Frosting a square cake with buttercream is one of the hardest things to achieve. Square cakes can make or break you am I right? It is so frustrating, especially when you see all the perfectly square cakes on Instagram and Pinterest. They make it look so effortless. Guess what? It is not difficult at all. In this tutorial, I will show you how to frost a square cake with buttercream, achieve a smooth side and a sharp edge.

So… How do you frost a square cake?

There are many methods to frost a cake, such as the upside down method and/or using the acrylic disc (which I use as well and I love using them). But, I find this method works best for me. It is so easy to use, saves so much time and you don’t have to buy extra tools. Win, win.

If you have frosted any cakes especially a square cake you know that you can spend a long time trying to make it perfect. It seems that while you achieve a smooth side, the corners almost always seem to get messed up. I have a solution for this as well.

The method that I use is similar to the one I used in these posts how to frost a round cake with buttercream and how to ganache a cake. However, the only exception is how to handle the sides. Practice makes perfect, over time you will notice that it will get easier and you will get faster at it.

This page may contain affiliate links which mean that if you make a purchase from any links directed from this website I may earn a small commission. I only recommend things that I use and love and the classes I have taken. Thank you very much for your ongoing support.

Materials you will need

• 1 batch Buttercream (a little over 4 cups) or any buttercream of choice for recipes see here
• 6-inch Square cake that has been filled
• A turntable (I use this one by Ateco and I absolutely love it)
• Large offset spatula
• Bench scraper
• 2 6-inch square cake boards
• A level (I use a small level, but you can use a larger one as well)
• Wax paper (optional)
• Nonstick pad (optional)
• Paring knife

Things you need to consider when you frost a square cake

A 6-inch square cake is much larger than a 6-inch round cake and therefore, it uses more frosting. Don’t skimp on the frosting. I prefer and recommend using a silky smooth buttercream such as an Italian Meringue buttercream. However, you can use an American buttercream just make sure the frosting is smooth with no bubbles.

The tools that you need the most are the bench scraper and a turntable. You can get bench scrapers at the Dollar Tree for $1. So I have three turntables but I love using the Ateco turntable because it has a lot of height and a nonstick bottom.

Another tool that you absolutely need is a level. A level makes sure the cake is flat and prevents the cake from leaning. I love my level and don’t know what I would do without it is well worth the $2 I paid at the hardware store.

Steps to frost a square cake

• If you would like to save your cake board for another time, I highly suggest covering it with plastic wrap. This step is completely optional. To do this take a square cake board and cover with plastic wrap. Then pull the plastic wrap as tight as you can and tape the plastic wrap on the back of the board.
• 
  

  Now for the Cake:

• Place a piece of wax paper on the cake turntable and add a nonstick pad on top.
• Trim the edges all around the cake maybe about a half inch. It’s ok if the cake looks a little wonky we will fix it later.
• Add a lot of frosting to the top and smooth out with an offset spatula.
• Then add your cake board to the top and press down. Make sure the boards line up all around the cake.
• Place the level on top in all directions to make sure it is completely leveled. Then secure the cake board with frosting.
• Add frosting all around the cake and smooth with a bench scraper.
• If you look closely you will see frosting at the edge. Leave it that way (that’s the secret). Place it in the refrigerator to chill.
• After the cake is chilled use a knife and remove the top board and trim the excess frosting on the side. Run your offset spatula under some warm water and remove water and smooth out the sides. Remove frosting from the spatula each time.
• Fill the top with some frosting. Place your knife on the top of the cake and trim all around until you are happy with the results.
• Use a warm spatula to smooth out any areas that you missed. This is where you tend to spend a lot of time. You decide when it’s time to step away.
• That’s it you are done.
• 
• 

If you like this post don’t forget to share the love.