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Simple Cake Stenciling

The quickest and easiest way to serve a pretty cake for any occasion is to either glaze it or sprinkle it with confectioners sugar.  Up until now I hadn't used cake stencils to decorate my cakes, so  I finally took out the ones I do own for this purpose and tried them out.  I'm glad I did because the plain cakes look so wonderful just as they are, and only need a little something to accompany each slice.



What's nice about this type of cake 'decorating' is that you can choose from a number of cake stencils easily found online or at craft stores, and make them at the last minute.



Here is my set up:  baked cake layers, some cake stands, reusable stencils, and some confectioners sugar.



Years ago, Martha by Mail was one of the first catalogs to offer cake stencils, and to this day, these classic designs are just as effective.  Several sets were made for the now-defunct catalog.





Most cake stencils need to have the designs carefully punched out from the centers before using.  I highly recommend that you keep these cut out negatives so that you can use them for other stenciling projects. 


The only difficult thing is deciding which cake stand(s) to use.  I took out two of my favorite Martha by Mail cake stands made by L.E. Smith Glass back in the late 90s.  The milk glass set gets used a lot in my house because it makes so many desserts look extra delicious.


On a baked and cooled cake, carefully center the cake stencil and gently press it to the surface of the cake.  It's important to stencil on a cake with a flat, even surface.  Generally, it's best to do this on the bottom side of a cake layer. 

Note:  if you want to split and fill the single cake layer with some curd or your favorite jam, do so before stenciling.



You can work directly on the cake stand or cake plate, but it's neater to work over a baking sheet.  Using a fine mesh sieve, add about 1-2 tablespoons of confectioners sugar and gently sprinkle it over the entire surface of the cake, making sure to dredge every intricate part of the stencil design.




Gently lift the stencil and voila!  I really like this garden-chair design from Martha by Mail.  



When placing the cake stencil onto the surface of the cake, if the layer is moist enough, it will adhere to it very nicely (photo above).  Don't press too hard on the stencil or you risk stripping away that beautiful golden crust.



I love these large dots!




If you decide to make the lemon curd from the Martha by Mail recipe card that came with these stencil sets, either fill the single layers with it or serve it on the side with each slice.  A generous bowl of this curd will have people reaching for more because it is that good.  




There you have it.  Stenciling 101.  Simple cakes like these are just the thing for an impromptu dinner with friends or for a pick-me-up in the break room at work.  They're also perfect for those who don't like icing or fussy desserts.  As long as the cake recipe is a tried and true winner, the cake and the presentation will be a hit with everyone. 

Don't limit yourself to stenciling bare cakes with cocoa powder or confectioners sugar, because these can easily be applied to cakes with glazes or smooth buttercreams.  A chilled buttercream will create the perfect surface on which to stencil, and if you happen to have an airbrush food-coloring sprayer, then you can really get creative.  Look for cake stencils the next time you're shopping online or at a craft store.  Enjoy!






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Comments

  1. Phil PoggeauxJuly 23, 2016 at 3:35 AM

    Very effective - simplicity yet so classy. Great work again David. Thanks for so freely sharing your knowledge and ideas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Things by DavidJuly 23, 2016 at 10:30 AM

      They are effective and classy, Mr. Home Maker! Thanks!! :)

      Delete
  2. KennJuly 23, 2016 at 8:27 PM

    I need someone to slap me back into baking! I have the MBM stencils, still in the package. Never used them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Things by DavidJuly 24, 2016 at 11:30 AM

      Kenn, you really need to get into the kitchen and bake a simple cake so that you can use these stencils. You're going to like them a lot!

      Delete

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