Browse Decorating Techniques

Adding Store-Bought Sweets to the Center of a Cupcake

Difficulty: No reviews

A standard baking cup is the perfect size for a sandwich cookie, vanilla wafer, ginger snap or peanut butter cup.

Apple Blossoms

Difficulty: Somewhat Easy

This springtime flower is virtually the same as the wild rose, but uses a smaller tip. Pipe apple blossoms about the size of a penny and dry them on flower formers.

Applying Fondant to Fondant

Difficulty: Easy

Quick tip on how to attach your fondant accents to your fondant covered cake.

Applying Sprinkles/Sugars to Piped Icing

Difficulty: Easy

Your pretty icing accents will really stand out when you add a colorful treat topping. Be sure to add the sprinkles or sugar immediately after piping so they will stick.

Baby Booties

Difficulty: Easy

The perfect little topper for your baby shower cupcakes.

Baby Bunnies

Difficulty: Somewhat Easy

These baby bunnies are the cutest cottontails around! Easy to make, with a big ball head, pointy pull-out ears and little dot cheeks.

Bachelor Button

Difficulty: Somewhat Easy

The handsome Bachelor Button is an excellent choice on men's cakes and in summer floral arrangements. They look terrific in blue, white, pink or lavender.

Ball

Difficulty: Easy

The ball shape makes bold borders and is the first step to learn for figure piping. Vary the basic look by adding stars, dots or spirals on the ball shapes.

Balloons

Difficulty: Easy

Let your cupcakes mirror the party décor. Make the balloons piped on top the same color as the real balloons you use as decoration!

Bead

Difficulty: Easy

The bead shape makes great borders or frames and makes great accents to letters and designs.

Bountiful Harvest Cornstalks

Difficulty: Somewhat Easy

Cornstalks are the ideal addition to an autumn or Thanksgiving cake. They can be piped directly on the cake in buttercream.

Brush Embroidery

Difficulty: Somewhat Easy

Add textured flowers with the soft look of lace using this easy icing technique. Works best using a square tip brush.

Cactus

Difficulty: Easy

The cactus is a must-have for western themed cakes, and it couldn’t be easier. Elongated shells come together, topped by pull-out needles. We used tip 199 for great texture.

Carnation

Difficulty: Somewhat Easy

A carnation is a welcomed flower in any season—try it with a striped bag (stripe on narrow tip side) for lovely color variation.

Carrots

Difficulty: Somewhat Easy

Use this carrot technique to top off your favorite carrot cake cupcakes!

Chrysanthemum (Mum)

Difficulty: Medium

The Chrysanthemum is a fall classic that’s easier to pipe than you would think. The secret to success--the curved opening of specialty tip #81 used with a simple leaf-making motion.