Have a problem with dull tray (sheet) cakes? Worry no more as this recipe will teach you how to decorate a tray cake at home. Turn your simple and ordinary tray cake into an enticing and spectacular one.

By simply following the steps below, surely you can have a colorful tray cake that everyone will love. Also, this is perfect for any occasion that you have at home, or even make it as a present for your special someone.

Not to mention that this is a fun activity to do. Truly, you can find joy and relaxation as you decorate and make rosettes for this tray cake. Try now.

What are the Needed Tools to Set?

Since this is a tutorial on how to decorate a tray cake, there are types of equipment to prepare that you will use along the way. These are:

Prebaked cake. The cake should be baked in a disposable tray with lid.
16-inch Piping bags. This is for the frosting.
Variety of tips (4B, 1M, 2D, 104). These will be used to decorate the cake such as making the rosettes.
Gel food coloring. You can have the colors of your choice.
Buttercream. I advise using American, American Meringue, Swiss Meringue, Italian Meringue, or Royal Icing Buttercream.
Bowls and spoons. As containers for mixing the frosting and the like.
Sprinkles. Used to top the cake.

Instructions for decorating

Generally, this guide will help you turn a dull tray cake into a spectacular one. Actually, you can begin by baking a cake in a 9*13 disposable tray with a lid and allowing it to cool completely before decorating. Subsequently, the following are the steps and tips that you can follow to make your own.

Color your choice of frosting. I recommend American buttercream, Swiss or Italian Meringue Buttercream, American Meringue, or Royal Icing Buttercream, I do not recommend cream cheese icing as it’s the least stable of all and could melt, however, you could add American buttercream to the cream cheese icing for stability.

Prepare your piping bags with different tips. You may refer to decorating basics on how to prepare piping bags.

Color 1-2 cups of frosting desired colors. I used 2 drops of Electric purple, 3 drops of deep pink, 2 drops of soft pink, and left one piping white. Add frosting to bags.

Start by anchoring the tray cake with large rosettes. In order to make a rosette use, a tip 1M or 2Das these are called large star tips. Also, place a quick squeeze of icing on the cake and make a tight circle going around the star, slightly above the cake-never drag the piping bag or you will pull up cake crumbs. Furthermore, keep an even and steady pressure. After making the rosette, stop squeezing the icing and then pull away. Make large rosettes all over the cake and move on to a different dip.

To make the zigzag lines use tip 104 also called the “rose tip” and just move your hand back and forth to create the design.

The final tip 4B was to make “drop” flower designs. They are used to fill in gaps.

Place sprinkles liberally over the top of the cake and you’re done!

How to Decorate a Tray Cake At Home at www.chefkimihou.com

What is the Best Piping Bag to Use for Frosting?

You can use 12inch piping bags but I would recommend 16-inch piping bags because you will have to refill the 12 inches at least once.

Moreover, this technique uses more frosting than you think it does so you will need to have several cups of buttercream.

What are my favorite Frosting recommendations?

Is It Fine to Use Store-bought Frosting?

I wouldn’t recommend using store-bought frosting as it will be too soft and not hold its shape, you could, however, use store-bought buttercream which can be found at craft stores, restaurant supply stores, and Walmart.

How Should Piping Tips Be Cleaned?

To clean your piping tips, boil them in hot water to get rid of any butter residue. I also run them through the dishwasher after boiling.

Chef’s Notes

For the cake-only one boxed cake mix was used to bake the cake, two will be too much, you won’t be able to close the lid. Also, this can be made for smaller servings and work as a party favor! Amazon has several foil pans with lids in bulk.

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How to Decorate a Tray Cake at Home

Have a problem with dull tray cakes? Worry no more as this recipe will teach you how to decorate a tray cake at home.

Yield:

Equipment

Cake baked in a disposable tray with lid
16 inch Piping Bags
Variety of tips (4B, 1M, 2D, 104)
Gel Food Coloring
Buttercream (American, American Meringue, Swiss Meringue, Italian Meringue, or Royal Icing Buttercream)
Bowls and spoons
Sprinkles

Instructions

Bake a cake in a 9*13 disposable tray with lid.
Allow the cake to cool completely before decorating.
Color your choice of frosting (I recommend American buttercream, Swiss or Italian Meringue Buttercream, American Meringue, or Royal Icing Buttercream, I do not recommend cream cheese icing as it’s the least stable of all and could melt, however, you could add American buttercream to the cream cheese icing for stability.)
Prepare your piping bags with different tips. (Refer to decorating basics on how to prepare piping bags)
Color 1-2 cups of frosting desired colors. (I used 2 drops of Electric purple, 3 drops of deep pink, 2 drops of soft pink, and left one piping white)
Add frosting to bags.
Start by anchoring the tray cake with large rosettes.
In order to make a rosette use a tip 1M or 2D. These are called large star tips.
Place a quick squeeze of icing on the cake (it will look like a star).
Make a tight circle going around the star, slightly above the cake-never drag the piping bag or you will pull up cake crumbs.
Keep an even and steady pressure.
After making the rosette, stop squeezing the icing and then pull away.
Every design will be a steady pressure, stop, then pull away. If you pull off while squeezing you will have a mess!
Make large rosettes all over the cake and move on to a different dip.
To make the zigzag lines use the tip 104 also called the “rose tip” and just move your hand back and forth to create the design.
The final tip 4B was to make “drop” flower designs. They are used to fill in gaps.
Place sprinkles liberally over the top of the cake and you’re done!

Notes

For the cake-only one boxed cake mix was used to bake the cake, two will be too much, you wont be able to close the lid.
This can be made for smaller servings and work as a party favor! Amazon has several foil pans with lids in bulk.
You can use 12inch piping bags but I would recommend 16-inch piping bags because you will have to refill the 12 inch at least once.
This technique uses more frosting than you think it does so you will need to have several cups of buttercream.
I wouldn’t recommend using store-bought frosting as it will be too soft and not hold its shape, you could, however, use store-bought buttercream (which can be found at craft stores, restaurant supply stores, and Walmart
To clean your piping tips, boil them in hot water to get rid of any butter residue. I also run them through the dishwasher after boiling.

How to Decorate a Tray (Sheet) Cake