Frosting tips for decorating cakes & cupcakes

If you like baking an decorating cakes, it's a great idea to invest in a frosting kit
with a reusable pastry bag and an assortment of tips.

TIP: Refrigerate the frosting before piping so that it retains it's shape. 

Here is a list of the most used decorating tips:

How to: Rope decorating technique

A nice technique for finishing your piped baskets/. Excellent too for western or nautical theme cakes

What you need:
- Buttercream icing
- A decorating bag
- Tip 21 

Instructions

Step 1: Fit the decorating bag with tip 21 and fill 1/2 full with medium consistency icing. Hold the decorating bag 45° angle. The tip should be lightly touching the surface. Using a steady, even pressure, move the tip in a gentle sideways "S" curve. Stop pressure and pull tip away.

Step 2: Insert tip under the bottom curve of the "S" shape.

Step 3: Squeeze the bag with steady pressure as you pull down, then lift the tip. Move up and over the tail of the "S" as you continue to squeeze and form a hook.

Step 4: Keep spacing as even as possible and "S" curves uniform in thickness, length and overall size. Be sure to tuck the tip into the bottom curve of the previous "S" before you begin squeezing, to insure the clean, continuous look of a rope.

Want to see some cakes with this rope
decoration technique? Click here!