So time-consuming and complicated with creamsdecorated cakesLook too, the beautiful patterns are often much easier to make than you think. As long as you have the necessary accessories and a relatively steady hand, you can decorate your cakes yourself using a piping bag. Don't you believe us yet? Then read on, because on the one hand we would like to introduce you to the different piping bag attachments, called nozzles, and explain what each shape is used for and, on the other hand, we would like to show you a few instructions for simple but extremely impressive design ideas for the cake.
Decorating cakes with piping bags – what nozzles are there and what are they used for?
If you want to decorate cakes with a piping bag, you will of course also need suitable nozzles. These differ not only in their shapes, but also in their sizes. And of course each nozzle shape also comes with a different decoration. We will now introduce them to you and explain what nozzle is suitable for when decorating cakes with a piping bag.
Tipp:Before you create your decoration on the cake, we recommend a test run so that you get an idea of the size and shape of the nozzle. For example, first pipe a few decorations onto a piece of baking paper and practice.
The hole nozzle
The hole grommet is visually the simplest, but that shouldn't make you think it's the most boring. It is precisely their simplicity that allows them to be used for different things. As the name suggests, it is a simple round hole that can vary in size. With it you can:
- write (thin perforated nozzle, also called writing nozzle, for fine lines)
- draw delicate lines and patterns
- Design dots, dots (e.g. for the middle of flowers or dots lined up to create a pearl look) with a larger perforated nozzle or use them for fillings
Decorating cakes with a piping bag - idea and instructions with a perforated nozzle
This cake is proof that nothing has to be complicated to make cakes look stunning. In addition to a simple, large perforated nozzle, all you need is a cake spatula. Starting at the bottom, pipe a dot on the side of the cake and use the spatula to move it to the side. Then repeat with the next point and so on until you get back to the beginning. Then move on to the next row, which should slightly overlap the previous one.
Also at the top of the cake, start on the outside and work your way inwards, arranging the dots in a circle. It is best to use a slightly softer cream when decorating the cakes in this way with a piping bag. Then it will be easier to brush aside.
Use a piping bag with a star nozzle
Another classic among the piping bag attachments that no piping bag set is missing is the star nozzle, because it can also be used to create great patterns. The opening at the bottom has spikes. There are two types of star nozzles: the closed and the open star nozzle. The difference is that on the closed star nozzle the prongs are slightly curved inwards, while on the open star nozzle they are straight. Piping bag nozzle patterns are created with grooves that are more or less large depending on the nozzle size. With this type of nozzle you can decorate cakes in the following ways using a piping bag:
- shell-like shapes
- star-shaped “blobs”
- Rose look made from a continuous, spiral-shaped line with a closed and large star nozzle
- small flowers with closed star nozzle
- Decorate cakes with cream tuffs (nozzles with few spikes)
Example of decoration with an open star nozzle with straight points
Piping Bags and Tips – French Tip
The French nozzle is basically nothing more than a star nozzle, except that it is particularly finely serrated. This naturally creates patterns with a particularly large number of grooves. Both star and perforated nozzles are suitable not only for firmer but also for softer creams. For example, if you want to decorate a cake and pipe cream on it, these attachments are ideal.
Decorate cakes with buttercream cacti
Isn't this cake just beautiful? You can design such cacti with a fine, open star nozzle (e.g. French nozzle). You can get the flowers particularly well and quickly with a closed star nozzle. To do this, create a simple blob that you can turn slightly at the end. You can also use piping bag nozzles that are used for petals (see below) and form your own flowers. To make the sand, simply crumble up a few cookies.
Flower nozzle for decorating cakes with a piping bag
Sooner or later you will definitely want to decorate cakes with flowers using a piping bag. Then the petal nozzle can come in handy. There are two models: one with a straight opening and the other with a more oval opening that resembles a drop. However, many other variants are possible for both, such as with teeth or slightly indented on one side, which also affects the shape of the petals.
You can do that to her if youDecorate cakes with piping bags:
- individual petals and whole flowers
- Roses with piping bag
- Ribbons and bows
- Garlands like the last cake in the example with a star nozzle
Decorate cakes with the leaf nozzle using a piping bag
Where there are flowers, the leaves are not far away either. Although flowers don't always have to have leaves, these nozzles are a welcome addition if you want to create cake decorations with a piping bag and especially flowers. They are narrow like flower spouts, but usually have additional slits to imitate the leaf veins. A wide variety of leaf shapes are possible. You can pipe them directly onto the cake or onto cling film and spread them over the cake once they are firm.
Leaves can also be made without a leaf nozzle and with a simple hole nozzle. Here are a few ideas for decorating cakes with a piping bag without a leaf nozzle:
Basket spout
Like the flower nozzles, basket spouts have a narrow opening, but have a smooth and a jagged side. They are often used to decorate the sides of cakes. Weave patterns for the look of baskets can also be made with this attachment.
Spaghetti nozzle
The piping bag technique with a spaghetti nozzle is also very effective and very simple. This attachment is not necessarily standard for decorating cakes with a piping bag, but it is practical if you often decorate baked goods and like to try out new things. The nozzle itself is round, but the opening is closed. There are only a few holes through which the cream can come out in the form of threads. The number of holes varies, as does their shape. What is this piping bag attachment useful for?
- Spaghetti
- threads
- Fell
- Gras
- small dots/beads
Russian nozzle for effective motifs and more
The Russian Tips are intended to create a specific motif in one place. Accordingly, there are a wide variety of motifs, including tulips, snowflakes, roses, Christmas motifs and more. The Russian tips also include the ruffle tulle and ball tulle. Solid buttercream works best with these attachments.
In the video you can see a few examples of this type of grommets.
Decorating cakes with piping bags – ideas and quick instructions
We have put together a few more suggestions below on how you can easily decorate cakes with piping bags and nozzles. Of course, we also noted again which attachment is needed for each cake decoration. No matter whether you fill simple cream into the piping bag (stabilized cream) to decorate or use any cupcake cream, buttercream, meringue, white chocolate buttercream or cream mascarpone, the decoration is guaranteed to be a real success even for beginners!
Fantastic floral decoration
- open star nozzles with many points (French) for the smaller white and pink flowers
- Flower nozzles for the petals of the larger purple flowers with pearls and the orange flowers (or closed star nozzles)
- large, closed star nozzles or ball nozzles (Russian nozzles) for the roses
Ornate spirals
- Large, closed star nozzles or ball nozzles - start along the edge and draw a line without interruption to the beginning, then repeat inside and make several circles to the middle
Decorate cakes with piping bags for cream tuffs
- Position the closed star nozzle and pull it upwards in circular movements to the desired height
- You can add some pizzazz, for example by using effective onesGelatin balls in bright colorsput on the cake
Large flowers with stabilized cream
- Russian ball nozzle
- Place on baking paper in one place and squeeze out cream; Gently turn the piping bag back and forth until you have the desired number of layers
- Pick it up with a spatula and place it on the cake (or pipe it directly onto the cake)
Lush and delicate at the same time
- Small, closed star nozzle (this cake took 5 hours to decorate)
Polka Dot Kuchen
- Simple perforated nozzle in any size; you can also combine several sizes
Simple cake decoration with buttercream in a loop look
- Smaller, open star nozzle - a closed one is also possible, but then the grooves are not as effective
- work from top to bottom, making sure that the vertical line after each loop is at the same height as before the loop
Decorate cakes with simple hearts using a piping bag
- French nozzle
- Neutral hearts and only a colored one here and there as an accent are very effective
Make ombre cake with piping bag
- Basket nozzle and hole nozzle
- pipe different colored “ribbons” along the sides with the basket nozzle (from light to dark or vice versa and the jagged side down)
- Use a cake spatula to smooth out the frosting and create even transitions for theCreate an ombre look
- Use a perforated nozzle to pipe drops as decoration for the edge of the cake; To do this, hold down the piping bag briefly to create the base of the drop and then pull it upwards without piping
Cactus cake
- open, French star nozzle
- any nozzle for flowers (in the example for chrysanthemums)
- spray from bottom to top
- greenCake fondantRoll between the hands for the “arms” of thedecorative cactus, insert wooden skewers and then stick them into the cake
- Decorate with a piping bag from the inside out like the cake
- Design any flowers on the cake and eyes and mouth with black fondant as desired
Decorate cakes with piping bags - Beautiful cake with flower petals
- any petal nozzle (in the example Wilton #104)
- Start at the bottom and create either a row of individual petals or a wavy “ribbon” all the way around; the next row should overlap the previous one
- Pipe petals onto the cake - from the outside to the inside
