How to Ice a Cake Smoothly

How to Use an Icing Spatula?

Learn how to ice cakes with help from Betty Crocker™.

How to Use an Icing Spatula?

Icing spatulas are perfect for giving your cake a professional finish, but if you’re new to cake decorating, we have a few top tips to ensure you are using your icing spatula like the pros do.

  1. Dip your spatula in hot water before using to keep the icing from sticking to it.
  2. Create a crumb coat by using the flat side of your icing spatula to add a first layer of icing, which will seal in crumbs. This can be a fairly thin layer. After applying the crumb coat, place your cake in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  3. Put a dollop of icing on the top of the cake for the second layer and smooth the icing to create a flat surface. Then, with your icing spatula, spread the icing around the sides of the cake. Continue until the whole cake is covered.
That’s it! You should be ready to give your new icing spatula a whirl.

How to Use an Icing Spatula