To Ice a Christmas Cake

Ingredients

• icing sugar
• flour
• oiled paper

Directions

1. Make the icing thick enough to hold its shape when dropped on a plate. If it runs, add more icing sugar.

2. If the cake top needs to be flat, pour a thin first coating of icing and harden it in a cool oven to prevent mixing with the cake crumb.

3. Use a broad knife dipped in hot water to apply and smooth the icing. Lightly rub the top of the cake with flour to help the icing stick.

4. For icing to stand up on the sides, pin a band of oiled paper around the cake.

5. Apply two or three coatings of icing, allowing each coat to harden before adding another.

6. To decorate, use a set of tin icing tubes with watertight bags. Fill the bags with thick icing.

7. To make roses, hold the rose tube upright, squeeze the bag, and lift smartly. For leaves, hold the tube at an angle.

8. Use the piping tube for various designs like chains, spiderwebs, or writing names. Plan your design beforehand to avoid mistakes.

9. If you don't have icing tubes, roll a piece of stiff white paper into a cone shape for decorating.