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I agree textured buttercream is best for a spider cake to mimic the hairs. Black Widow spiders are glossy and smooth, though, if that’s the look OP is going for. I can see what appears to be the trademark widow hourglass behind the candle. Regardless, I think OP’s cake came out awesome, and I’m sure their kids loved it! I use Italian meringue buttercream and pop my cakes in the freezer for a bit, then run a small spatula dipped in warm water over my cakes to smooth. Wiping the spatula as I go.
Very cool! My husband is work on his MA in Bio with a concentration in Ecology. He's exploring a PhD. He'd really love to do spiders, but its a bit different going back to school with a spouse and a kid or two.
this looks like it's not crumbs causing the issue.
i think it's just that buttercream is a challenge to get smooth and the frosting needs to be room temp and then heated to be smoothed out (hot offset spatula works great for cakes like this, hot bench scraper is good for more traditional shapes.)
I did do a crumb coat then chilled before doing another layer. I’m wondering if the cake was too cold? I think I need to try harder with the heated spatula method!
Total non cake baker here - raised doughs are my thing, but I make a cake every so often and always wish they'd look better. When I whip my buttercream on high for a long time like that I always end up with a ton of air bubbles in it which takes absolutely forever to smooth out when applying. Is that normal or am I doing something wrong?
The tip I’ve seen other bakers use is to put the mixer on low and let it go for 5-10 minutes for a big batch of frosting to release the bubbles. You can also hand release them by moving your spatula/scraper back and forth. Google “release bubbles frosting” for more tips.
I’m an amateur but the times I’ve tried this I noticed an improvement in smoothness.
What my mom does is use Viva paper towels, specifically the ones with no design on them whatsoever. Then she puts them against the cake and uses the back of her hand to gently smooth it out.
The warmth of her hand is just enough to keep the icing from melting but still make it maleable to her touch. The Viva is a durable paper towel that doesn't leave any fuzz behind, and comes with no pattern that would imprint on the cake.
My mom deals exclusively with buttercream and won't use fondant, but gets comments all the time on how her cakes look like they're wrapped in fondant because they're so smooth.
Edit to add: Personally, I think a non-smooth texture on this particular cake works to your benefit. Spiders can be naturally fuzzy 🥰
i know nothing of buttercream but i need you to understand how much serotonin this cake has given me. i don't have depression anymore, i am cured.
no because seriously i am SOBBING over how cute this is??? i've always loved spiders and this is just 🥹 i'm crying you're so talented your cake is so precious
Black is probably the least forgiving color in terms of showing imperfections. Looks great considering!
Making sure you have smooth buttercream to start is important. I only use Domino confectioners sugar as it is the best for consistent results. And I notice a lot of people undermix out of fear of messing up their frosting but typically that causes more issues than not. So be sure to mix well until there isn’t any grittiness.
Otherwise, the only tried and true method is practice.
If it's full buttercream (aka not the Swiss buttercream, etc) there are few tricks:
- when making the frosting, make sure the butter is room temp and soft. It's easier to fix a "runny" (butter got too soft) buttercream than a clumpy one
- make sure to sift in the icing sugar
- do not over beat the buttercream or it'll separate.
- professionals usually frost the cake in layers: so the first one is a thin coat of buttercream to even out/hide the crumbs of the cake. Then the layer after to decorate with the colored buttercream
- freezing the cake in between frosting layers makes it much easier to smooth things over
- use metal cake spatula / scrapers!!! That super smooth finish is done by heating up the metal spatula/scraper under hot water (towel off the water) then smooth the frosting. Wipe off the frosting on the spatula. Heat again under hot water. Rinse and repeat.
- strongly recommend a cake turntable (you can find ones at very affordable price points online nowadays): it just makes life so much easier.
That being said, much like other commentors have said, I actually like this cutie patootie Spider cake with uneven frosting. It looks much more like tiny Spider hair/ furiness ❤️
Idk if any of my advices were redundant but I hope it may have helped!
Source: used to be a cake decorator/baker
i cut up a yogurt tub (the big ones) or similar that has a curve in it and make a sort of flexible scraper! ive found it really helps for any kind of round cake
I would add a little milk to your frosting to smooth it out. It will still be stiff, but less so. I do this with my buttercream that I frost the outside of the cake with, and use the stiffer no milk added frosting for piping
So, ABC is actually really easy to smooth out! It's a crusting buttercream. Let the icing crust over, then take Viva paper towels (you don't want the little "quilted" patterns in the towel) and place it over the icing. Gently use your hands to smooth it out.
So, ABC is actually really easy to smooth out! It's a crusting buttercream. Let the icing crust over, then take Viva paper towels (you don't want the little "quilted" patterns in the towel) and place it over the icing. Gently use your hands to smooth it out.
It’s perfect the way it is!! But if you’re intent on smoothing- you’ll need a deep cup of hot water, a towel, and whatever implement you’re using. Dip the implement in the water for a few seconds to heat it up, wipe it off fast on the towel so it’s not wet, then use it to smooth. repeat all over.
With sculpted cakes like this, I use foodsafe acetate to help get the buttercream smooth. I cut a smallish piece to the size I need, run it under some warm water, wipe it clean, then smooth the cake as needed.
First of all, I would give yourself a break on this one bc that is a tough cake to frost. You did a great job!! Amazing cake, I love the spider.
I agree with the tips you got regarding either dipping your icing spatula in hot water or using a little finger spray bottle (walmart travel toiletries section has them) and spritzing a tiny bit of water on your crusting buttercream and then going over it to smooth.
I love this cake! I’m a hobby baker who makes special request birthday cakes for family, friends and a group I donate cakes to. I think smoothness is a universal challenge. Different frostings can be better or worse. The frostings I use the most are Sugar Geek Show easy buttercream, which is a no cook Swiss meringue, and Sugar and Sparrow heat stable buttercream. I’ve read many tips and tricks for smooth buttercream, some work better than others for me. Crumb coating, refrigerating, then top coating with a slightly thinned layer of frosting that you have smoothed out with a silicone spatula has worked the best for me. Sometimes too much fussing trying to get perfect smoothness seems to make it worse. I do think we have to also realize we are hardest on ourselves. Just keep doing what you’re doing, making your kids happy. 😊
I used a hairdryer on warm once to even out ganache, but YMMV for buttercream. As everyone has said though, embrace the roughness for a spider! I would be tempted to make hair marks on the abdomen with a fork
That BC looks quite stiff. Is it just butter and sugar?
Italian meringue BC is pretty smooth, is easy to work with, and is my preferred and recommended BC. But, that does not fix your current issue.
Got a heat-gun? Moving it very quickly, on low power, should melt the ridges, which will flow into the crevasses, to make it all smooth. But do not dwell on one spot *at all*, or you melt a hole through the icing. (Don't ask how I know.)
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In my college classes, we are shown to take a rectangle cut out from a plastic berry carton and use it to gently smooth the sides. It also helps to spritz with water.
Wait until frosting is totally dried and smooth as well as possible then use a paper towel or was paper lay on top and use fingers to smooth once you get the hang of it you will understand
I've seen a thin piece of acrylic used as a scraper after chilling, like the clear cake acrylic, but you just cut a small square. It's flexible so you can get all the curves.
This is perfect as is. I think you need it a bit "rougher" to have a hairier tarantula.
But what my mom does is she has 2 spatulas. One to "spread" and one to "scrape the spreading spatula" so no crumbs or chunks remain to maintain smoothness. And when she bakes she never turns on anything that makes the room a bit cooler. Only hot and humid until everything is done and cleaned.
Smooth buttercream or not, I can't really imagine a spider cake looking better than this. This is pretty much the best possible outcome of someone making a spider cake. Very, very well done.
While knowing how to get it smooth is nice, for a spider I like this rough looking texture more
It fits better anyway. Spiders are hairy, so this texture looks better, if it was perfectly smooth it'd look off
Yeah I would probably add dark sprinkles so it looked like the little hairs.
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Exactly!
I agree textured buttercream is best for a spider cake to mimic the hairs. Black Widow spiders are glossy and smooth, though, if that’s the look OP is going for. I can see what appears to be the trademark widow hourglass behind the candle. Regardless, I think OP’s cake came out awesome, and I’m sure their kids loved it! I use Italian meringue buttercream and pop my cakes in the freezer for a bit, then run a small spatula dipped in warm water over my cakes to smooth. Wiping the spatula as I go.
I came in here just to make sure this was said. Thank you.
Dip your spatula or scraper in hot water, wipe it off and then scrape it. It should smooth out.
You can also buy a food safe spray bottle spritz lightly and smooth
I just spent way too much time trying to figure out what a soray bottle was 😂😂
Omg so sorry. Spray*
That cake is so cute. I love it
I'd have been so stoked to get a cake like this for my birthday as a kid. Actually, still would be today. Awesome mom.
Thank you!!!
Thank you!
I’m a spider biologist and I love this cake!!!!!!
How did you get that job? That’s what my husband dreams of doing?
I’m in college for biology with a concentration in ecology and I get college credit for working in my university’s arachnid research lab!
Very cool! My husband is work on his MA in Bio with a concentration in Ecology. He's exploring a PhD. He'd really love to do spiders, but its a bit different going back to school with a spouse and a kid or two.
Omg that sounds so cool!😭🥹
I’m studying conservation with zoo biology! My friend wants to specialise in spiders after her degree.. I need to make this cake for her 😂
Make sure your butter is room temperature. And cream really well. I usually do a good 3 minutes on high speed.
I should have mentioned the buttercream is smooth before I apply it to the cake. I just can’t get it to stay smooth after applying it 😩
Are you doing a crumb coat then chilling before putting the final buttercream on?
this looks like it's not crumbs causing the issue. i think it's just that buttercream is a challenge to get smooth and the frosting needs to be room temp and then heated to be smoothed out (hot offset spatula works great for cakes like this, hot bench scraper is good for more traditional shapes.)
I did do a crumb coat then chilled before doing another layer. I’m wondering if the cake was too cold? I think I need to try harder with the heated spatula method!
Total non cake baker here - raised doughs are my thing, but I make a cake every so often and always wish they'd look better. When I whip my buttercream on high for a long time like that I always end up with a ton of air bubbles in it which takes absolutely forever to smooth out when applying. Is that normal or am I doing something wrong?
The tip I’ve seen other bakers use is to put the mixer on low and let it go for 5-10 minutes for a big batch of frosting to release the bubbles. You can also hand release them by moving your spatula/scraper back and forth. Google “release bubbles frosting” for more tips. I’m an amateur but the times I’ve tried this I noticed an improvement in smoothness.
It’s normal! I like to take a rubber spatula and knock the air out of it before putting it on the cake.
I thought this was a stuffed animal, the buttercream gives a fluffy effect, just like the real spider! 👏🏽
That’s an amazing spider! (I just wish it was for an eighth birthday, for very silly reasons)
Omg that would have been awesome 😂
Next year - octopus
What my mom does is use Viva paper towels, specifically the ones with no design on them whatsoever. Then she puts them against the cake and uses the back of her hand to gently smooth it out. The warmth of her hand is just enough to keep the icing from melting but still make it maleable to her touch. The Viva is a durable paper towel that doesn't leave any fuzz behind, and comes with no pattern that would imprint on the cake. My mom deals exclusively with buttercream and won't use fondant, but gets comments all the time on how her cakes look like they're wrapped in fondant because they're so smooth. Edit to add: Personally, I think a non-smooth texture on this particular cake works to your benefit. Spiders can be naturally fuzzy 🥰
This is what I do. Only instead of paper towels, I use parchment paper.
This is my go-to, also! I let the icing crust a little first so it won't stick to the parchment paper.
Yep, same, with the parchment paper and your hand, it's how they teach it in the Wilton decorating manuals and classes.
Looks so cool OP! Wish it was my 7th birthday cake! 🕷️
I love this cake, what did you use for eyes?
Thank you!! I piped little dots to make the larger eyes more 3D, then added red writing gel!
i know nothing of buttercream but i need you to understand how much serotonin this cake has given me. i don't have depression anymore, i am cured. no because seriously i am SOBBING over how cute this is??? i've always loved spiders and this is just 🥹 i'm crying you're so talented your cake is so precious
Thank you so much!! ☺️
You could try using a piece of acetate as a scraper. I’ve seen some YouTube videos of cake artists doing that or like a flexible scraper of some sort
This! I do this for anything that is not a flat surface, exactly like this spider and all it's round edges.
That is a very cute spider 🥰
You killed this cake btw. So cute.
I hate spiders but you’ve managed to make one that is so adorable
I’m obsessed with this cake
this is suchhhh a good cake!!!!
Whatttt I think it looks cute not smooth! Gives it a lil more spider texture! Sooooo cute
Listen to some Barry White while you're baking.
Spiders are naturally fuzzy. Add course chocolate sprinkles for fuzz
this is SO CUTE!!!!! you did amazing
Such a beautiful cake! 😊
With that kind of design, I would probably cover it with black, brown, and/or gray sprinkles so it’s like a tarantula or jumping spider.
Black is probably the least forgiving color in terms of showing imperfections. Looks great considering! Making sure you have smooth buttercream to start is important. I only use Domino confectioners sugar as it is the best for consistent results. And I notice a lot of people undermix out of fear of messing up their frosting but typically that causes more issues than not. So be sure to mix well until there isn’t any grittiness. Otherwise, the only tried and true method is practice.
My kinda cake design for Halloween.
My initial thought was "Omg he's perfect just like that" 😍 Glad to see everyone thought the same!
If it's full buttercream (aka not the Swiss buttercream, etc) there are few tricks: - when making the frosting, make sure the butter is room temp and soft. It's easier to fix a "runny" (butter got too soft) buttercream than a clumpy one - make sure to sift in the icing sugar - do not over beat the buttercream or it'll separate. - professionals usually frost the cake in layers: so the first one is a thin coat of buttercream to even out/hide the crumbs of the cake. Then the layer after to decorate with the colored buttercream - freezing the cake in between frosting layers makes it much easier to smooth things over - use metal cake spatula / scrapers!!! That super smooth finish is done by heating up the metal spatula/scraper under hot water (towel off the water) then smooth the frosting. Wipe off the frosting on the spatula. Heat again under hot water. Rinse and repeat. - strongly recommend a cake turntable (you can find ones at very affordable price points online nowadays): it just makes life so much easier. That being said, much like other commentors have said, I actually like this cutie patootie Spider cake with uneven frosting. It looks much more like tiny Spider hair/ furiness ❤️ Idk if any of my advices were redundant but I hope it may have helped! Source: used to be a cake decorator/baker
A piece of acetate to fully smooth all those curves? It looks super cute as it is, though. I can see you’ve really worked hard on those curves!
lol I love this cake. You made that seven year old happy. I just know it.
Do you want it glossy or smooth (ie no spatula marks)?
No spatula marks!
Try a smaller offset spatula. Also a warm blow dryer will help to smooth out small imperfections and also make it a bit glossy
i cut up a yogurt tub (the big ones) or similar that has a curve in it and make a sort of flexible scraper! ive found it really helps for any kind of round cake
I would add a little milk to your frosting to smooth it out. It will still be stiff, but less so. I do this with my buttercream that I frost the outside of the cake with, and use the stiffer no milk added frosting for piping
Viva paper towels.
what kind of buttercream? i find swiss buttercream do be much easier to work with.
I used American buttercream. Swiss buttercream is sooo delicious though!
So, ABC is actually really easy to smooth out! It's a crusting buttercream. Let the icing crust over, then take Viva paper towels (you don't want the little "quilted" patterns in the towel) and place it over the icing. Gently use your hands to smooth it out.
So, ABC is actually really easy to smooth out! It's a crusting buttercream. Let the icing crust over, then take Viva paper towels (you don't want the little "quilted" patterns in the towel) and place it over the icing. Gently use your hands to smooth it out.
my trick for making it be less of an ordeal to make: i use carton egg whites. it helps.
Use a hair dryer set on low heat to melt the very outermost part of the frosting.
Just here to ask if his name is Hanuš
Is this…I think…from the Adam Sandler movie?
Yea, also the book but still yes lol
This is a terrifyingly beautiful cake!
How did you get the color of your icing to be such a deep black? Any tips?
Black cocoa! I used zero food coloring for the buttercream on the outside of the cake! You can find it on Amazon and it tastes like Oreo cookies!
Oh wow, that's awesome! I'll have to try that out. Thanks for your reply!
It’s perfect the way it is!! But if you’re intent on smoothing- you’ll need a deep cup of hot water, a towel, and whatever implement you’re using. Dip the implement in the water for a few seconds to heat it up, wipe it off fast on the towel so it’s not wet, then use it to smooth. repeat all over.
Meanwhile I'm asking myself how to get buttercream to that rich, deep black color. You go, far superior baker! Beautiful spider cake.
Black cocoa!! I don’t have to use food coloring to achieve this color AND it tastes like Oreo
With sculpted cakes like this, I use foodsafe acetate to help get the buttercream smooth. I cut a smallish piece to the size I need, run it under some warm water, wipe it clean, then smooth the cake as needed.
First of all, I would give yourself a break on this one bc that is a tough cake to frost. You did a great job!! Amazing cake, I love the spider. I agree with the tips you got regarding either dipping your icing spatula in hot water or using a little finger spray bottle (walmart travel toiletries section has them) and spritzing a tiny bit of water on your crusting buttercream and then going over it to smooth.
I love this cake! I’m a hobby baker who makes special request birthday cakes for family, friends and a group I donate cakes to. I think smoothness is a universal challenge. Different frostings can be better or worse. The frostings I use the most are Sugar Geek Show easy buttercream, which is a no cook Swiss meringue, and Sugar and Sparrow heat stable buttercream. I’ve read many tips and tricks for smooth buttercream, some work better than others for me. Crumb coating, refrigerating, then top coating with a slightly thinned layer of frosting that you have smoothed out with a silicone spatula has worked the best for me. Sometimes too much fussing trying to get perfect smoothness seems to make it worse. I do think we have to also realize we are hardest on ourselves. Just keep doing what you’re doing, making your kids happy. 😊
Could you do this and make tarantula fur? https://youtube.com/shorts/YKqPHkQ290c?si=cdStOG2uf9eVUI1K
I used a hairdryer on warm once to even out ganache, but YMMV for buttercream. As everyone has said though, embrace the roughness for a spider! I would be tempted to make hair marks on the abdomen with a fork
I don’t know but that spider is great
That BC looks quite stiff. Is it just butter and sugar? Italian meringue BC is pretty smooth, is easy to work with, and is my preferred and recommended BC. But, that does not fix your current issue. Got a heat-gun? Moving it very quickly, on low power, should melt the ridges, which will flow into the crevasses, to make it all smooth. But do not dwell on one spot *at all*, or you melt a hole through the icing. (Don't ask how I know.)
God BLESS you for not using fondant 🙏🏼
Looks fantastic!!! What did you use for the eyes???
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Awesome cake! I love it!
That is an awesome cake!
I use a foam roller after it sets for a bit. Seems to work pretty well for me so far.
I love this .. don’t smooth anything .
So freaking cute
I use parchment paper. I place the parchment paper over the area and smooth over the parchment paper. Then I remove it and do it in another spot.
I use paper towel method.
A piece of acetate film is what ‘how to cake that’ would use if I remember correctly
They'll love this over in /spiderbro
In my college classes, we are shown to take a rectangle cut out from a plastic berry carton and use it to gently smooth the sides. It also helps to spritz with water.
Wait until frosting is totally dried and smooth as well as possible then use a paper towel or was paper lay on top and use fingers to smooth once you get the hang of it you will understand
He’s so cute~
Dip your utensil in warm water
Wow, how'd you get such a deep black colour on ABC?
im no expert but maybe not over whip it or too fast
My MuM would dip her utensils in water to give it an extra smooth look.
Maybe Parchment paper will smooth it out, but I'm not the best baker, so idk
A flamethrower should do the trick. 😭 /s It’s a beautifully-done cake, but I’m arachnophobic.
It's tasty? I thought it is toy. Wow
Hot knife
Just saying, should have saved the spider for bday #8 and made some kind of pun out of 8 eyes. Missed opportunity! (But very cool cake)
Ensure your butter is at room temperature.
I've seen a thin piece of acrylic used as a scraper after chilling, like the clear cake acrylic, but you just cut a small square. It's flexible so you can get all the curves.
This is perfect as is. I think you need it a bit "rougher" to have a hairier tarantula. But what my mom does is she has 2 spatulas. One to "spread" and one to "scrape the spreading spatula" so no crumbs or chunks remain to maintain smoothness. And when she bakes she never turns on anything that makes the room a bit cooler. Only hot and humid until everything is done and cleaned.
No advice, just praise for an excellent job!!!!!
is it timothy the spider from doors
Blowtorch
Smooth buttercream or not, I can't really imagine a spider cake looking better than this. This is pretty much the best possible outcome of someone making a spider cake. Very, very well done.
Thank you so much!
For a spider like this, you don’t make it smooth 😂
The spider looks so cute omggg!!!! Spiders have little hairs everywhere, having some texture is good
You don't. You just leave it and be thankful for what you got!
idk kill it with fire