Category: Tutorials

How to Transfer Cakes From a Turntable to a Stand

February 18, 2021

by Whitney

One of my most frequently asked questions (aside from what my favorite buttercream recipe is and how I get my buttercream cakes smooth): “how in the world do you move a cake off the turntable and onto a cake stand without ruining the finish?” Transferring a cake, whether it’s onto a stand or into a box, can be totally nerve wracking if you’ve never done it before. After you’ve spent so much time decorating, the last thing you want to do is mess up all of your work before anyone gets the chance to see the cake in its most perfect state! In hopes of saving you extra stress, today’s Cake Basics is all about the method I use for transferring my cakes once they’re decorated.

Tips For Perfect Chocolate Ganache Drip Cakes

September 16, 2020

by Whitney

comments 187

One of my favorite easy things to dress up a cake is to do a chocolate ganache drip finish. Over the years, my ability to create the drip look has definitely grown, and I get tons of questions asking what my secret is. The truth is, chocolate ganache has definitely put me through the wringer before (especially white chocolate ganache, which used to be my absolute nemesis). After figuring out the perfect ratio for chocolate to heavy whipping cream and learning the do’s and dont’s of drip cakes, I’ve got it down to a science these days. And now you will too!

A Guide to Coloring Buttercream Frosting

September 10, 2020

by Whitney

comments 14

how to color buttercream frosting with color gels

I think one of the coolest things about cake is how artistic it can be, and a big part of that comes from the freedom to create any buttercream color you could possibly imagine! In fact, when planning out my cakes I love to nerd out on the color palette and get a real thrill when the colors turn out exactly how I pictured. As with anything, getting my buttercream shades just right has come with tons of practice and finding products I love to help make it happen.

How to Decorate a Cake with Sprinkles

August 14, 2020

by Whitney

comments 14

sprinkle cake tutorial by sugar and sparrow

Sprinkles these days aren’t what they used to be (in the best way). I remember swooning over the little vials of rainbow jimmies and sugar sprinkles in the baking aisle as a kid – little did I know that a few decades later sprinkles would come in all shapes and sizes and colors and textures with names like Bombshell and Party Monster and Unicorn Barf. You can find a sprinkle blend to match any color scheme you could dream of, and I think dressing up cakes with them is one of the easiest ways to add intrigue.

How to Fill and Stack Cake Layers

July 24, 2020

by Whitney

comments 8

Have you ever had a fiasco with your cake filling? I have. Between it bulging out between layers or straight up oozing out of the sides because it’s just too thin to withstand the weight of gravity, I’ve seen it all. The thing is, the filling and stacking process is arguably the most essential part of building your cake’s foundation. If your cake filling is unstable in any way it can throw off the entire outcome of your cake, and if you’re anything like me (perfectionistic to a fault), that can be totally devastating.

How to Level and Torte Cake Layers

July 17, 2020

by Whitney

comments 8

Whether my cake layers come out of the oven with a domed top or a flat one, there’s one step I never miss once those cakes are cooled: torting the layers. Torting is a fancy word for leveling, and the process ensures that any domes get chopped off and any difference in height between layers is eliminated. Perfectly level layers not only make for the most picturesque cake slices, they also ensure that your cake is more level overall when frosted. In my humble opinion, it is a must.

How to Prepare Cake Pans for Easy Release

July 17, 2020

by Whitney

comments 8

Before you mix up your cake batter, there are two things you’ve got to do to set yourself up for cake baking success: preheat your oven and prepare your pans. There’s no need to explain how to preheat your oven (I hope!) but I do have some things to say about cake pan preparation. After all, there’s nothing more disappointing than thinking you’ve baked the perfect cake, only to have it stick to the pan and fall apart upon release. Whether you’re completely new to baking and don’t know the first thing about what it means to “grease and flour” or “line a cake pan,” or you’re just curious about how I prepare my cake pans, you’re going to learn all of it in one handy little blog post!

Cascading Floral Cake Tutorial

April 24, 2020

by Whitney

comments 4

cascading floral cake tutorial by Sugar and Sparrow

Before the whole world shut down, I made this colorful Cascading Floral Cake inspired by the pretty Spring flowers that were just starting to bloom. Nowadays, seeing the Spring flowers is the highlight of my daily walks and I find them just as inspiring (and totally worth celebrating!), even in this wild season. Whether you need a fun cake project in your life, have a #QuarantineBirthday to celebrate, or you just need something pretty to look at, I’m showing you how to get this look with some quick and easy floral techniques!

Colorful (Edible!) Easter Egg Cake Toppers Tutorial

April 3, 2020

by Whitney

comments 2

Even though Easter isn’t all about colorful eggs, they became such an iconic symbol of the holiday. So much that when Wilton asked me to create a cake project for their Easter campaign, eggs were the first thing to come to mind! Imagine my delight when I browsed through Wilton’s online shop and found the perfect silicone mold to make these Easter egg cake toppers. With a little painterly inspiration, some colorful Candy Melts, and a little cake pop filling, these cake toppers are so festive and fun to make!

Buttercream Terrazzo Cake Tutorial

March 16, 2020

by Whitney

comments 3

buttercream terrazzo cake by sugar and sparrow

Terrazzo patterns seem to be everywhere these days, and I am all for it. These pretty mosaic prints were originally popularized in the early 1900’s as a trendy floor tile design. Nowadays you’ll find terrazzo prints on walls, ceramics, furniture finishes, and all the things. I’ve been dying to incorporate it into a cake design for awhile now, so when JOANN asked me to create a project for National Craft Month I knew it was the perfect time to make my terrazzo cake dreams come true! I stocked up on some essential Wilton supplies and got right to work on this beauty.