Stenciling is an extremely effective way to add impressive decorations to your cakes and cookies quickly. For the best and most satisfying results, Lindy Smith recommends using laser-cut culinary stencils made from durable food-grade plastic. How you choose to add a stenciled pattern will depend on the effect you wish to achieve and the size of the item to be stencilled. This chapter, taken from The Contemporary Cake Decorating Bible , shows you various techniques using both edible dusts and royal icing; it also shows you how to make your own stencils and some possible other uses.
