Icing Consistency

There are so many different types of frostings out there, but there are somethings you should know about frosting your cakes.  The different consistency of your icing makes a HUGE differences in your cake/cupcakes.

There are 3 KEYS to Success in basic decorating, and Icing Consistency is one of those lessons and skills you should know.

Icing Consistency is the first key you need to learn, and almost any problem that you come upon while decorating will usually be resolved by referring to one of these keys. Correct Bag Position and Pressure Control are the other 2 Keys of Success for decorating.  You will need to adjust the consistency of your buttercream icing depending on the decorations you will be making.  Bellow are some examples of how to test icing consistency.

Stiff
Used for decorations such as flowers with upright petals, like the rose.
Use this test t check the consistency.

• Place 1 cup of icing in a 9 oz. cup, 3 3/4 in. tall and about 2 3/4 in. diameter.
• Insert a straight spatula all the way into the center of the icing and jiggle the cup.
• When the icing is stiff consistency, the spatula will not move.

Medium
Used to create starts, dimensional decorating, borders, and flowers with petals that lie flat.
To convert stiff consistency icing to medium consistency, add 1 teaspoon of water for each cup of stiff consistency icing (2 1/2 teaspoons of water for the full recipe).  Mix until well blended.

• Use the same test as for stiff consistency.
• When the icing is medium consistency, the spatula will move slightly and start to lean when you jiggle the cup.

Thin
Used for writing and printing, leaves, icing a cake.
To convert stiff consistency icing to thin consistency, add 2 teaspoons of water for each cup of stiff consistency icing (5 teaspoons of water for the full recipe).  Mix until well blended.

• Use the same test as for stiff consistency.
• When the icing is thin consistency, the spatula will fall over when you jiggle the cup.

When making thin consistency icing for writing and printing, add 1/2 teaspoon of Piping Gel per cup of thin consistency icing.  It will add stretch to the icing to making writing and printing easier.