Making Sure your Frosting layer isnt thick

If your frosting layer is coming out too thick, it might be due to user error. This blog post will cover all aspects of frosting application and provide you with the knowledge and advice to ensure you get the perfect thickness for your cakes.

How Should Your Frosting Layer Look?

Here is an example of how your cake's frosting layer should look on the outside when using your Frost Form. This Measures about 1/4" or 0.6cm. This is the ideal layer of frosting, and here's why it's important:

Stability

A proper frosting layer provides essential structure and protection for your cake and filling. Without enough frosting, there's a high risk of the filling bulging, especially with today's taller cakes. Adequate frosting encapsulates and protects the cake. Additionally, when dowelling, stacking, or adding decorations, a solid frosting layer ensures the cake withstands the pressure and maintains its integrity.

Appearance and Shape

The frosting layer gives your cake perfect straight sides and flat tops, essential for a professional finish. Cakes naturally tend to be rounded or curved, and too little frosting can expose cake layers and crumbs, making it difficult to achieve smooth, straight sides and tops.

Using with Frost Form

Proper spacing is crucial when using Frost Form. Insufficient spacing can result in inadequate frosting coverage and large gaps on the sides. We have calculated the perfect amount needed to ensure even frosting coverage, providing a flawless finish.

Achieving the Perfect Frosting Thickness with Your Frost Form

If you're finding that your frosting layer is too thick when using your Frost Form, follow these steps to ensure you get the correct thickness:

Sponge Recipe

Use a butter-based recipe for the best results. Butter-based cakes are more stable and provide the necessary stability for decorating. They also cut cleanly with a crumb cutter, reducing the risk of tearing and excessive trimming.

Make sure to use real block butter instead of margarine or spreads for the best texture, flavour and cut.

We have great tried and tested recipes here!

Chilling

Chilling your cake is crucial. A chilled cake is easier to handle, especially when cutting, layering, or carving. Without chilling, the cake can easily break, and you'll likely remove too much cake with the crumb cutter, resulting in a thicker frosting layer.

Follow these steps to chill your cakes:

1. Wrap: After baking, let your cake cool, then wrap it generously in cling film.
2. Refrigerate: Place the wrapped layers in the fridge overnight. This softens the outer crust and firms up the butter, making the cake more manageable.
3. Trim: Remove the cake from the fridge and trim any humps or cut the cake into layers if needed.
4. Crumb Cutter: Use your crumb cutter to trim the cake to the desired shape.

Important: Chilling your sponge for less than overnight or in the freezer will not give the same results.

Stacking Your Cake Layers

1. Use the Crumb Cutter and Liner: Stack your cake and buttercream layers within the Crumb Cutter and Liner. This ensures your layers stay perfectly straight.
2. Align the Liner: Ensure the liner is straight all the way around. If it's not, the top of the liner will be wider, causing the top of your cake to set wider. Slide the crumb cutter halfway up and realign the liner if needed.

Center Your Cakes

1. Check Alignment: Before setting the cake in the fridge, make sure it's centered. Ensure equal space around the cake to avoid uneven frosting layers, which can be difficult to fill.

Slot Your Liner Correctly

1. Secure the Liner: Ensure the liner is slotted around the removable base. The base holds the liner securely against the wall of the Frost Form, preventing the liner from coming too close to the cake. This ensures the frosting coats the cake evenly and reaches the bottom without leaking.

Don’t Overfill

1. Monitor Frosting Levels: When piping or pouring frosting, avoid overfilling. Stop once the top is covered, using the lines on the liner as a guide.
2. Remove Excess Buttercream: If using buttercream, use your Frost Finisher to remove any excess from the top.

Need More Help?

By following these guidelines, you can achieve perfectly frosted cakes with your Frost Form. Happy baking!

If you’ve followed all these steps and your frosting is still too thick, please contact us at info@frostform.com. We’d love to help you!