Buzz
I can bake a cake that tastes absolutely amazing, but when it comes to decorating—I'm basically an episode of Nailed It! in human form. I think my main issue is a lack of patience, though it’s worth mentioning that I can't even draw a decent stick figure, so maybe it's just a total absence of artistic ability.
The good news is, there are simple ways to make your cake look beautiful without requiring loads of effort, patience, or (thankfully for me) any artistic flair.
Skip the Frosting and Try Powdered Sugar Instead
Frosting is overrated. It's tough to work with (at least for me), it often ends up being too much, and it hides the cake's flavor. What’s easier to use, has little flavor, and looks like a sprinkle of magic? Powdered sugar.
You can either lightly dust a beautifully shaped cake with powdered sugar (like the one shown at the top), or take a cue from baking legend Stella Parks and use stencils. Just search for 'cake stencils' and you’ll find a ton to choose from. I’ve got a bat stencil from Michael’s that I love to use throughout the year.
Pour on some glaze
I’m not talking about mirror glazing—a technique so gorgeous and (to me) completely unreachable that it nearly brings me to tears—I mean a simple chocolate or vanilla glaze, poured over a bundt or loaf cake. Maybe you add a touch of zest. Maybe you sprinkle on some fancy toppings. The goal is to distract from any imperfections in your decorating skills. (And if you’re feeling extra sneaky, you can achieve a glossy finish by blow drying some store-bought buttercream.)
Cover it with sprinkles
For a quick cover-up, you can completely bury your frosting flaws under a mountain of colorful candy bits. This trick does involve some buttercream work (chill the cake beforehand to make this easier), but it’s just one thin layer, and it doesn’t need to be perfect. After frosting, wipe any smudges off your cake stand or board, and then gently press handfuls of vibrant sprinkles into the sides and top of your cake.
Blame it on the kids
If you’ve got kids, you’re in luck—you can enlist their help! Give them some icing-filled squeeze bottles, an array of candy, and plenty of sprinkles, then let them unleash their creativity. Heck, let them decorate it with (clean) toys if they want. Only a monster would criticize the imaginative cake designs of a child.
