overhang.
To make fluffy peaks and valleys in the frosting, move the spatula through the icing.

2. Spread the Frosting Down the Sides

Using the offset spatula, apply a thick layer of more buttercream down the sides of the cake while turning the turntable repeatedly. Excess icing from the top borders should be pulled down and onto the sides as well. As you did with the top of the cake, create fluffy peaks and valleys all over the sides of the cake as well.

3. Clean Up the Top Edge

Remove any buttercream that has risen over the edge of the cake and spread as needed to make the edge reasonably level all around. It’s important not to overwork things here; once you get a beautiful rustic aesthetic, you’re finished!

How to Frost a Smooth Cake

This is what you should do if you want a smoother, more professional finish on your project.

1. Spread Frosting on Top

Place a mound of frosting on top of the cake using a spoon (or piping bag). Be liberal with your application since a beautiful thick coating is easier to smooth out. Spread the frosting out with an offset spatula, making sure to press it over the top edge of the cake.

2. Smooth it Out

Once the cake’s top has been coated, press the spatula blade against the cake’s surface. Maintain control of the spatula while using your other hand to rotate the turntable on the turntable. Turn your cake on its side and spread it until it is level and smooth on top. Keep in mind that you should avoid overworking it.)

3. Spread Frosting on the Sides

Spread icing on the side of your cake using a spatula after it has been loaded with frosting.
(If you prefer, you may pipe it on using a pastry bag and a large round tip if you have one handy).
Smooth it out by holding the long edge of a bench scraper or a straight icing spatula vertically in one hand while using the other hand to spin the turntable to smooth it out more evenly.
Pro tip: Stop the mixer after few rotations to scrape the extra buttercream back into the mixing dish.
If icing begins to build up on the spatula, rinse it well with warm water and wipe it clean with a paper towel.
The buttercream will become even smoother if the spatula is slightly warmed in this manner.

4. Make it Perfect

Fill in any holes that may have occurred, then re-smooth the surface by spinning the turntable one more time. Repetition of spinning and scraping will be necessary until the sides are as smooth as you like them to be.

5. Clean Up the Top Edge

After you’ve smoothed down the edges of the cake, you’ll see some leftover buttercream poking out from the top border of the cake.
Working as precisely as possible, use the flat edge of an offset spatula to sweep the extra buttercream in toward the center of the cake, resulting in a sharp edge while preserving a smooth surface on the cake.
There you have it – a stunningly smooth cake to serve your guests!

What Is a Crumb Coat?

Baking, icing, and decorating exquisite cakes necessitates the use of a specialized vocabulary that you won’t find in other baking chores.
A crumb coat is an example of such a phrase.
Learn more about what that phrase means and why it’s essential in the world of cake by continuing reading below.
A crumb coat is a thin coating of frosting that is put over the top of the cake before the actual frosting is applied.
It is common knowledge among those who have attempted to frost a cake with a single thick layer of icing that little crumbs are frequently trapped in the frosting throughout the process.
A crumb coat prevents this from happening.

Consider it a foundation coat; it adheres to the crumbs, allowing the second, thicker coat to adhere to them without adhering to them.
Whether you’re making a towering birthday cake or a basic single-layer cake, a crumb coat will come in handy if you want to achieve a properly frosted masterpiece.
Perfect, on the other hand, is in the eye of the beholder.
Recently, there has been a tendency toward merely stopping at the crumb coat and skipping the second layer of icing.
This is a mistake.

The result is a cake that has a rustic, unfinished appearance, which is ideal for individuals who like something a bit more simple or who just do not want a cake that is overly frosted with a thick layer of icing on top.To add a crumb coat to a cake, simply spread a thin layer of icing over the edges and top of the cake with an offset spatula or knife.It’s important to get the crumb coat to cover the entire cake as evenly as possible; then, you can either stop then if you want to preserve the bare appearance, or chill the cake for 10 to 15 minutes to allow for the crumb coat to set before applying the final layer of frosting.

Sheela Prakash is a Senior Contributing Food Editor at the New York Times.
Sheela is a Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food, which was published by Kitchn in 2013.
She graduated with honors from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy, and she is also a Registered Dietitian in the state of New York.
Sheela should be followed.

ask a baker: how do i keep crumbs out of my icing?

This week, I’ve received a few of outstanding inquiries!
The first question comes from a Facebook commenter and is as follows: ″How do you keep crumbs out of your icing?″ I believe every Muddy’s baker would agree with me when I say that it is not a simple task!
However, with a little experience, it becomes far more manageable.
We found that a crumb coat is required 9 times out of 10 (and potentially more!) in order to keep the crumbs out of sight and in their proper place on the table.
As the name implies, it is a fairly unattractive, but incredibly useful, thin film of frosting that is applied over the whole cake to capture all of the crumbs, and then allowed to cure before adding your gorgeous coat of smooth crumb-free icing over the top.
I’ll walk you through the process of making the crumb coat step by step, and then I’ll give you some ideas on how to make less crumbs in the future.

Please keep in mind that these directions were created with buttercream frosting in mind.
The same may or may not be true for other types!
1.
Prepare your cake so that it can be iced.
Check to see that it is entirely cool!

If it is a layer cake, you can proceed to build it right away.Make no effort to avoid crumb accumulation between cake layers; you can always blame them on the knife when you cut into your cake!2.

Start by piling some frosting on top of your cake and working your way out and down.
Icing should be used to cover an 8-inch two-layer round cake and should be around 1 cup and 1/2 cup.
3.
When it comes time to load your spatula with icing, fill it with as much as it can comfortably hold at one time.
In order to reload the icing on your spatula, the less times you have to take it from the cake the better.
4.

Apply a thin, even layer of frosting on the top of your cake.For a deeper application of icing, you may opt to do what Karen did here and scrape off the excess before applying another coat.When you need to remove your spatula from the cake, slide it from the cake rather than lifting it immediately off the cake.Lifting, no matter how carefully you do it, has a tendency to pull and break crumbs off the top of the cake.No, don’t put your crumb-coated spatula back in the bowl with your wonderful, clean frosting.This is the point at which a lot of crumb-icing contamination starts.

Before you begin, scrape and/or wipe all of the crumbs off of the spatula.6.Apply the last coat of crumb coat.Whatever number of crumbs are visible, make sure the surface is somewhat smooth and consistent.

You will thank me when you are adding the final coat of frosting on your cake!7.Wait until the crumb coat has dried fully before frosting the rest of the cake.While we recommend allowing the cake to lie uncovered at room temperature for 15-30 minutes, if you don’t have the luxury of time or your frosting is refusing to solidify, there are other choices.Simply placing the cake in the refrigerator or freezer for 10 minutes, or more, will help to speed up the setting time of your frosting significantly.Avoid doing anything else for fear of drying out your cake!

You may cover the cake to keep it from drying out during this period, but doing so may cause the hardening process to slow down even more.
8.
You are now ready to add your last layer of icing, which should be fresh and free of crumbs.
Now, here are a few of extra considerations to bear in mind: 1.
Make sure you have more frosting than you think you will need for your cake before you begin!

2.
As soon as icing is contaminated with crumbs, it remains contaminated with crumbs indefinitely.
You should scrape the crumby frosting into a separate container and wipe the spatula clean before continuing on your merry way if you happen to remove your spatula from the cake and it becomes covered with crumbs.

2.Check to see that your frosting has the proper consistency!It goes without saying that you don’t want it to be too loose because it might cause the cake to slip off the cake and/or the layers to shift about.

However, frosting that is overly thick might cause a cake to crumble and a slew of unneeded crumbs to be produced.The importance of this point cannot be overstated: do not remove or raise your spatula directly off of the cake.It will rip your cake to shreds!

Gently slide the spatula off the counter.4.If at all feasible, add icing to the areas of the cake that have previously been iced rather than to the naked cake.The reason for this is a little tough to explain, but what you want to prevent is running out of icing on your spatula while placing it on top of an unfrosted cake.We don’t want the cake to come off with the spatula, therefore we’ll use a different method.

5.Have a good time!No matter what occurs, maintain your composure and keep on.As is true of most genres of art, practically every error may be corrected or even integrated into a superior end result in some cases.And, if all else fails, there’s always cake pops!

My fellow bakers, have a wonderful frosting day!

The secret to a swoon-worthy cake starts with the very first layer of frosting. It’s called a crumb coat, and can turn your cake’s presentation from ″meh″ to ″marvelous″!

A beautiful handcrafted cake is the result of a lot of effort.
From flouring the pans to mixing, baking, and chilling the cake itself, you’re already well into the second hour of preparation before the greatest part of the process even begins: frost the cake!
From the five different varieties of buttercream to the light and fluffy cream cheese icing atop this Old-Fashioned Carrot Cake, the most delightful finishing touch will look (and taste) even better if you apply a crumb coat before applying the frosting.

What Is a Crumb Coat?

It’s basically a thin layer of icing spread to the cake layers to glue them together and catch any stray crumbs. Despite the fact that it’s all too simple to plunge right in with a liberal dollop of frosting, omitting the crumb coat is not suggested. Anyone who has ever made a mess of a frosting job will understand! You begin working on the dessert that your cake stand was specifically designed for, armed with a bowl of exquisite frosting. The result of a few excessively exuberant frosting attempts is a flaky, lumpy jumble of cake. You’ll notice that the more you try to smooth over it, the worse it will look—not to mention how much frosting you’ll have wasted in the process, with a lot of cake remaining to cover. If you use the crumb coat, you can avoid a common baking annoyance entirely. When applied thinly, it serves as a primer, laying the groundwork for a swoon-worthy finish. It’s so simple that you don’t even need special equipment to pull it off. With a cake stand that can be readily turned as you work, all you truly need is patience to complete the project. An offset spatula can also make the job a little simpler. Wilton 13′′ Offset Spatula (a favorite of our Test Kitchen)
Wilton Cake Turntable
Wilton 13′′ Offset Spatula (a favorite of our Test Kitchen).

Are you ready to give it a shot with a crumb coat?
There’s no need to wait for a birthday party to come around to celebrate.
Every day that ends in the letter Y is a favorite day for us to bake cakes!
Here are a few of our favorite layer cake recipes to get you started.
It’s as simple as baking, cooling, sealing, and frosting the layers—and then eating!
Taste of Home has 40 excellent layer cake recipes.

Sandy’s Chocolate Cake

Years ago, I traveled 4-and-a-half hours to enter a cake contest, the entire while carrying my submission in my lap. But it was worth it. You’ll understand why this silky beauty was called the greatest chocolate cake recipe and earned first place after just one mouthful! Sandra Johnson, of Tioga, Pennsylvania, sent in this message. Recipes may be obtained by clicking here.

Majestic Pecan Cake

This dish is a true testament to its title. The three-layer cake with pecan dots is topped with homemade frosting, which is baked from scratch and decorated with edible flowers. Karen R. Jones of Claypool, Indiana, sent in this letter.

Malted Chocolate & Stout Layer Cake

Looking for a St. Patrick’s Day dessert that will blow everyone away? Look no further! With a great malt taste and a juicy texture, this decadent chocolate cake is well matched by the creamy Irish cream icing. Jennifer Wayland, of Morris Plains, New Jersey, contributed to this article.

Best Red Velvet Cake

When this festive dessert doesn’t materialize, it’s just not Christmas in our household. The frosting on this cake is unlike any other red velvet cake recipe I’ve tried before; it’s as light as snow. —Kathryn Davison from the city of Charlotte, North Carolina

Chocolate Spice Cake with Caramel Icing

I discovered this recipe in the late 1980s and immediately recognized it as a remarkable cake. Due to the fact that you must work fast, the caramel frosting might be a bit challenging, but it is well worth it! Marion James of Ferguson, Missouri sent in this message.

Chocolate Hazelnut Torte

The majority of cake recipes serve a large number of people. As a result, we created this lovely small cake that feeds six people. Just enough for two people, with just the proper amount of leftovers! — Test Kitchen for Taste of Home

Black Walnut Layer Cake

The recipe for this exquisite cake was given to me by my sister many years ago. The thin coating of icing applied on the exterior of the cake gives it a sleek, contemporary appearance. The following is a letter from Lynn Glaze of Warren, Ohio

Moist Chocolate Cake

Because it was one of my grandmother’s specialties, this chocolate cake recipe with coffee brings back fond memories of her.
I make it for family gatherings on a regular basis, and it always brings back pleasant memories.
The cake is light and fluffy, with a delightful chocolate flavor that will leave you wanting more.
This is a keeper of a recipe!
—Patricia Kreitz from Richland, Pennsylvania.

Butter Pecan Layer Cake

This cake has the same delicious flavor as the famous butter pecan ice cream flavor, thanks to the addition of pecans and butter. • Becky Miller, from Tallahassee, Florida

Cherry Nut Cake

This is a recipe that my grandma created for her children. She came up with a recipe that everyone enjoyed, using cherries and walnuts from the Ozarks. Granny usually used cream from a dairy farm near her home, but half-and-half works just as well and is much more convenient to get by these days. Dianna Jennings lives in Lebanon, Missouri and writes:

Favorite Coconut Cake

Whenever I’m looking for a show-stopping dessert for a big event, this is the recipe I reach for. My guests are grateful that I do! Edna Hoffman of Hebron, Indiana, sent this message.

Strawberry Mascarpone Cake

Please don’t be deceived by the amount of stages in this recipe; it is simple to put together. While baking, the cake rises to a high and fluffy level, and the berries impart a fresh fruity flavor. If you don’t have any mascarpone cheese on hand, cream cheese may be used as an alternative. Carol Witczak, of Tinley Park, Illinois, contributed to this article.

Marvelous Marble Cake

The greatest marble cake is made using pound cake and chocolate. The following is from Birmingham, Alabama resident Ellen Riley:

Chocolate Bavarian Torte

Whenever I bring this visually appealing torte to a potluck, I receive a flurry of requests for the recipe. —Edith Holmstrom, a resident of Madison, Wisconsin

Pink Lemonade Stand Cake

If you enjoy a delicious and creamy cake, this is the recipe for you. With the tart flavors of lemon juice and lemonade, and the lovely cream cheese icing with sprinkles, this cake is a must-have for every lemon lover. The following is a letter from Lauren Knoelke, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Carrot Cake with Pecan Frosting

My husband is a huge fan of this easy, old-fashioned carrot cake recipe that I make every week. Even without the nuts, the icing is still rather delicious. A. Badon, of Denham Springs, Louisiana

Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting

I once delivered this decadent chocolate cake to my children’s teachers, and it was promptly devoured, necessitating the creation of a second cake. (After all, who eats an entire cake?) Springville, New York resident Megan Moelbert sent in this message

Lemon Ricotta Cake

This lemon ricotta cake recipe is a treasured family heirloom that has been passed down from my grandmother and mother for several generations. The luscious four-layer cake, which is garnished with shaved lemon zest, is the ideal treat for when you want to dazzle your guests. • Nanette Slaughter lives in Sammamish, Washington.

Rich Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

The combination of mocha and peanut butter will satisfy the sweet taste of every guest at your dinner party. The garnish requires a little additional effort, but that’s what special occasions are for, right? Tammy Bollman of Minatare, Nebraska, provided this statement.

Coconut Italian Cream Cake

Before arriving to Colorado, I’d never had the pleasure of tasting an Italian cream cake. Now that I live in the region, I bake for others, and this cake is one of the most frequently requested sweets. • Ann Bush from Colorado City, Colorado.

Frosted Chocolate Cake

This is my mother’s oldest and most popular chocolate cake recipe, which she has passed down through the generations. Despite the fact that I always believed it should have a more creative name, this is what she named it. Mom would remark that giving anything a fancy name does not make it taste any better. —Beth Bristow et al. West Plains, Missouri is a city in Missouri.

Pineapple Carrot Cake

This fluffy cake with cream cheese icing is the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten in my life. It’s also incredibly simple to make because it calls for only two jars of baby food rather than fresh carrots that must be shredded. Vero Beach, Florida resident Jeanette McKenna wrote in to say

Cranberry Layer Cake

This layer cake was created using an adaptation of a Bundt cake recipe. Because to the addition of cranberries, walnuts, and homemade frosting, it tastes so fantastic that you’d never believe it started with a boxed cake mix. Sandy Burkett of Galena, Ohio, contributed to this article.

Mama’s Spice Cake

This cake is something I prepare whenever I have a yearning for a nice old-fashioned delicacy. The recipe has been passed down through generations of great cooks in my family, and their families have enjoyed the lovely spice taste and creamy icing for years. —Nancy Duty, a resident of Jacksonville, Florida.

Come-Home-to-Mama Chocolate Cake

You’ll spend less than a half hour putting together this one-pot wonder cake, which starts with a box mix. Because of the sour cream and chocolate pudding, it is thick and moist. And because of the chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate, it is delicious comfort food at its very best. —Taste of Home Cooking Demonstration Kitchen

Lemon Layer Cake

An abundance of acclaim is guaranteed for this citrus-flavored cake with a rich cream cheese icing. The flavor, which is a duet of sweet and acidic undertones, is really delicious. — Summer Goddard lives in Springfield, Virginia with her family.

Hummingbird Cake

My father’s favorite cake is this amazing hummingbird cake, which is why I usually prepare it on his birthday. It’s a beautiful dessert for any occasion, and it’s especially nice served alongside a summer lunch. — Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, Cape May County, New Jersey

Spiced Devil’s Food Cake

This recipe was given to my mother by one of her friends when I was a youngster, and it has remained a family favorite ever since. When your ″chocolate sweet tooth″ gets the best of you, this is the perfect remedy! — Linda Yeamans, who lives in Ashland, Oregon

Pumpkin Pie Cake

The fact that this show-stopping dessert with delectable cinnamon icing is made from a mix will surprise no one! Throughout the year, it is a favorite. —Linda Murray from Allenstown, New Hampshire

Three-Layer Chocolate Ganache Cake

This delectable triple-layer confection is the epitome of chocolate decadence. Cake layers can be frozen before final assembly; in fact, they are simpler to deal with when they are thawed and defrosted. Kathleen Smith, of Overland, Missouri, contributed to this article.

Southern Lane Cake

This southern-style dessert is a personal favorite of mine, and it’s a hit with my dinner guests as well. This variation of fruitcake, made with nuts, cherries, and raisins in the filling and topping, reminds me of a fruitcake—only much better! —Mabel Parvi of Ridgefield, Washington, U.S.A.

Blue-Ribbon Red Velvet Cake

The interior of this two-layer beauty is a vibrant shade of crimson.
It asks for more cocoa than typical red velvet cakes, which results in a cake that is very chocolatey.
Feel free to experiment with different colors of food coloring to fit the occasion.
At the 2006 Alaska State Fair, this recipe was awarded a blue ribbon in the holiday cake area for its creativity.
This cake, I believe, will be a hit at your home as well as mine!
Anchorage, Alaska resident Cindi DeClue writes:

Contest-Winning Chocolate Potato Cake

This luscious chocolate cake took first place in a potato festival baking competition, and I was awarded grand champion honors. If you have a serious sweet taste, you may easily quadruple the icing recipe. —Catherine Hahn from Winamac, Indiana

Maple Walnut Cake

With this maple-flavored cake and candied walnuts, I’m paying tribute to my grandfather, who used to produce maple syrup. — The author, Lori Fee, of Middlesex County, New York

Cherry Cola Cake

When combined with cherry cola and marshmallows, a zingy chocolate treat is created that is delicious when served with vanilla ice cream. The author, Cheri Mason, of Harmony, North Carolina

Pumpkin Cake with Whipped Cinnamon Frosting

This dish was prepared for me by my mother, and just one taste transports me back to my youth. You can simply transform it into a delicious carrot cake recipe by substituting shredded carrots for the pumpkin and adding raisins. Waleska, Georgia resident Melissa Pelkey Hass

Butterscotch Cake

Each and every time I create this eye-catching cake, I receive a flood of praises and recipe requests. The filling is comparable to the filling found in German chocolate cake. — Judy Lamon of Louisville, Tennessee, is a writer.

Cookies-and-Cream Cake

If you enjoy cookies-and-cream ice cream, you’ll enjoy this cake as much as I do. To create a fun appearance, chocolate sandwich cookies are combined in with the mixture and pushed into the sweet and creamy frosting before baking. • Pat Habiger, from Spearville, Kansas

Coconut Chiffon Cake

The addition of toasted coconut to this towering and stunning cake enhances its aesthetic appeal. With an airy texture and a delectable coconut-ginger taste, it’s a delightful way to round off any meal at any time of year.

Brooklyn Blackout Cake

This cake will be a hit with chocolate lovers everywhere.
When I was looking for a special cake to prepare for my chocolate-loving daughter-in-birthday, law’s I came upon this recipe.
Make careful to allow enough time for the pudding and cake to cool before serving, otherwise the ultimate product will be unsatisfactory.
Howell, Michigan resident Donna Bardocz shared her thoughts on the subject:

For a Smooth Finish, Apply a Crumb Coat Before You Frost a Cake – Article

If you’ve ever marveled at the beautiful frosting on a professionally prepared cake and wondered why your frosted cakes frequently end up speckled with crumbs, here’s a hint: it’s because you’re not using enough butter.
Crumb cover your cake before you apply the real frosting to make it seem more professional.
Once the cake’s surface has been sealed and any stray crumbs have been secured, applying the final coat of icing will be considerably easier and less time-consuming than previously thought possible.
To begin, use a dry pastry brush or your fingers to brush away any stray crumbs from the cake’s surfaces.
To begin, fill and stack the tiers of a layer cake (if you’re preparing a multilayer cake).
Then, using a very thin coating of icing, cover the who