5 tips on decorating Valentine's cakes for that special someone
Get creative on Valentine’s Day by offering your loved ones something baked from scratch and uniquely decorated. Here are some easy ways to shake up your cake decorating.
Cake decorating can be a fun activity for the whole family and baked goods make ideal gifts for Valentine’s Day. Try these simple new ways of bringing your cake decorating ideas to the next level for the year’s most romantic holiday.
Use real flowers
When you think of Valentine’s Day, cakes, candies and flowers come to mind. So why mess with tradition? Try decorating your home-baked cake or cookies with your special someone’s favorite flowers. You don’t need a keen design eye to master this trick, you just need to remember that less is more. As Coco Chanel once said, “simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.”
Top tips:
-
1When you go get your flowers, make sure they are as fresh as possible and cut down the stems to the desired length. Bear in mind that you’ll need some length to make sure the flowers are stuck in deep enough.
-
2Use a maximum of three colors - your local florist can help with complimentary color pairings if you’re feeling a little lost.
-
3For the true minimalist who loves a little romance, try scattering fresh rose petals over nearly-set icing
-
4If you choose to use intact flower heads, be sure to focus your design on one corner of the cake. This will keep things looking elegant and will also allow for easy-cutting.
Get the kids to help
If you have kids, why not recruit them to help decorate your baked goods. Put down some parchment paper on your counter or table (you’ll appreciate this tip when it comes to the clean up) and set up the decorating stations. This is a great activity that allows the kids to get creative and the quality time spent will be appreciated all around. Parents love it when the kids are involved in the gifts they receive and there’ll be plenty of oohs and awes when the decorating is revealed.
Create a chocolate masterpiece
If you have kids, why not recruit them to help decorate your baked goods. Put down some parchment paper on your counter or table (you’ll appreciate this tip when it comes to the clean up) and set up the decorating stations. This is a great activity that allows the kids to get creative and the quality time spent will be appreciated all around. Parents love it when the kids are involved in the gifts they receive and there’ll be plenty of oohs and awes when the decorating is revealed.
Top tips:
-
1Tempering chocolate can be a tricky feat of kitchen science. Use a saucepan with warm, not boiling, water and place a glass bowl on top, so that it sits above the water (this is also called a bain-marie or a double boiler) and will gently melt the chocolate.
-
2Constantly stir the chocolate over the double boiler to ensure maximum glossiness.
Spell out something they’ll love
Spelling out how much you love someone with lettered cupcakes or a large sheet cake will speak volumes for your decorating prowess, as well as your devotion. Lettered cupcakes can have the added fun of having someone decipher what you want to say. If your loved one likes surprises, this is a sure-fire hit!
Play with flavor
When decorating your Valentine’s cakes, it’s ok to steer away from vanilla. Using candy to help decorate will add contrasting flavor profiles and textures that will keep those taste buds tingling! Jelly beans and gummy bears are especially good for this type of decorating. Espresso is another great flavor booster, especially when paired with chocolate, strawberry or orange flavored cakes. This is an especially great idea for the coffee lover in your life, and what’s more, the recipe takes as long as making a cup of joe!
Top tip: How to make easy espresso icing
-
1Place a 300ml bag of chocolate chips in your double boiler with a ¼ cup of butter.
-
2In a bowl blend an espresso shot with 125ml of sour cream.
-
3Once the chocolate begins to melt, add the espresso and sour cream and stir until smooth.
-
4Let it set in the fridge for an hour and voila, you have a delicious homemade chocolate icing for your cakes or cupcakes.
Keep exploring
5 sustainable foods to cook for an eco-friendly kitchen
Cooking with these environmentally-friendly ingredients is a simple way you can reduce the carbon footprint of your kitchen today.
April Fool's Day: Our Favorite Food Fake-Outs
These creative dishes from some of our favorite culinary creators will have you doing a double take!
5 deliciously easy flour-free bread recipes
Simple bread recipes to make at home when you're running short on wheat flour.
Demystifying gluten
You’ve definitely heard of gluten, but do you know how it plays a role in baking? Today we’re diving into the science behind gluten and sharing tips for understanding it in your baking.
An interview with Julia Estrada, Kana's newest baking queen
Julia Estrada is the face behind the delectable blog, Bread & Basil, and she certainly knows her way around the kitchen. Baking is her true love, and you'll often find her making artisanal breads in her New York City apartment.
The proof is in the... proofing
The proofing process is an essential part of baking yeast-leavened goodies. Without it, you'll end up with a sad, flat pancake instead of that beautiful bread loaf you were hoping for. Yes, it takes some time to perfect the process, but once you've got it, you too can experience freshly-baked bread and pastries at home.
Is aluminum foil safe to cook with?
Aluminum foil may have been a kitchen pantry staple for the last 100 years but, as new research around food safety and environmental impact shows, it’s time we wrap up our love affair with this malleable metal.
How to shop for non-toxic cookware and bakeware
Crispy pizza at home: tips for the perfect crust
Have you ever made pizza at home, but been disappointed by a soggy or undercooked crust? There are tools and tricks to make homemade pizza just as good as delivery, whether you like thin or thick crust.
How to measure cake pans
Not all pans are made the same. Here's how to measure your cake pans so you know exactly what you're working with.
Is Parchment Paper safe to cook with?
Parchment paper is a wonderfully convenient tool to have in your kitchen. Here, we address some of the major worries people have about cooking with parchment paper.
How to measure cake pans
Not all pans are made the same. Here's how to measure your cake pans so you know exactly what you're working with.
5 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Foodies That Aren’t Chocolate
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, here are a few homemade gift ideas for the food lover in your life. Although they’re so good you may want to keep these ideas in mind all year long!
SHARE
