What I’ve learned about icing layer cakes: A crumb layer is absolutely essential to a beautifully presented cake. A crumb layer is an initial thin layer of icing that seals in any straggling crumbs from your cake. I spread a thin layer of icing around my cakes and then chill to seal, before proceeding with my final flourishing layer of icing. In this recipe, you are dragging the icing with a palette knife to get the beautiful ridges so a crumb layer is crucial to a clean finish. Icing has to be exactly the right consistency and temperature. If it’s too cold it will be lumpy, too warm it will be liquidy. Make your icing right before you ice your cake, and you’ll be good to go.

Our senior food editor Phoebe Wood has the ultimate recipe, here.

Banana and white chocolate cake with vanilla seed cream cheese icing