Glossy Buttercream

• Traditional buttercream frosting consists of whipped sugar, butter and egg whites. The texture of buttercream is smooth and fluffy. To achieve a shiny finish, some bakers suggest dipping a spatula in warm water and lightly smoothing it over the icing, but the effect is only temporary and will fade as the icing absorbs the moisture. To achieve a more lasting shine, brush diluted confectioner's glaze over the icing.
  
  

Glossy Fondant

• Fondant is a sugar syrup that is crystallized to form a paste. It is a favorite among cake decorators for its versatility. The malleability of fondant allows cake decorators to both cover the cake in a smooth finish and create intricate, three-dimensional figures. Fondant paints and dyes are available to create custom colors and finishes. There are a variety of methods cake decorators employ to make fondant shiny. CakeDecorations.com recommends steaming dried fondant with an iron. Just hold the iron a bit away from the cake and press the steam button. Another suggestion is to spray dried fondant with an oil-based cooking spray, or brush the area with a fondant luster dust.
  
  

Glossy Ganache

• Ganache is a simple and versatile icing made from equal parts of chocolate and cream. To create it, heat cream in a double boiler, then add chocolate and various flavored liqueurs. Ganache is glossy on its own, but the addition of a small amount of butter or corn syrup can enhance the shine.
  
  

Glossy Royal Icing

• Royal icing is typically used on wedding cakes. Cream of tartar is added to beaten egg whites and powdered sugar to produce a rich, thick frosting that dries to a matte finish. Add a small amount of corn syrup to your royal icing recipe to enhance the shine, but use a glaze as an alternative to royal icing when you prefer a glossy finish.