How To Crumb Coat A Cake
The cake-decorating trick you shouldn't skip
If you've ever ended up with grainy frosting after icing a cake, this one's for you. Those annoying little specks are crumbs from the cake that flake off when you're spreading the frosting. To end up with a wedding-worthy showstopper, try this cake-decorating trick:
Make a crumb coat before frosting the cake.
① Chill the unfrosted cake in the fridge. Working on a cold cake makes things easier.
② Spread a thin layer of frosting around the entire cake. This is the crumb coat. Pro tip: Keep a clean bowl at your side for wiping off the spatula, instead of returning it to the bowl of frosting.
③ Chill the cake again for about 20 minutes, until the crumb coat has hardened.
④ Ice the cake with the remainder of the frosting. The protective layer of frosting will prevent crumbs from flaking off.
It's a simple tip that, er, takes the cake.