Advertisement
  • Newsletter
  • Subscribe
How-To

How To Pipe Icing Like A Pro

Decorate the cake of your dreams with these hot tips on piped frosting.
By Chantal Braganza
Pipe icing petal tip #103

Produced By Aimee Nishitoba. Photo, Christie Vuong. Food styling, Michelle Lucas Larving. Prop Styling, Madeleine Johari.

Want to decorate a cake like our cover stunner? Here are nine easy methods using just three piping tips. The technique doesn’t have to be perfect—just expressive. Have fun with it!

Pipe icing petal tip #103

Petal Tip #103

How To Pipe Icing Like A Pro

Petal tip scallop: Hold bag at a 45-degree angle facing you, with tip half an inch from surface and larger side facing down. Pipe a U-shaped swoop, stopping at top to anchor line before repeating.

A vertical ruffle design of icing using a petal tip

Petal tip vertical ruffle: Hold bag at a 5-o’clock angle from where you’d like the line to start, with larger side facing down. Using gentle, consistent pressure, pipe in a tight up-and-down zigzag pattern.

A horizontal ruffle design of icing using a petal tip

Petal tip horizontal ruffle: Hold bag at a 45-degree angle facing the opposite direction you’re piping in. Pipe in a tight up-and-down motion, as if you’re drawing small, angular hills.

Advertisement
Pipe icing open star tip #32

Open Star #32

A drop design of icing using an open star tip

Open star drop: Hold piping bag straight up with tip half an inch from surface. Squeeze gently to form a star; release pressure and gently pull away from drop.

A scalloped design of icing using an open star tip

Open star scallop: This method is very similar to the horizontal ruffle. You’ll want to use controlled pressure when piping the crest of the scallop to get an even shape on each bulb.

An angled drop design of icing using an open star tip

Open star angled drops: Create a braid-like effect by dragging an open star drop into small, angular lines, with each one beginning from the intersection of the previous two drops.

Pipe icing basket weave tip #47

Basket weave #47

A border design of icing using a basket-weave tip

Basket-weave border: Basket-weave tips make even the simplest of lines look pretty. Hold bag at a slight angle with flat side of tip facing perpendicular to surface and pipe in straight lines.

Advertisement
A squiggle design of icing using a basket-weave tip

Basket-weave squiggle: Hold bag at a 45-degree angle from surface and pipe in a controlled up-and-down pattern, creating a uniform squiggle line.

A basket-weave design of icing using a basket-weave tip

Basket weave: Pipe a single line across surface. Pipe short lines across it, each a line’s width from the other. Pipe next long line; repeat short ones in spaces between previous pattern.

The very best of Chatelaine straight to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Copy link
The cover of Chatelaine magazine's spring 2025 issue, reading "weekend prep made easy"; "five delicious weeknight meals", "plus, why you'll never regret buying an air fryer"; "save money, stay stylish how to build a capsule wardrobe" and "home organization special" along with photos of burritos, chicken and rice and white bean soup, quick paella in a dutch oven, almost-instant Thai chicken curry and chicken broccoli casserole in an enamelled cast-iron skillet

Subscribe to Chatelaine!

Want to streamline your life? In our Spring 2025 issue, we’ll show you how—whether it’s paring down your wardrobe, decluttering your messiest spaces or spending way less time cooking thanks to an easy, mostly make-ahead meal plan for busy weeknights. Plus, our first annual Pantry Awards.