Basic Decorating Techniques

Transferring Patterns

• Using a Toothpick
• Using Piping Gel

Transferring Your Pattern to Your Cake Using a Toothpick

1. Tape pattern to flat surface, such as back of a cookie sheet or counter top.
   Smooth out all wrinkles, then trace pattern onto the waxed paper with a pencil or a non-toxic marker. To use pattern for figure piping or special techniques, trace pattern onto paper. Tape paper to a cake board or circle. Tightly cover board with waxed paper or plastic wrap. Hint: If board is sprayed very lightly with vegetable oil, decorations are easier to remove. Pipe in decoration and allow it to dry on board.
2. Ice cake and let icing set until it has a slight crust. Then position waxed paper pattern gently on top or side of cake and secure very lightly with sharp toothpicks.
3. Position sharp toothpicks along pattern lines to transfer a dotted outline of pattern onto cake.
4. Remove toothpicks and waxed paper pattern. Connect dots with icing outlines. Cover the shape with instructed decorations.

Transferring Your Pattern to Your Cake Using Piping Gel

1. Tape pattern to flat surface, such as back of a cookie sheet or counter top.
   Smooth out all wrinkles, then trace pattern onto the waxed paper with a pencil or a non-toxic marker.
2. Ice cake and let icing set until it has a slight crust. Turn pattern on waxed paper upside down and outline pattern with piping gel on reverse side.
3. Carefully lay pattern on waxed paper (right side up) on cake. Gently press waxed paper until piping gel pattern changes from opaque to transparent.
4. To remove, lift pattern straight up. DO NOT PULL UP FROM END TO END, IT WILL CAUSE PATTERN TO SMEAR.