Icing A Wedding Cake: Piping Techniques For Beginners

Piping icing onto a wedding cake is a great way to add a decorative touch to your big day. Whether you're an expert or a beginner, there are a variety of piping techniques you can use to create elegant designs. From royal icing flowers to intricate scrollwork, the possibilities are endless. You can even pipe words and messages onto your cake using a round piping tip. With the right tools and a little practice, you'll be able to pipe like a pro and create a wedding cake that's both delicious and beautiful.

Piping scrolls

To get started, you'll need a piping bag and a small piping tip. If you're a beginner, it's a good idea to buy a piping tip kit, which will include a range of tips for creating different shapes and designs. For piping scrolls, a round piping tip is a good option. Choose a tip that is large enough for the icing to flow through easily, but small enough to give you precise control over the shape of your scrolls.

When you're ready to pipe, simply squeeze the bag to release the icing, then pull up and away to form the scroll shape. For a more natural look, pull the tip slightly to the left or right instead of straight up. Remember to keep the scrolls close together so that the cake doesn't show through.

With practice, you'll be able to pipe elegant scrolls like a pro!

Piping flowers

To pipe flowers effectively, it is recommended to use a small piping tip kit. These kits typically include a variety of tips in different sizes and shapes, allowing for more creativity and precision. For piping flowers, a round piping tip is ideal, as it allows for smooth and controlled icing flow without breaking.

When piping flowers, it is important to consider the technique and movement of the piping bag. For example, to create petals, you can squeeze the bag to release the icing and then pull up and away to form the desired shape. Adjusting the direction of the tip slightly to the left or right can create a more natural and organic look.

Additionally, piping flowers onto toothpicks or wire before inserting them into the cake can add dimension and depth to your design. This technique allows you to create freestanding flowers that can be placed and arranged as desired. Practising different piping techniques and experimenting with various tips will help you master the art of piping flowers and create stunning wedding cake decorations.

Piping words and messages

You can pipe letters over templates, dry them, and then place them on the cake. This is a good method if you want to practice beforehand, or if you want to ensure that your message is perfect.

If you want to pipe directly onto the cake, it's important to keep clusters of icing close together so that the cake doesn't show through. You can also create texture by pulling the piping tip slightly to the left or right to create a more natural look.

Royal icing is a good option for intricate piping as it dries hard and can be used to create delicate drop strings, flowers, and more.

Piping grass or fur

Royal icing is a popular choice for intricate piping designs. It is pure white and hardens as it dries, making it perfect for creating delicate details such as drop strings, flowers, snowflakes, and borders. However, it is not commonly used as an icing for the entire cake, especially in the U.S. Instead, it is often used to pipe decorations that can be mounted on wire, lace, or inserted into the cake.

Buttercream is another option for piping designs onto a wedding cake. It is currently a popular trend and can be used to create beautiful and elegant scroll designs. Mich Turner of London’s Little Venice Cake Company is known for her exquisite scroll piping designs, which she demonstrates in her book, *Mich Turner’s Cake Masterclass: The Ultimate Guide to Cake Decorating Perfection*.

If you are a beginner, it is recommended to start with a small piping tip kit. These kits usually include the most commonly used tips for creating fun shapes and designs. For piping words and messages, a #3 round piping tip is ideal as it allows the icing to flow through without breaking, while also keeping the letters distinct and easy to read.

Piping snowflakes

Piping icing onto a wedding cake can be done in a variety of ways, using different tips and techniques to create different shapes and designs. For example, you can pipe scrolls, flowers, leaves, snowflakes, borders and string work.

If you are a beginner, it is recommended to buy a small piping tip kit, which will include the best standard piping tips for general use, as well as some other commonly used tips for creating fun shapes and designs. For piping words and messages, a #3 round piping tip is recommended.

To pipe snowflakes, you can start by piping random half snowflakes onto the base of each layer, forming a border. You can then pipe a basic beaded border at the very base of each layer to tie it all together.

Frequently asked questions