How to Write on a Cake Like a Pro

How to Write Happy Birthday on a Cake

Happy Birthday, Cooking Channel!

For many happy occasions you’ll want to write a special sentiment on a cake. The problem is not what to say, but how to make it both legible and gorgeous. Everyone has had a good chuckle over the cakes on Cake Wrecks, but we want to avoid having our efforts resemble those mishaps. With a few tricks of the trade and a bit of practice, anyone can write on a cake like a pro.

Equipment and ingredients:
Parchment paper

Parchment paper pastry bag (or plastic disposable pastry bag fitted with a very small round tip)

1/2 cup chocolate, melted
Mayonnaise or smooth mustard for practicing
How to Write Happy Birthday on a Cake
  • If you are unsure of your handwriting or want to do something a bit fancy, I recommend finding an example of what you like and print it out. Cover the sheet of paper with parchment or wax paper, so you can clearly see the lettering beneath it.  You can use mayonnaise or smooth mustard to practice your writing. Use a parchment paper pastry bag or a pastry bag fitted with a very small round piping tip.
How to Write Happy Birthday on a Cake
  • Fill the bag about 1/2 way with the melted chocolate (mayonnaise or mustard for practicing) and snip a very small hole at the end of the bag, if using parchment. The trick is to get a nice clean cut and start very small; you can always make the hole larger if it is too small.
How to Write Happy Birthday on a Cake
  • Trace the letters, trying to get nice smooth lines. This exercise will give you practice writing with a steady hand before attempting it on the cake. Do this several times, until you feel comfortable writing in this style.
How to Write Happy Birthday on a Cake
  • Now you are ready to write on the cake, but before you start with the chocolate, draw the letters on the cake with a skewer. If you don’t get the spacing right on the first attempt it is easy to wipe the surface clean with a cake-decorating spatula. Now you can try it again. This step is particularly helpful when writing long messages like “Happy Graduation, Christopher!”  It can be tricky to fit it all on a small round cake and you may have to curve the words. No problem -- when you are sketching it out first, you can try and try again.
How to Write Happy Birthday on a Cake
  • Once you have the letters in the right place, trace them with the chocolate.
How to Write Happy Birthday on a Cake

And there you go: a perfectly written message on your cake.

More Baked Goods From Zoe:
  • No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake
  • Carrot Cupcakes
  • Linzer Cookies
  • Sweet, Cakey Banana Bread
  • Chocolate Chunk-Peanut Butter Cookies
  • Flourless Chocolate Torte
  • Spring Cupcakes
  • Lemon Meringue Cake

Zoë François, author of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day and Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day , studied at the Culinary Institute of America in New York. She now calls Minneapolis her home, where she has worked with some of the top talent in the culinary world — Steven Brown, Andrew Zimmern and many chefs at the D’Amico company. In addition to writing, Zoë teaches baking classes and consults at restaurants, and she maintains her baking blog, zoebakes.com . Her third book comes out in October, Artisan Pizza and Flatbreads in Five Minutes a Day .

Next Up

Beehive Cake

Learn how to make a beehive cake, the perfect dessert for a whimsical birthday party.

Mother's Day Cake

This stunning cake is bright and cheery, both in presentation and flavors. It's perfect for Mother’s Day!

Why I Like Using a Cleaver (More Than a Knife)

Santos Loo decided to make a cleaver the main tool in his kitchen. He shares new uses and tips for making a cleaver work harder in your kitchen.

The Icebox Cake, Reinvented

Cooking Channel reinvented this retro dessert to fit adult taste buds. Get our recipe for Caramel Icebox Cake with Bittersweet Chocolate Wafers.

Rustic Black Forest Cake

Make an easy black forest cake recipes (or cherry chocolate cake recipe) with these step-by-step tips from Cooking Channel.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Rightside Up

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake is popular, but why not serve the cake rightside up? Get Cooking Channel's recipe for Pineapple Rightside-Up Cake baked in mason jars.

Holiday Desserts: Coconut-Frosted Carrot Cake

Get Cooking Channel's best recipe for Coconut-Frosted Carrot Cake. This version is moist, sweet and has a complex combination of spices and zest.

On TV

Cheap Eats

7am | 6c

Cheap Eats

7:30am | 6:30c

Cheap Eats

8am | 7c

Cheap Eats

8:30am | 7:30c

Good Eats: Reloaded

9:30am | 8:30c

Good Eats

10am | 9c

Good Eats

10:30am | 9:30c

Good Eats

11am | 10c

Good Eats

11:30am | 10:30c
6pm | 5c
6:30pm | 5:30c
7pm | 6c
7:30pm | 6:30c
On Tonight
On Tonight
8pm | 7c
8:30pm | 7:30c
9pm | 8c
9:30pm | 8:30c
10pm | 9c
11pm | 10c
12am | 11c
12:30am | 11:30c
1am | 12c
1:30am | 12:30c
2am | 1c
3am | 2c
What's Hot

The Best Thing I Ever Ate

Sundays 10|9c

So Much Pretty Food Here