Once cake has its top coat, fill a bowl with 2 cups finely ground nuts, coconut shavings, or candy sprinkles. Slide offset spatula underneath cake board to loosen it from stand and scoot it, with cake, onto your hand. Hold cake over the bowl and lightly press a handful of nuts, shavings, or sprinkles up side of cake, moving from bottom to top; they will instantly stick to frosting. “This covers up every mistake—it’s fantastic.” Rotate the cake to finish encrusting.