Petal Cake

I have seen this decorating techinique several times in the past few months and just couldn't wait for an opportunity to try it out.  Mother's Day was the perfect day for it!

I think it is just soooooo pretty - and it's ridiculously simple. 

All you need is a piping bag with a open tip  - I used Wilton 199, which has little ridges around the edges.  You could certainly use just a plain open tip also and have smooth edges to your petals. 

Check out how easy this is.

Start with a layer cake, at least 2 layers high. 

Give it a light crumb coat of frosting - just a thin layer to cover the whole cake. I used just basic buttercream (2 sticks of softened butter, mixed with 4-1/2 cups powdered sugar, a dash of salt, 3-4 Tablespoons of milk or cream, 2 t. vanilla extract, and 1/4 t. almond extract).

Then you get to start piping. 

Pipe four (or more if your cake is higher) dots in a straight line.  Like so.

Okay, so my line was slightly crooked.  It didn't matter much. 

Then you take your offset spatula or a small spoon and just press into the dots, sliding the spatula away from the nice little edge you just made.  Continue piping and pressing the dots in lines all around the cake.

When you get back to where you started, you can't exactly smooth the last petals out, because you'll spoil the first petals.  So it's a little messy.  That's okay - if you put that side of the cake at the back, no-one will ever know.  And you might figure out a better way to make it pretty than I did.  This was my first try.

Then you do the top  - start at the outside edge and pipe the dots around in circles until you get to the middle and the cake is covered. 

Isn't that pretty? 

It made me smile just to look at it.


Linked to Trick or Treat Tuesday, Ultimate Recipe Swap: Birthday Cake Round-up