Buttercream Ruffle Cake Techniques – 3 Ways

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You may have seen that last year I created a tutorial where I showed you how to add 3 different kinds of fondant ruffles onto the side of your cakes. I had so many comments asking for a similar tutorial but showing how to add ruffles to your cakes but using buttercream instead. So for this weeks video tutorial, I am going to be showing you 3 different buttercream styles you can add onto the side of your cakes. They are all quite different but all use a rose petal piping tip.

For all 3 styles I am using my American buttercream recipe as it really holds its shape, making it perfect for ruffles. I have piped all the ruffles onto a 5 inch sponge cake which was 5 inches in height. Its worth taking into consideration when piping ruffles that your buttercream is going to come out from the cake around 1cm, depending on the size of the piping tip you are using, so if you are stacking your cake a 5 inch cake will end up looking like a 6 inch cake, and you may need a slightly larger board that normal.

For each of these effects I used around 2 and a half times my buttercream recipe to fill, cover and add the ruffles onto my cake.

Pretty Ribbon Ruffles

Buttercream Ribbon Ruffle Cake Techniques 12

The first of the ruffles that I create in the tutorial I think looks like ribbons running all over the cake. I love how pretty this effect looks and in my opinion it has a very layered tutu look to it, so I think it would be perfect for a ballerina cake. The effect is created by using the #104 piping tip.

You want to make sure the wide side of your piping tip is against the cake as you move the piping bag in a wave shape across the cake, letting the ruffles just fall into place, filling up all the gaps. With this technique you want to apply pressure to the end of the bag, but be very light and slow with your movements, allowing the buttercream to just flow out.

Buttercream Ruffle Cake Techniques 9

I have to be honest this effect can put alot of pressure on your wrist, so I found it easier to do small areas, stop applying pressure and just pull the bag away. You can then tighten the end of the piping bag and continue in the same area.

Horizontal Ribbon Ruffles

Probably the most traditional way to add ruffles onto your cakes is in horizontal strips which overlay around your cake. This effect is very popular with fondant, but I love that a very similar effect can be created in buttercream. For my horizontal ruffles I started at the bottom of the cakes, but you can also start at the top and work your way down to create a slightly different effect.

Buttercream Ribbon Ruffle Cake Tutorial

For this effect I used the slightly larger #124 piping tip, still a rose petal tip, but it’s slightly longer which gave me a slightly wider ruffle. The thing to remember with these ruffles is the faster you go the straighter your ruffle will be, so depending on the style you are looking for you can alter your speed. Also by slightly rocking your piping bag and allowing the buttercream to flow out as you tip it back down you get this really pretty wavy ruffle effect around the cake.

Buttercream Ribbon Ruffle Cake Techniques 5

Vertical cake Ruffles

I love this effect as it looks like ruffle strips have been added to the cake. Again as before, the quicker you move the piping bag from the bottom of the cake to the top the straighter your strips are going to be. For this effect I used the #104, but any of the rose petal tips will work perfectly. The only difference will be how far your ruffles come out from you cake and also how much buttercream they use.

vertical Buttercream Ruffle Cake Tutorial

I found a combination of straight and wavy ruffles around the cake really gave it a soft and pretty finish.

how to pipe vertical Buttercream Ruffle Cake Techniques

I really hope you enjoy the tutorial and will be able to use these buttercream ruffle techniques on your own cakes. Let me know in the comments do you have a favourite out of the three?

Plus if you haven’t already you can subscribe to my YouTube channel for more Free cake decorating video tutorials.

Tools I used

I have put a list below showing all the tools that I used throughout this video or if you would like to see all my favourite cake decorating tools just click here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/cakesbylynz

Piping bags I use: http://amzn.to/2xqeDlM
#104 piping tip: https://amzn.to/3o575ON
#124 piping tip: https://tidd.ly/3fdiDhf
Raspberry Colour Splash: https://amzn.to/2XSvYF2
Turntable: https://amzn.to/35u3QJB
PME Cake Smoother 10inch: https://amzn.to/35pYiRm
Offset spatula (small): https://amzn.to/2yD7btn

~ Please note that some of links above may be affiliate links. If you click the link and purchase any item through that link, I will receive a small commission from the website but this does NOT add any additional costs to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog x ~

Plus why not save this tutorial for later and pin it to Pinterest

how to pipe 3 different buttercream cake ruffle effects

Thank you for reading!

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Hi, I’m Lynsey and welcome to Cakes by Lynz. I LOVE everything cake! Here you will find all my latest cake decorating video tutorials from my YouTube channel, reviews and general cake ramblings!

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