I love the Viva Paper Towel Method for smoothing frosted cakes!
This technique works best on a cake frosted with a crusting buttercream (American-style buttercream such as our Classic Vanilla Buttercream). Using a paper towel that has no quilting or impressions, you can quickly and easily achieve a very smooth finish on buttercream-frosted cakes.
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What is the Viva Paper Towel Method of Smoothing Buttercream?
The Viva method uses a smooth, non-quilted paper towel to gently buff the surface of a cake that has been covered in crusting buttercream. Because the frosting forms a thin crust, it won’t cling to the towel; instead, lightly moving the towel across the surface evens out small imperfections and creates a silky finish.
This process works on both the sides and top of the cake and is quick and satisfying—many bakers find it addictive once they try it.
Why are Viva Brand Paper Towels Needed for this Cake Decorating Technique?
Viva brand paper towels are ideal because they are completely smooth and free of quilting or embossed patterns. Any paper towel or napkin that is similarly smooth and without impressions will work just as well.
What is a Crusting Buttercream?
A crusting buttercream develops a very thin, dry surface after being exposed to air for about 10 minutes (sometimes sooner). This slight crust is barely noticeable when eating, but it allows you to touch the frosting lightly without pulling it away from the cake.
That thin crust is what makes it possible to smooth the frosting with a paper towel: the towel glides over the surface and removes minor bumps, leaving a cleaner, smoother finish.
Other Methods of Smoothing and Decorating Cakes
Another popular technique I use is the Hot Knife Method, which involves smoothing frosting on a chilled cake with a very hot spatula. Both the Viva method and the Hot Knife Method are excellent; try each to discover which you prefer for different projects.
Textured Buttercream is a Great Option Also
When I first started cake decorating, smooth finishes were the norm. Today, textured and rustic finishes are equally popular, along with decorative piping. Explore different styles and choose the approach that suits your aesthetic and the look you want to achieve for each cake.
Materials used in our viva method tutorial
For the demo shown here we used an 8-inch, three-layer cake made from a White Almond Sour Cream (WASC) recipe. The frosting in the video is our High Ratio Buttercream, but any crusting buttercream will work—Classic Buttercream or Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream are good alternatives.
- Cardboard cake circle or 1/2″ foam core board cut to cake size
- Small spatula(s)
- Bench scraper
- Fondant smoother (optional)
- Viva brand paper towels or any completely smooth, non-embossed paper towel/napkin
Tip: Make sure the crumb-coated cake is at room temperature before applying the final coat of frosting; if the cake is too cold, the buttercream may not crust properly and the Viva method won’t be as effective.
Tie Dye Cake—Colorful Example of Viva Method of Smoothing
We used the Viva Paper Towel Method when creating a colorful Tie Dye Cake. For that project, colored buttercream was piped onto the cake, allowed to crust briefly, and then smoothed with a paper towel to blend and refine the surface.
The same smoothing approach has been used in other tutorials, including leopard-print buttercream cupcakes and camo cupcakes—pipe the colors, let them crust, then smooth lightly for a polished result.
Enjoy experimenting with this simple, effective technique and see how it can elevate the look of your buttercream cakes.