Decorating Chocolate Cakes

You can use either white or black royal icing to outline the picture. You will need the number 2 tip and thick royal icing. Royal icing dries out quickly, so keep your bowl covered with a wet towel. If you make mistake, lift it with a toothpick and simply pick up where you left off.

When the outline is done, let it harden up for half an hour. Now you will need to thin the remainder of the royal icing. (You can also purchase color flow mix, which was created expressly for this purpose). Add water, one teaspoon at a time until the icing is the consistency of cream. Color the thinned royal icing according to the colors in the picture. Use food coloring paste for best results.

Each color should have its own cup/bowl and cake decorating bag. You will be flooding each area of the picture with a number 4 cake decorating tip. When you fill each area of the picture, begin by piping around the inside of each section. Then fill in the area with a zig zag motion. Pop any air bubbles with a toothpick.

At first, the piping will show the lines, but it will all even out if your icing consistency is good. When the design is done, you can put it under a heat lamp, if you have one. If not, let it dry at least 24 hours, depending upon humidity. When hardened, carefully peel off the cling wrap and invert the royal icing picture on to the cake where you want it.