Learn how to use piping tips with this easy-to-understand Piping Tips 101 guide and decorating tutorial. I break down all the complicated information so you can learn how to decorate cakes and cupcakes like a professional. These are my 5 go-to EASY piping tips.
Learn How to Use Piping Tips
Here’s a quick and very honest backstory. I’ve never felt super talented at cake and cupcake decorating because it’s extremely intimidating. Do you feel the same way? Bored with my usual swirl and knife-swiped frosting looks, I began playing around with different piping tips. As I started using new tips, my confidence shot up. And, as it turns out, I was pleasantly surprised with how EASY it was/is to create beautifully decorated confections.
A couple years ago, I would have laughed if someone asked me to create a plate of cupcakes like this:
But I just threw myself into it and had a lot of fun in the process. And so can you!
Piping Tips 101 Video Tutorial
5 Basic & Beautiful Piping Tips
Piping tips might seem intimidating, so let’s break everything down in this simple piping tips 101 course. It takes a little practice, some visual guidance, and a really dependable frosting recipe like my sturdy creamy vanilla buttercream, or this not so sweet whipped frosting. I gravitate towards the following 5 piping tips. Each create a completely different look, so that’s why it’s a wonderful starter collection. (And these tips won’t break the bank—they’re each pretty inexpensive.)
- Wilton 1M (large open star)
- Wilton 8B (another large open star)
- Ateco 849 (XL, wide closed star)
- Wilton 12 (small, narrow round)
- Ateco 808 (large, wide round)
One note: I create TWO looks with the Wilton 1M. That’s the tip I use and recommend for two-toned frosting roses, but it’s also the tip I use to create soft-serve looking swirls as shown in the video tutorial above.
1. Wilton 1M – Rose
Wilton 1M is a classic piping tip and the buttercream rose is a staple decoration. Start in the center and pipe a flat swirl. You can see this lovely rose decoration on this 6 inch birthday cake. You can also create two-toned frosting roses. They’re gorgeous and it’s a lot of fun to play around with different colors. And to prove Wilton 1M’s versatility even more, you can use it to make hydrangea cupcakes too! It’s a piping tip I always recommend as a gift for a baker and we included it on my Gifts for Bakers page. 🙂
- Similar piping tips: Ateco 849 and Wilton 2D can produce the same look. In fact, any piping tip labeled “star tip” can produce a buttercream rose. Some tips are wider to create larger roses and some tips are more narrow to create smaller roses. Does that make sense?
2. Wilton 1M – Tall Swirl
Wilton 1M can also produce a decoration that resembles soft serve ice cream. Start in the center and move slowly around, building a tall swirl on top of itself. Ateco 849 piping tip (also listed below) is a little wider, but produces a similar look. I used Wilton 1M to pipe tall swirls on these chocolate cupcakes.
3. Wilton 8B
Wilton 8B is one of my all-time favorites. It’s very easy to use, but creates a beautiful decoration. You can see I used it on these white chocolate strawberry cupcakes and these chai latte cupcakes. Start in the center and swirl upward.
4. Ateco 849
Ateco 849 is a wide piping tip. You can make a rose or a soft-serve swirl, just like the Wilton 1M above. (Since this tip is wider, the rose and swirl would be wider/larger. You can see a wider tall swirl using Ateco 849 on these yellow cupcakes and these peanut butter cupcakes.) Or you can create a super easy ruffled look as shown in the next picture. You can see the ruffled look on my pistachio cupcakes, too! Just press the tip in the center and lift up while pushing frosting out.
5. Wilton 12
Wilton 12 is a small round tip. Since it doesn’t have any detailed edges, I love using this tip for silky/thin/creamy frostings such as salted caramel frosting and cream cheese frosting. You can see an example of it on my Easter cupcakes and these lemon cupcakes with blackberry cream cheese frosting. Just press the tip in the center and lift up while pushing frosting out.
6. Ateco 808
Ateco 808 is also a round tip, but it’s much larger than Wilton 12. Its decoration looks like a big fluffy cloud! You can see an example of it on these carrot cake cupcakes and these cookie dough cupcakes. Start in the center and swirl upward.
Other Tools Required
If you’re piping frosting, you also need piping bags. Here are my preferences:
- 16-Inch Disposable Piping Bags (I also like this 100 pack, too)
- 16-Inch Reusable Piping Bag
Pick up reusable or disposable, whichever you prefer. The reusable piping bags are very easy to clean. Whichever you use, I recommend the 16 inch size. It’s a great size whether you’re adding a lot of piped decoration or even a little.
How to Fill Piping Bags
It can be pretty difficult to fill a piping bag with creamy frosting without making a mess! My trick is to use a big cup. Fit the piping bag with a piping tip, then place it in a large cup, folding the top of the piping bag around the rim of the cup. Watch me do this in my two-toned frosting roses video.
Now that you’re totally equipped with this piping tips 101 guide, go pipe some frosting LIKE A BOSS! (Ateco 849 used below!)
These piping tips work perfectly for other frostings like Swiss meringue buttercream, chocolate buttercream, not-so-sweet whipped frosting, and even my sturdy whipped cream recipe.
If you’re interested in how to decorate with royal icing, see my full tutorial on how to decorate sugar cookies.
Print
How to Use Frosting Piping Tips
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2.5 cups
- Category: Frosting
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Description
Discover how to use a few popular piping tips using this vanilla buttercream recipe. It’s creamy and smooth, and tastes unbelievable on vanilla cupcakes! You can pipe it on cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and other confections.
Ingredients
Vanilla Buttercream
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 4 – 5 cups (480-600g) confectioners’ sugar (see note)
- 1/4 cup (60ml) heavy cream, half-and-half, or whole milk, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- salt, to taste
Decorating Tools
Instructions
- With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add 4 and 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, the heavy cream, and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase to medium-high speed and beat for 2 full minutes. Taste. Add a pinch of salt if frosting is too sweet. I always add 1/8 teaspoon.
- Adjust if needed: You can control the consistency at this point—add up to 1/2 cup more confectioners’ sugar if frosting is too thin or more heavy cream if frosting is too thick (add only 1 Tablespoon at a time, beat together, then taste and add more if desired).
- Select your desired piping tip from the list above, and have your cake, cupcakes, or other confections cooled and ready. Here are all of my cake recipes and cupcake recipes.
- Fill your piping bag: It can be pretty difficult to fill a piping bag with creamy frosting without making a mess. My trick is to use a big cup. Fit the piping bag with your desired piping tip, then place it in a large cup, folding the top of the piping bag around the rim of the cup.
- Wilton 1M: Wilton 1M is a classic piping tip and the buttercream rose is a staple decoration. Start in the center and, using medium pressure, pipe a flat swirl. You can see this lovely rose decoration on this 6 inch birthday cake. You can also create two-toned frosting roses. You can also produce a decoration that resembles soft serve ice cream. Start in the center and, using medium pressure, move the tip slowly around, building a tall swirl on top of itself.
- Wilton 8B: Wilton 8B is very easy to use, but creates a beautiful decoration. Start in the center and, using medium pressure, swirl upward. You can see I used it on these white chocolate strawberry cupcakes and these chai latte cupcakes.
- Ateco 849: Ateco 849 is a wide piping tip. You can make a rose or a soft-serve swirl, just like the Wilton 1M above. (Since this tip is wider, the rose and swirl would be wider/larger. You can see a wider tall swirl using Ateco 849 on these confetti cupcakes and these peanut butter cupcakes.) Or you can create a super easy ruffled look as shown on these pistachio cupcakes. Just press the tip in the center and, using medium pressure, lift up while pushing frosting out.
- Wilton 12: Wilton 12 is a small round tip. Since it doesn’t have any detailed edges, I love using this tip for silky/thin/creamy frostings such as salted caramel frosting and cream cheese frosting. You can see an example of it on these Easter cupcakes and these lemon cupcakes with blackberry cream cheese frosting. Just press the tip in the center and, using medium pressure, lift up while pushing frosting out.
- Ateco 808: Ateco 808 is also a round tip, but it’s much larger than Wilton 12. Its decoration looks like a big fluffy cloud! You can see an example of it on these carrot cake cupcakes and these cookie dough cupcakes. Start in the center and, using medium pressure, swirl upward.
Notes
- Storage & Freezing: Use prepared frosting immediately or cover tightly and store for up to 1 week in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer. After freezing, thaw in the refrigerator then beat the frosting on medium speed for a few seconds so it’s creamy again. After thawing or refrigerating, beating in a splash of heavy cream or milk will help thin the frosting out again, if needed.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand Mixer) | Piping Bag (Disposable or Reusable) | Wilton 1M (large open star) | Wilton 8B (another large open star) | Ateco 849 (XL, wide closed star) | Wilton 12 (small, narrow round) | Ateco 808 (large, wide round)
- Quantity: This recipe is enough to frost 12-16 cupcakes or a thin layer on a 9×13 inch quarter sheet cake. Follow the ratios written in this white cake for a two layer cake, or for a three layer cake use the ratios in this confetti cake.
- Confectioners’ Sugar: If your confectioners’ sugar is particularly lumpy, I recommend sifting it 1-2x before measuring and using.
- Heavy Cream: I love using heavy cream for the creamiest consistency. You can use half-and-half or whole milk instead if needed. The lower the fat, the less creamy your buttercream will be. Whichever you use, make sure it’s at room temperature. Otherwise your frosting could separate or appear grainy.
Reader Comments and Reviews
I absolutely love all your content!
Need to practice the whipping technique but this tips are lovely.