Decorating A Ruffled Wedding Cake: Tips And Tricks

Ruffled wedding cakes are a unique and eye-catching choice for your big day. Whether you opt for oversized vertical ruffles or petite lines, ruffles can be added in any colour to match your theme. You can even mix and match, pairing a ruffle tier with one or two other styles. To create this delicate effect, you'll need a few tools, including a rolling pin, modelling tools, edible glue, and fondant. You can also use royal icing to attach the ruffles if they're not staying attached to the cake.

Using oversized ruffles to make your cake stand out

Oversized ruffles are a great way to make your wedding cake stand out. This style of cake decoration is perfect for those looking for an eye-catching design that will draw everyone over to the dessert table.

To create oversized ruffles, you can use a variety of tools, including a rolling pin, modelling tools, and an electronic sheeter. Cut out lots of hydrangea shapes and store them in a plastic zip lock bag until you are ready to thin and scrunch them. You can also cut out circles, squares, or petals to create a different effect.

When it comes to attaching the ruffles to the cake, a little brush of edible glue is usually enough. However, if your ruffles have set and will not stay attached, you can use royal icing.

If you want to be truly unique, consider going for oversized vertical ruffles. This 2019 wedding cake trend updates the look by applying the ruffles vertically, which creates a totally different end result compared to the traditional horizontal design.

How to attach ruffles to your cake with edible glue or royal icing

To attach ruffles to your cake with edible glue or royal icing, you will need to make sure that the ruffles are soft and that the cake has been frosted. You can use buttercream or fondant as a base for your ruffles.

If you are using edible glue, you will need to apply it sparingly to one side of the ruffle only. Hold the ruffle in place for a few moments until it takes. You may need to leave the piece overnight to dry thoroughly.

If you are using royal icing, you can use a piping bag to apply it to the side of the cake and the top. This is better for heavier ruffles that have set and will not stay attached with edible glue.

If you are piping ruffles, you will need to fit a decorating bag with a petal decorating tip and fill it half full or less with icing. Hold the bag at a 45-degree angle, with the wide end of the tip lightly touching the surface and the narrow end facing down and away from the surface. As you keep the wide end of the tip against the cake, move your wrist up to pull up the icing; move your wrist down to complete one wave of the ruffle.

You can also use an electronic sheeter to speed up the process.

Using a mix of ruffles and other styles to decorate your cake

If you want to decorate a wedding cake with ruffles, you can use a mix of ruffles and other styles. Firstly, frost your cake with a complete layer of buttercream, as is done under all fondant cakes. Then, cover your cake with fondant ruffles. You can add ruffles in any colour to match your theme. If you want to be unique, go for oversized vertical ruffles. You can also do a mix and match wedding cake and pair a ruffle tier with one or two other styles. For example, you could use a combination of circle, square and petal ruffles. To stick the soft ruffles to the cake, use a little brush of edible glue. If your ruffles have set a bit more and they will not stay attached to the cake, you can use royal icing.

Using fondant to create ruffles

To create ruffles using fondant, start by frosting your cake with a complete layer of buttercream. You can then cover the cake with fondant ruffles. To make the ruffles, cut out lots of hydrangea shapes and store them in a plastic zip lock bag until you are ready to thin and scrunch them. You can use a brush of edible glue to stick the soft ruffles to the cake, or use royal icing if the ruffles have set.

If you want to be unique, you could try oversized vertical ruffles, or a mix and match cake with a ruffle tier and one or two other styles. Most wedding cakes in this style feature petite lines of ruffles (around an inch thick), but you can ask your baker for oversized ruffles if you want something more dramatic and eye-catching.

Using a brush to thin and scrunch hydrangea shapes to create ruffles

To create a ruffled wedding cake, it is recommended to first frost your cake with a complete layer of buttercream, as is done under all fondant cakes. You can then cover the cake with fondant ruffles. You can add ruffles in any colour to match your theme.

If you want to create a unique cake, you could try using oversized vertical ruffles. You could also mix and match styles, pairing a ruffle tier with one or two other styles.

To create the ruffles, you can use a brush to thin and scrunch hydrangea shapes. Cut out lots of hydrangea shapes at once and store them in a plastic zip lock bag until you are ready to thin and scrunch them. You can then attach the ruffles to the cake using a little brush of edible glue. If your ruffles have set a bit more and won't stay attached, you can use royal icing.

Frequently asked questions