If cake decorating is new to you, then you may be baffled by the multitude of cake decorating phrases. It is possible that these phrases may be scary at first, but,, if you take the time to get familiar with them, then you will approach them with sureness. These are some of the most common cake decorating terms, and what they mean. Once you master these terms you will likely be inspired with your own cake decorating ideas.
Airbrushing
Airbrushing a cake is a quick way to add a picture or background onto a cake’s surface using food coloring. Airbrushing is accomplished using an artist’s paint gun that uses an compression air pump.
Border
The border of a cake is a continuous ribbon of icing that beautifies the top, sides, and/or bottom edges of a cake.
Buttercream
Buttercream is a rich icing that is created by mixing either butter or shortening (or both) with icing sugar, and beaten until smooth. Buttercream is an all-purpose icing, easily made, that can be used to both cover and embellish a cake
Decorating Bags
Decorating bags are also known as icing bags, frosting bags, or pastry bags. Decorating bags are small, triangular shaped bags that are made of parchment paper, cloth, or plastic. The bags are equipped with decorating tips and filled with icing and used to pipe decorative items such as icing flowers, edges, scrollwork, and lacework patterns.
Decorating Tips
Decorating tips are sometimes called decorating nozzles. Decorating tips are used to make decorative details such as basketweave patterns, icing roses, and shell edges. Tips come in assorted shapes, and are used with an icing or pastry bag full of frosting. When the bag is pressed, the frosting or cream is piped out in the shape of the tip. Drop flowers are made with a single squeeze of the frosting bag, while rose petals are created with delicate maneuvering of the tip and icing.
Flower Nail
A flower nail is shaped like a nail with an large, oversized head. A flower head is used for piping royal icing and buttercream flowers that are transferred to a cake after drying.
Frosting
Frosting and icing are often flipped for each other. Those in the US tend to use the term “frosting” to mean the creamy, sugary substance covering a cake, while individuals in other English speaking areas tend to use the phrase “icing”. In the U.S.A., “frosting” commonly refers to the icing that is spread over the cake, while “icing” commonlyrefers to decorative icing, such as piped borders and icing roses.
Fondant
Fondant is also called sugar paste. Fondant is an frosting sugar dough that can be used in much the same way as pie dough. Fondant can be rolled into smooth sheets and draped over cakes, creating a smooth, perfect finish.
Ganache
Ganache is a velvety smooth icing. It is prepared by melting either dark or white chocolate, then mixing it with heavy cream.
Gumpaste
Gumpaste is an edible, clay-like dough. It is formed by mixing glycerin, gum Arabic, and icing sugar. Gumpaste is used to mold eatable flowers and figures. Gum paste can also be rolled super thin and used to make complicated ribbons and lacework, as well as delicate flower petals.
Marzipan
Marzipan is a doughy almond substance. It is created from the identical ingredients as almond paste, though marzipan has more sugar, fewer almonds, and has a smoother consistency. Marzipan is often used for modeling cake decorations, and as a base covering underneath fondant.
Piping
Piping is a decorating technique where a decorating bag or tube is filled with icing and outfitted with a decorating tip. Piping happens when the bag isgently squeezed to make shaped dots and ribbons of frosting toornament cakes and other baked goods.
Royal Icing
Royal icing is a sweet white icing that is created by whipping icing sugar with either fresh egg whites or dried egg whites and meringue powder. Royal icing produces sharp icing edges. It is perfect for piping complex writing, edges, scrollwork, and lacework on cakes. Royal icing dries very hard and preserves indefinitely if stored in a cool, dry place, but is vulnerable to softening and wilting in high humidity.
