Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Make A Buttercream Transfer

What do you love about Halloween?

One of the traditions I love is watching the Peanuts holiday special,
"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown".
I remember when I was a kid, looking forward to the one night it was broadcast each year.
If you weren't parked in front of the TV that one night, you missed it.

Now I watch the DVD with my kids whenever we want!
I love the story, I love the music and I love Linus!
How could you not adore a kid with such passion and commitment?

So, here is my ode to this classic Halloween story.
I made a buttercream transfer of Linus in the pumpkin patch.
Want to learn how to make one too?

 
First, decide what image you want to create. You can find it online and print it, or coloring pages are great templates. Use a photo editing program to "flip" your image before you print it (you want to make a reverse image) and size it for your cake. Tape your template to a piece of cardboard and tape wax paper on top of it.


Next comes your outline. To make black frosting, start with chocolate fudge frosting and add a little black food coloring gel. If you start with white frosting you will need LOTS of black gel...and eating it will give you black teeth! I used a Wilton #3 tip to pipe the outline. If you make a mistake, use a toothpick to remove that part. Notice how I didn't exactly follow the template and added a pumpkin? If your template isn't just what you want, you can just use it as a guide and improvise.


Now you get to color inside the lines! Make a batch of buttercream frosting, then divide up small amounts and add food coloring gel. Starting at the top of your transfer, pipe in your colors one at a time. Be sure to fill in all the empty spaces. For really tiny spaces, use a Wilton #1 tip.



When you are finished, put your buttercream transfer in the freezer. Then assemble and frost your cake. When the cake is ready, get out your transfer. Flip it over and place it gently on the cake. Next, put the whole cake in the freezer! Wait at least 30 minutes, then  take it out and slowly peel the wax paper off your transfer.


Enjoy!
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39 comments:

  1. Oh wow! I just love Peanuts! This is such a great cake!

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  2. LOVE it! I've always wondered how to do this! Newest follower!

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  3. I don't know how you even think of anything this great! LOVE your talent and creativity and yes, I love Linus too.

    xo
    Pat

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  4. This is GENIUS! Thanks so much for such a great tutorial! I pinned this :)

    Kara
    www.mineforthemaking.com
    www.pinterest.com/kararodgerson

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  5. What a great idea. Thanks for the tutorial. I pinned this!

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  6. Hi! I found you from Tatertots & Jello. I am making Its the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown cupcakes and have it on DVD. Nothing says Halloween like watching that! I love your tutorial, I have been wondering how Buttercream transfers were done. I am a new follower!

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  7. I love Peanuts... great tutorial!

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  8. I can't WAIT to try this!! Awesome cake and I am your newest follower!

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  9. That is stunning! Your tutorial makes it look easy as well! Thanks for sharing...I'm a follower!

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  10. LOVE IT! Do you have a go to recipe for the buttercream or fudge frosting?

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    1. I'd also like to know if you a have a go to recipe for fudge frosting. TIA

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  11. That is crazy amazing ... I would never have believed you could do that. I love your ideas ... I'm a new follower.

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  12. DARLING, I LOVE IT! great job. YOUR CAKES ARE AMAZING. winks-jen

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  13. Thanks so much for the tutorial. I never thought I could do an image like this, but the transfer idea is genius. I can't wait to try it. Looking forward to reading more posts. :D

    Hugs,
    Snoopy :D

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  14. I have always wanted to learn how to do cakes. Thanks for the great tutorials. I love all the details. Keep 'em coming.

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  15. This is great! I would love to try it! I'm a follower now, I love your cake ideas.

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  16. Amazing! I love learning something new. Now I just need to find time to try this out.

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  17. Yours looks amazing. I tried it, though, and it didn't work for me at all. :( Not sure what I did wrong.

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    1. When I have problems with a buttercream transfer, it is usually because I didn't let it set up long enough in the freezer. If it is too soft, it will stick to the wax paper. Don't give up!! :0)

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  18. This is brilliant! I can't wait to try it out!

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  19. This is such a GREAT idea!!! My mouth gaped open at the ideas of the possibilities... Thank you so much for sharing you ideas and tutorial!!!!

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    Replies
    1. You are very welcome, Jackie! I feel the same way...there are SO many possibilities with buttercream transfers. Have fun trying it out! :0)

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  20. I don't like The Peanuts, but I love your idea!! I'm not a good artist so I've often been disappointed because I can't do designs I'd love to. But this might be a wonderful way of trying it. Thank you!

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  21. Robin, I loooooove this! Thanks so much for sharing it at the Great Pumpkin Linky Party!! I pinned it for future reference. :) Just plain adorable {have I mentioned I love your blog}?!

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  22. O my goodness! I LOVE this! This is my absolute favorite Snoopy cartoon! You are soooooooo talented! Would love if you'd join our Countdown to Fall link party! Hope to see you there! Have a great night! :)
    http://dixie-n-dottie.blogspot.com/2012_09_03_archive.html

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  23. OK, like that is the coolest thing EVER. Thanks so much!!

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  24. Do you have the transfer image that we can download?
    I love how it looks with the extra pumpkin...but question
    my artistic abilities in pulling it off =0)

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  25. I had no idea you could do this with frosting. I've done this with chocolate, but buttercream, oh my, so may possibilities. Thanks for linking up to Hungry Happenings Halloween party!

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  26. you're a genius!!! and an artist!! Thank you SO much for sharing this! I'm happy to be following you on GFC :)

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  27. Thank you so much for this! Any time I had to do a picture on a cake, I would put a printout on the frosted cake, push through with a pin to trace the lines, then trace the lines & fill in with a star tip. Not only is this simpler, but provides much more professional looking results. This has saved my bacon a few times now!

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  28. My buttercream transfers NEVER look this good!! It's ADORABLE! And SUCH a good idea for a Halloween cake!

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  29. wow.. i love this lot..and thanks for sharing such a valuable cake decorating tips with us.

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  30. You are sooooo creative.. I hate to bake because a book just never gives u enough details. ! YOU NEED TO PUBLISH A BOOK! OMG ill take some cup cakes for that idea.. jaja thanks so much for your wonderful tutorials. Im soo happy I found it!

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  31. You are sooooo creative.. I hate to bake because a book just never gives u enough details. ! YOU NEED TO PUBLISH A BOOK! OMG ill take some cup cakes for that idea.. jaja thanks so much for your wonderful tutorials. Im soo happy I found it!

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  32. I love buttercream transfers. I usually buy black icing in a tube for the outlines though. I have never been able to make a true black or red icing and always buy them in a tube and save myself the aggravation of trying to make it.

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  33. Hi Robin, I know this is an old post but hopefully you can answer my question. Did you cover the whole transfer with buttercream backing to secure it? Thanks

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Your comments put a great BIG smile on my face!! Thanks for stopping by! :0)

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