Ask Nancy

There are several ways to do this. Some decorators use a long-bladed spatula, run it under hot water, dry it off, then run the blade over the surface of the iced cake in a single, fluid motion. Another method some people find successful is to allow the icing to crust slightly, then lay a single sheet of parchment paper over the surface – either rub the parchment with the palm of your hand or use a warmed spatula and rub it over the surface When you remove the parchment, the surface is smooth and even.