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Easy Cake Decorating Techniques and Baking Tips

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Stack of pieces of various cakesChristopher Baker Page 1 of 10

Your Guide to a Beautiful (and Delicious!) Cake

By Dawn Perry

No sugarcoating here: When you mix two essential cake recipes with 27 easy frosting, filling, and decorating ideas, you end up with 256,620 (really—do the math) delectable options. Sweet!

Choose a Cake Flavor

Once you settle on one of these two no-fail options, it’s time to pull out your baking pans. Each recipe provides enough batter for two 8- or 9-inch rounds for a layer cake, one 9-by-13-inch sheet cake, or 24 cupcakes.

Get the recipe for Chocolate Cake.

Get the recipe for Yellow Cake.

Want to make a cake that looks as good as it tastes? It’s easy with Real Simple’s cake decorating techniques.

Next: Pick the Frosting
Skip to Daily Finds slides.
Stack of pieces of various cakes
Stripes of cake frosting
3 Bowls of cake fillings
Table spread of various cakes
Cakes with various decorative toppings
Chocolate Cake With Coffee Frosting and Crushed Cookies
Assorted cupcakes on cake stand
Cake with happy birthday written in icing on it

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