It is an easily overlooked step, but it is essential: you will need a cake before you can get started in cake decorating. Cake decorating is a singular art, often know as one of the edible arts, but in order to get started in this artistic endeavor, you may have to conquer another art altogether: the art of baking. But what can you do to ensure that your baking skills are up to snuff? Here are some tips on preparing your cake, your template, if you will, so that you can create something unique and beautiful.

Baking Your Very First Cake

Are you baking your very first cake so that you will have something to decorate? If you do not mind not baking from scratch, you may want to begin with a regular old cake mix from your local supermarket. These cake mixes in boxes may not be made from scratch, but they taste fine, bake easily and will get the job done. However, if you prefer to start from scratch, try to find an easy recipe to work with, the simper the better.

The Tricky Part – Removing Your Cake from the Oven

One of the toughest parts of baking the perfect cake comes at the very end when you are preparing to remove the cake from its pan. If you remove your lovely cake from its pan too early, you risk having the cake break up on you. But if you let it cool too long in its pan, you risk having the cake stick, which will then cause you to try to wrench it loose from the pan, which will then cause it too break. The trick is to wait just enough for it too cool off, but not cool entirely. Of course, it will depend on the type of cake that you have baked. In general, you will want to tap the bottom of the pan against the countertop to release any air pockets that may have formed. You can use a spatula or thin knife to edge around the pan, which can also allow the cake to be released more easily.

Prepare Your Work Station

You will want to prepare your work area so that the cake is easily accessible from all angles. The easiest and simplest option is to use a cardboard base that is at least one to two inches larger than the cake pan you are using. You can also use a plastic turntable.

Torte Your Cake, If You'd Like

If you'd like to torte your cake, now is the time to do it. What does "torting" a cake refer to? To make a torte cake means that you will be making it a four-layer cake. You will need a cake leveler or a knife in order to slice each layer of the cake in half. To torte your cake, use a knife to score the around the cake, and then use these guiding points to slice through the cake all the way. You can also use toothpicks to mark the areas where the cake is to be sliced. To use the toothpicks, simply insert them at regular intervals exactly midway around the cake's circumference. Then all you have to do is slice towards the toothpicks.

Preparing Your Cake to Be Decorated

To prepare your cake for the next step, make sure to brush away any loose crumbs. If you want to have the easiest time of it, you will want to freeze the different layers of the cake. Freezing your cake is one of the easiest ways to make sure that your cake is solid and easy to work with while you decorate.