Japanese Edible Photos

One of the easiest decorating techniques is to use edible images on your cake. Japanese edible photos, so named because the technique originated in Japan, can be added using any photograph and edible paper.

To add photos to cakes you will need an iced cake, a printer, a photo, and edible printer paper. Print the photo onto the edible paper and then place the photo on your iced cake.

Japanese edible photos make great decorations for birthday and anniversary cakes. Even black and white photos can be stunning on a cake.

Airbrush at Home

You may remember street venders who airbrushed t-shirts in days gone by. This same technology is now being used to decorate cakes. Home chefs can purchase airbrush guns online that are specifically designed for cake decorating. After a little practice you can create your own designs using this airbrushing technique.

Buttercream Transfer

This decorating technique is an old technique used by many pastry artists. It is very simple and works well. Draw your design, in reverse, on a piece of wax paper. Next, pipe icing onto the design and freeze. Once the icing has frozen you can easily flip it and transfer the icing to the top of an iced cake.

Image Transfer

This technique is similar to the buttercream transfer method. Using an edible ink pen and wax paper you can trace the reverse of your image onto the wax paper. If you are using a computer generated image like essbares Fotos many printers have a reverse option for printing images in reverse. As soon as the image has been traced you should flip the drawing onto an iced cake. By gently rubbing you can transfer the lines to the top of the cake. All that is left for you to do is follow the lines and decorate with piped icing.

Projection

If you are lucky enough to own an overhead projector you can use it to decorate a cake. This method is the almost as easy as using Japanese edible photos such as Fototorte Set up your projector an image so that it projects the image onto the top of your iced cake. Use this projected image as your outline for decorating the cake with piped icing.

All of the above cake decorating techniques can easily be implemented by the home cook. Once you learn to decorate your own cakes you will be able to provide birthday, anniversary, and special event cakes for any occasion. Think of the money you will save by creating your own masterpieces as cakes in bake shops normally start at twenty dollars.

Hints:

• Have all of your supplies ready.
• Have your cake iced. It is a good idea to ice your cake in advance so the icing can harden.
• Make sure you have chosen an image that is not too detailed if you will be piping on icing.
• If you are using Japanese edible photos and do not have a printer there are many online services that will copy the image for you.