melissel Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 And let's also say you are making a killer chocolate cake to take to your MIL's on Thanksgiving. How would you--without a creative bone in your body and nary a decorator's tip to be found (not that you'd know how to use it anyway)--decorate said cake? Said cake is a two-layer black chocolate cake with a deep chocolate buttercream frosting and a layer of white buttercream in the center, if that matters. Thank you :coolgleamA: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 I make great cakes and awesome frosting but I don't do decorating. Rainbow sprinkles fit all occasions !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 I vote for sprinkles of some sort. You could even toss on chopped nuts or chocolate chips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted November 23, 2011 Author Share Posted November 23, 2011 I make great cakes and awesome frosting but I don't do decorating. Rainbow sprinkles fit all occasions !!! :lol: Well, that is my fallback plan, but I'm hoping to go slightly more creative if I can. I'm considering doing something with chocolate covered coffee beans, but not sure about that yet. There's coffee in the cake mix, so maybe. You sound just like me. I'm typically serving people who don't care about the presentation, just the food! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarlaB Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Ice as usual and put mini chocolate chips OR chocolate shavings around the outside of the cake- perfect for a 2-layer cake. Looks so nice and tastes great too. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Sprinkle with chopped nuts. Honestly, I like a rustic, homemade looking cake, and they are starting to come back into style anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 From Tea Party & Decorating Ideas site Decorate a cake with doilies. Lay a doily or doilies in a pattern on top of a dark cake such as chocolate, gingerbread or even brownies. Sift with powdered sugar and carefully lift doilies. For the prettiest look, be sure to use a doily that does not have a solid circle of paper in the middle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alenee Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 If peanut butter isn't a problem, you could use mini peanut butter cups as your border at the base of the cake and then cut several in half and make a star pattern in the center. I did one and will try to post the pic. Also, you could just simply make extra frosting, making sure it's very spreadable and make it wavy rather than smooth. There's a picture of one of these in a Betty Crocker book. I can't find a picture for it but basically, you just use your spatula to make waves in the icing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzymom Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 An easy trick is to make chocolate curls and sprinkle on the cake. Looks more impressive than it actually is. :D P.S. If there is any cake left over, I volunteer to take it off your hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Ice and put nuts around the outside of the cake instead of on top. It sounds delicious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mystie Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Or make a chocolate or white chocolate glaze and drizzle it in big swoops along the top. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepyl Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 This is my problem....I bake but I do not decorate!!! I top with chocolate curls, sprinkled, or chocolate dipped strawberries for a fancy look :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 If you have a clean comb, you can comb the sides of the frosted cake and make vertical stripes, and sprinkle something on top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookfiend Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Chopped nuts around the sides, or smooth sides and make a cross-hatch pattern on the top with a fork, or fresh raspberries ring the top, outer edge and bottom at the plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in CA Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Make this easy glaze, then pour it over the chilled cake, pushing it over the edge to drizzle down the sides a bit: 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips 1/2 cup water 3 tablespoons butter 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla Melt all ingredients in a micro-safe cup or bowl & whisk till smooth. Allow to cool slightly before pouring over cake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 From Tea Party & Decorating Ideas site Decorate a cake with doilies. Lay a doily or doilies in a pattern on top of a dark cake such as chocolate, gingerbread or even brownies. Sift with powdered sugar and carefully lift doilies. For the prettiest look, be sure to use a doily that does not have a solid circle of paper in the middle. In case you don't have a doily....My dh made a torte for a dessert auction last year. I cut out a paper circle the same size as the torte, and one of the kids folded and cut it into a paper snowflake. Then they unfolded it and put it on top of the torte and sprinkled the powdered sugar. It was really pretty. Several people thought it was from a professional bakery in town. :) Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisB Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 You could lightly drizzle melted white chocolate on the top like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scuff Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 You post the recipe here and let us practice a bit, just to make sure we give the right advice. :) But seriously, who care what it looks like. It sounds like it tastes amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennsmile Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Check google images for Turkey Cake. There are some cute ones with candy corn and M&M's and more complicated ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WistfulRidge Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Ice it. Drizzle with homemade caramel sauce and top with white chocolate shavings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 With a bit of fall colored sprinkles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Lulu* Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 I vote for letting the kids decorate. No matter how it comes out it will be *perfect* for a grandparent. Unless MIL is one of those overly critical types, in which case I vote for chocolate shavings/curls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmMusa Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 From Tea Party & Decorating Ideas site Decorate a cake with doilies. Lay a doily or doilies in a pattern on top of a dark cake such as chocolate, gingerbread or even brownies. Sift with powdered sugar and carefully lift doilies. For the prettiest look, be sure to use a doily that does not have a solid circle of paper in the middle. I've done this before and it looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Fresh strawberries? On our wedding cake we simply had a couple of fresh roses tied with a ribbon. looks good, and can be removed to serve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Take two round cake layers, and cut each one in half. Then set them on end, next to each other. Voila, an igloo shape! Decorate with white frosting and sprinkle heavily with coconut so that it looks like snow. Easy, and impressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Make this easy glaze, then pour it over the chilled cake, pushing it over the edge to drizzle down the sides a bit: 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips 1/2 cup water 3 tablespoons butter 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla Melt all ingredients in a micro-safe cup or bowl & whisk till smooth. Allow to cool slightly before pouring over cake. Great minds think alike! As soon as I read the OP I thought of a nice shiny chocolate glaze! what julie said! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 With all due respect to those who suggested sprinkles, please don't. I LOATHE sprinkles. I hate the way they feel on my teeth and in my mouth. Your cake sounds too lovely for sprinkles (jimmies.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffeemama Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 With all due respect to those who suggested sprinkles, please don't. I LOATHE sprinkles. I hate the way they feel on my teeth and in my mouth. Your cake sounds too lovely for sprinkles (jimmies.) :iagree: maybe sprinkle a bit of cake glitter...much less intrusive than hard sprinkles or as others have said shaved or grated chocolate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 :iagree: maybe sprinkle a bit of cake glitter...much less intrusive than hard sprinkles or as others have said shaved or grated chocolate. Let's get together! Non-Sprinkle People, Unite! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 (edited) With all due respect to those who suggested sprinkles, please don't. I LOATHE sprinkles. I hate the way they feel on my teeth and in my mouth. Your cake sounds too lovely for sprinkles (jimmies.) Let's get together! Non-Sprinkle People, Unite! This is how I feel about both coconut and any kind of nuts in baked goods. Great way to ruin an otherwise lovely dessert. I like nuts in baklava. I like coconut in macaroons. But put either of those into cakes, other cookies, or brownies, and it's ruined. Edited November 23, 2011 by laundrycrisis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbara H Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 I'm terrible at decorating cakes, but have done very well with the powdered sugar method. It looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missouri Okie Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Top it with these beauties..you don't need one for every year, just enough to make a statement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenangelcat Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Skip the frosting, pour on ganache and shave some chocolate on top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 I would slice and/or layer fruit, such as stawberries (if available), cherries, orange slices, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgialee Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 Chocolate shavings! Easy and looks spectacular. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebug42 Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 Shaved chocolate and/or raspberries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share Posted November 24, 2011 Thanks for the fabulous ideas, everyone. I love the candles, but I won't have time to get them by tomorrow. I think I'm going to go relatively simple and use raspberries if I can find them. If I can't, I may try piping white circles around the top and drawing a toothpick through them...maybe. Or I may just wave the icing like someone else suggested. I appreciate all the input! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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