Create Professional Looking Birthday Cakes with a Cricut Machine
New advances in cake decorating technology make it simple to create beautiful birthday cakes. Personal home die-cutting machines like the Cricut machine, make decorating very easy and fun for the whole family. 
Cartridges
Cricut cake decorating machines and other small die-cutting machines use a cartridge to dictate the shape of the decoration. Just insert the cartridge and indicate the size needed from ¼ inch to nearly 24 inches. The machine cuts perfect shapes from rolled out fondant or gum paste that easily peel off the provided mat and decorate birthday cakes in style. Each cartridge has hundreds of shapes from which to choose including animals and other characters, geometric designs and letters.
Icing
Gum paste and fondant icing works the best with the cake decorating die-cut machines. Use ready made frosting or make your own. Paste food coloring can be kneaded into the icing to make colors, but do not use regular food coloring because it is liquid and makes the icing sticky. Roll fondant or gum paste out 1/8 to 1/16 inch thick on the provided plastic mat that has been greased with shortening. Keep it inside the edges so it won’t get caught in the rollers. Gum Paste usually rolls out easier than fondant but the flavor is not as pleasant. Keep both icings covered when not in use to keep them pliable. If a crust forms over the icing it will not cut sharply so roll quickly.
Using the Machine
To decorate perfect cakes place the mat with rolled icing in the freezer for a short time. The machine cuts rigid material better than soft icing and the edges will be much cleaner. Insert the blade and cartridge into the machine. All internal parts of the machine are plastic or stainless steel making it safe for food. Do not use a paper Cricut machine when making food items as it is made with other materials. Choose the size and shape desired then place the mat with the rolled icing into the machine. Press start and wait until the mat goes through the machine and stops. Peel off the cut outs and dab some butter cream frosting on the back to stick them on the cake.
Decorating the Cake
Make 3D designs by stacking shapes on top of each other using frosting as glue to keep them together. Gum paste makes better 3D effects because it dries hard while fondant keeps some of its pliability.
It takes a little practice to get everything right and produce spectacular cakes in a snap. Wash the removable blade and all tools in the dishwasher, but clean the mat by hand and wipe the machine down with a damp rag. Brush the blades with the provided brush and wipe with a damp rag after unplugging the machine. Do not be surprised if the dies cut into the mat a bit. Mats are something that must be replaced after so many uses.
