8. Stenciled Cocoa or Powdered Sugar Cake
Stenciling is one of the easiest ways to add a polished, professional-looking design to a cake without any piping skills. All you need is a stencil, a sifter, and a little cocoa powder or powdered sugar.
Place a paper or plastic stencil gently against the side or top of a frosted cake. Lightly sift cocoa powder, powdered sugar, or even colored sugar over the stencil using a fine-mesh sieve. Carefully lift the stencil away, and you’ll reveal a crisp, beautiful pattern.
You can find cake stencils in dozens of designs, from florals to geometric shapes to seasonal motifs like snowflakes or hearts. If you don’t have a stencil, you can make your own by cutting a design out of parchment paper with a craft knife. Materials include a frosted cake, a stencil, a fine-mesh sieve, and cocoa powder or powdered sugar. Time required is about 10 to 15 minutes, with a very low difficulty level. For the cleanest results, make sure your frosting is firm and cold before stenciling.