icing tips?

[janeyo]

I have to ice several mini xmas cakes. They are *ahem* strange shapes as it was my first attempt. Some are rectangle., some are sort of round.
I need to put marzipan and icing on some, and just icing on the others. I can NEVER get my icing smooooooth. It's always bumpy and corners are disastrous - any tips from experts?
Maybe the key is how thin to roll it?

Thanks

[FionaH]

Do spikey icing and tell family it is snow?

[Nicos]

Superb idea Fiona!!!!

I've never iced a Christmas cake in my life- but I used to watch my mom a lot when I was a little gal.
I remember her having a long metal spatula and a jug of very hot water- and she kept dipping the spatula in it to stop it sticking and keep the surface smooth.
Oh- and a cold slab of marble ??and a glass rolling pin filled with water (???hot???)...urm you see I lost interest at that point

yep- I'd go for the snow effect too!

[lainey lou]

I always do royal rather than regal - it tastes better. Like Fiona I do mine spikey and sprinkle on some edible glitter, looks lush, tastes lush!!

[Brengirl]

It depends on how much time and effort you have to put into it. Homemade almond paste and fondant icing are so much easier to use than the bought stuff.
Marshmallow fondant is easy to make is nice and pliable. ( How do you copy and paste a recipe that makes it come up underlined, green and ready to open) ?
Try using pastry cutters in various shapes to cut the fondant and then just place on your cakes. I used star ones last time.

[FionaH]

Like Fiona I do mine spikey and sprinkle on some edible glitter, looks lush, tastes lush!!

Some confusion here, I have never iced a Christmas cake, but I do believe in taking the easy option wherever possible

[janeyo]

I have at my disposal.
Ready to roll marzipan
Ready to roll icing
Box of Royal icing powder.

Really want it smooth and not spiky! lol

[RedThorn]

ship the MIL in? Mine does all them fancy icing flowers etc...

[Alison]

The bought royal icing is dead easy as you can mold it on with your hands and gently rub out any imperfections so long as you dust your hands in icing sugar first. However, you won't get a nice smooth finish if you don't marzipan first or even if you do it's likely to be speckly with cake crumbs. I marzipan the sides and top of the cakes separately, sticking onto the cake with warmed, watered down apricot jam. Let that set for a day or so and then roll out the icing on a icing sugar dusted surface. Carry the icing onto the cake via the rolling pin (ie hang it off) and place centrally onto the cake. Gently easy the sides down and over the corner. If I'm doing a square cake I usually cut some off the corners or there is too much to sort. You can then seal the edges again but gently rubbing. Gently (again) put the rolling pin across the top to remove air bubbles and ease the sides again. When all nicely fitted, trim the bottom and admire. I find it easiest to lift the cake off the surface when doing this bit by putting the tray on the top of an upturned bowl so you can get round easier but just be careful not to knock it off - makes a real mess! If you're not sure what you're doing, the bought stuff is loads better as it guaranteed to be the right consistency and don't go near the Royal stuff as a) it's horrible and hard and b) much more unforgiving for any mistakes!

Oh and if it all goes wrong just put big ribbons round and nobody will know.

By the way, what on earth is Royal Icing Powder? Is it just icing sugar or something more fancy?

[janeyo]

ship the MIL in? Mine does all them fancy icing flowers etc...

Can I ship yours in instead of mine? pwettee pweeeease lol

[janeyo]

Well normal icing sugar that me and the boys like to play with is in a pink box, and this one is in a blue box! Says it has powdered egg in it?

See culinary genious me! *Who wants to sample my cake then

lol

Thanks Alison, have printed that off for reference tomorrow. Didn't realise I had to wait between marzipan and icing so gives me a few more days to practice maybe!

[janeyo]

One last question when I ice does it just stick to the marzipan or do I have to put more jam on first?

Have done the marzipan bit today - quite pleased with that

[lainey lou]

don't go near the Royal stuff as a) it's horrible and hard

Not if you add glycerine, it has a lovely texture and a much nicer flavour than regal icing.

[lainey lou]

One last question when I ice does it just stick to the marzipan or do I have to put more jam on first?

Have done the marzipan bit today - quite pleased with that

Just ice! Simples!

[Alison]

Not if you add glycerine, it has a lovely texture and a much nicer flavour than regal icing.

To be honest I'm not that fussed in icing full stop and often peel it off (but do like the look of it at Christmas) which is a heck of a lot easier with fondant icing but as with everything it's all a matter of taste