How to Get Smooth Buttercream Sides with a Turntable and Scraper

Smooth buttercream sides make any cake look professional, and a rotating turntable does most of the work for you.

What you need

• A rotating cake turntable
• A bench scraper or cake comb
• An offset spatula
• Cooled, levelled cake layers and plenty of buttercream

Step 1: Level and stack

Trim the domed tops so each layer is flat. Stack them on a cake board with an even layer of buttercream between each one.

Step 2: Crumb coat

Spread a thin layer of buttercream over the whole cake to trap loose crumbs. It doesn't need to look pretty. Chill for 20–30 minutes until firm.

Step 3: Add the final coat

Use the offset spatula to apply a generous layer of buttercream all around the sides and on top. More is better here; you'll scrape the extra away.

Step 4: Scrape while spinning

1. Hold the scraper straight up, with its edge lightly touching the buttercream at about a 45° angle.
2. Keep your scraper hand still and spin the turntable with the other hand.
3. Wipe the scraper clean after each pass. Fill any gaps with a little more buttercream and scrape again.

Step 5: Sharp top edge

You'll have a ridge of buttercream around the top. Chill briefly, then use the offset spatula to pull that ridge in toward the centre for a clean edge.

Troubleshooting

• Air bubbles? Stir your buttercream by hand for a minute before using it.
• Crumbs showing? Your crumb coat wasn't chilled long enough.
• Uneven sides? Keep the scraper still and let the turntable move.

Find turntables, scrapers and pans in our baking tools collection.