How decorate your own custom cake

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Mom entrepreneur Leigh Ann Whitty, of Boymom Baker, shares secrets of her decorating method.

1. Prepare your favorite cake recipe. I recommend 2 batches for a good size cake. Divide evenly into the 3 greased 8" pans and bake according to instructions. Cool completely on wire racks.

2. While the cake is baking, prepare your buttercream frosting:

Ingredients:

2 sticks of softened butter

Clear vanilla

2 lb bag of confectioners' sugar

Whole milk

*for chocolate buttercream (to DIE for on a chocolate cake!) add 3/4-1 cup of unsweetened cocoa

In a stand mixer cream the butter and vanilla. SLOWLY add sugar! I suggest a damp towel to cover the bowl as you are mixing. You will need to add milk in small increments to your mixer to achieve desired consistency. This takes practice. Lots of trial-and-error in learning to decorate. Be careful not to add too much milk or you'll end up with a gooey mess that will fall off your cake! Been there done that! I beat the frosting on medium speed for 10 minutes (read that somewhere and have done it ever since!)

Here's the fun part! Place one layer on a cake plate/board. Using an angled icing spatula (the most important tool I possess!) spread desired amount on top and repeat with the 2nd layer. Add top layer and place a glob(professional baker term) of icing on top and spread evenly over top and sides. This is your "crumb coat." It won't be pretty.

Make it a thin layer just to cover the cake. Pop it in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.

Now spread more icing on the top and sides of chilled cake evenly until desired smoothness is achieved. This takes practice, too!

Now get creative with colored icing (you'll need to make another batch of buttercream). Place icing in pastry bags.

Experiment with different icing tips! Have fun creating your own custom cake!