Did any of you read the title of this post and think of bagpipes? No? Sometimes I worry about the way my brain works…
Anyway…remember the rubbish attempt I made at cake decorating recently when I ended up with a volcano? Not just any volcano either, as my husband very kindly pointed out, but a “school science experiment one”.
So I decided I needed practice. I spoke to my wonderful friend Dotti who told me to start with a Wilton 1M piping nozzle and buttercream roses. A quick visit to Iced Affair (fabulous shop in Camperdown – Lorraine wrote about them here) and I had two tips (1M and 1F) and some primary gel colours…
Now I’m not a fan of cupcakes, but I figured they were the best foil for my fledgling attempts with a piping bag, so on the weekend I baked 31 of them. The first batch were made using our yoghurt cake recipe…
I found Rosie Cake-Diva’s fabulous tutorials on YouTube, including this one for buttercream…
It uses…
- 250g unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- 500g sifted icing sugar mixture (confectioner’s sugar)
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
. . . . .
I watched her tutorial on buttercream roses three times before attempting them…
. . . . .
Two-tone roses were probably a bit ambitious to start with, and I did end up with frosting everywhere. Nonetheless, after a few attempts, I was able to make this…
The 1F nozzle was great fun to play with…
The following day, I made chocolate cupcakes. The frosting on these didn’t hold up nearly as well for piping, but it was good practice nonetheless!
As I mentioned earlier, I don’t really like cupcakes, but thankfully the neighbours were happy to eat most of them. I still haven’t figured out how to prevent the edges of the roses from going raggedy – can anyone give me advice on that? Thanks! ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
You are something! I have a post about red velvet cupcakes (which I made about 6 months ago or more!) but haven’t had a chance to edit it and post
I went the piping route and now, after being awed by your talent, maybe I should trash my post and start all over… ;-)
oh, well – I don’t care for cupcakes either, in fact did not even try one of my concoctions, but the department folks seemed thrilled to take care of them
great post, Celia! As usual….
(school science experiment volcano, TAKES THE CAKE!!!!!)
Sally, I’d LOVE to see your red velvet cupcakes! I hope you post them up soon. And yes, that husband of mine has a smart mouth… ;-)
I am impressed with your efforts. I can’t do any tricks with icing and use the excuse that I don’t like easting it to avoid learning. Lucky neighbours.
I don’t like eating them either, but I do like to try new things. I really don’t like macarons, which is why I’ve never tried making those either!
Wow great job. This could be your next enthusiasm and soon we could own The Iced Affair. I love cupcakes
I still think you and Charlie should buy the shop… :)
Partners can be so grounding at times. Gorgeous Celia! I will probably never pipe again. But your example could almost inspire me. Will travel for cupcakes, though.
Ardys, if I actually LIKE cupcakes, I’d probably practice piping more! But I find them too heavy on the frosting and I never really like the cake itself, although the yoghurt cakes were very nice this time. It was fun to play – although I somehow ended up with frosting on the inside of my glasses and in my hair…sigh.. ;-)
I must confess I did think of bagpipes when I saw the title of your post! I’m not a big cupcake fan either, but the children like them. Nice rose. You did a lovely job on the decorating. Love your husband’s take on your “volcano”!
Hooray!!! I didn’t want to be the only one to think of bagpipes. Thanks Manuela, you’ve made my day..hehehe xxx
Oh My Goodness – Works of Art – So Beautiful :) I do not have the patience. Happy Day!
Thanks Renee! Have a wonderful day too!
Very impressive work! Piping is something I’ve yet to try. One day perhaps. ❤️
Misky, it’s a whole new adventure discovering what the nozzles are and what they produce! :)
Beautiful Celia. I love them and always eat the bottom so I save the icing to last. Big kid still! Enjoy your week.
Hahaha…I always eat the bottom and leave the icing behind! :)
I did! But that’s likely because I have been lsitening to my husband play pipes since 1978…..
Love to play around with piping too, and yours look great. You should.ve seen my first efforts, lol!
Oh how glorious it must be to listen to the bagpipes all the time from someone who can actually play them well! (I’ve heard them being murdered more than once!) :)
Ha, I am NOT a bagpipe fan but they do have their place. We have free piping for weddings and funerals. :-). I tolerate them. And yes, he does a good job. He has even made his own pipes on the lathe. A man of many talents, or maybe like a dog with a bone when he gets an idea. :-)
I like cupcakes because they are (in theory) dose limited; I’m unable to fool myself that ‘I’m only having one slice’ by cutting myself a huge slab of it. Plus I can freeze them – buttercream freezes ok – so I have single-serve treats on hand. But the fancy icing is way beyond my level of commitment! Sparkle Cupcakery in Surry Hills just plonk a pile of icing on top, then smoothly ‘mitre’ the edge with a knife. I do that at most.
I didn’t know buttercream freezes, thanks for the tip! :)
I had to look at this right away rather than wait until this evening – because I did think you had struck another enthusiasm with bagpipes! However, beautiful Flowers of Sydney – what a corker of a job Celia.
Hahaha…you never know Jan. Maybe one of these days, I’ll find a second hand set of bagpipes and then life in our neighbourhood will change for everyone.. ;-)
They look great! I do need to practice as well but I will just end up eating a whole bunch of cupcakes so I don’t go there.
See, cupcakes are the ideal thing for me to practice on, because then I don’t eat them! :)
Alright, so you know how much I’m a great fan of your culinary skills, Celia, love, but two-tone icing on cupcakes, now I’m REALLY impressed!!! Wow, they look fabulous. I’m crap at cake decorating, so thank you for the links to those vids. I really don’t like cupcakes too much… well, not those sickly sweet plastic things sold in some stores… but darling I’d happily lick the icing off a few of yours, before eating the cake too!
Lizzy, thank you – I didn’t actually realise how hard it would be to get the icing into the bag! :) I’m grateful to have so many willing eaters – the cupcakes have been flying out the door! :)
Yes, that’s the cow part of the job… I referred to this post again today when I was doing some piping… the first (disposable) bag ended up splitting on me! Love this tute.
I did some rose piping recently too using the 1M tip. It was amazing how the roses just appeared! :o
Lorraine, I’ve just tried with the 2D and it worked even better!
I cannot use a piping bag to save my life! Frosting is an art that is lost on me.
Nah, it’s just a case of a little practice if you can ever be bothered. I know it’s taken me until I’m nearly 50 to try, but it’s been easier than I thought it would be. YouTube helps enormously! :)
I cannot pipe even if my life depended on it. Yours look great for a first attempt. Is there anything you cannot do well?????
Norma, thank you, but they’re far from perfect! That’s good though, I don’t want perfect straight away – what would be the fun in that? :)
Oh yes, I certainly do remember your volcano. I thought it was quite impressive and worthy of a prize.
I am awestruck by these cupcakes! I really mean that Celia, those roses are a work of art and so beautiful. I’ve never been one to do much with any type of cake decorating but I think you’ve just given me my next ‘enthusiasm’….I’m off to Michaels for the tools. Thank you!
I remember you suggested filling the volcano with bicarb and vinegar to make it fizz! :) Hope you found the tools you needed – I’d love someone to learn piping with me! :)
I think I’ve got my tools, now I just need to get baking. I’m thinking it would be fun to have some friends over for a piping party.
I have alot of experience with the tiny writing tips for using with royal icing- but I’m not good with the flower making tips. Yours are lovely. I just take off most of the icing on cupcakes and eat them with only a small amount of the extra sweet topping.
Heidi, I don’t eat the icing either, but everyone else is, so it’s not going to waste. The tips for making flowers are humungous, everything comes out swooshy and lovely.
I love cupcakes. When I first learned piping I piped on a piece of silicone sheeting and scraped it off and started again. I should have used cupcakes and then eaten them all. :)
That’s a great suggestion, thank you! I’m going to try it…
Fab! I can’t help with the scraggly rose edge (which ps- they all look perfect to me!) but here’s a general tip for piping practice: fill you pastry bag with your preferred icing and pipe all of your designs onto a (clean) bench. This way you can perfect your designs before messing up a cupcake. Plus, you can reuse the icing ;)
… and I should have read Maureen’s comment ;) xoxo
Both yours and M’s suggestions are wonderful, thank you – I really do need to practice more. If nothing else, it’s great fun! :)
Piping and I aren’t particularly good friends. I love the idea of it, have the gear, enthusiasm and then it comes down to the decorating and…plop. That’s usually the extent of it. One day I will practise…one day :-)
Brydie, I like having something new to try and figure out. It helps that I have almost no fear whatsoever of culinary failure. :)
Don’t you just love figuring out something new? I pretty “meh” about cupcakes too but these look pretty darn tasty. Lucky neighbors! Maz <3
Maz, you would have a ball with all the buttercream colours.. :) There is something here which you might enjoy too:
That was awesome! (Must resist starting another hobby) So tempting! :-)
I love your two tone roses, they look good enough to vase. Piping is something to be avoided unless absolutely necessary. You have made it look so simple :D
Thank you – I think it’s only to be avoided if you’re feeding fussy eaters. Thankfully, all my family and neighbours will happily eat my practice attempts! :)
Sorry but I wasn’t thinking bag pipes. I think you’re wonderful in that you’re always embracing learning new skills. Your roses are fabulous xx
Thanks darling. I’d like to come to you for lessons, if that’s ok. :)
me too celia! i don’t really like cupcakes either. but i do love eating the frosting part:) your frosting is just beautiful. so clever of you.
Sherry, it was great fun to play with! I’m going to keep practising until my eaters get sick of cupcakes.. :)
Bagpipes? Ha!
You are too much, Celia. Your first attempt at piping and you go for two-tone? I wouldn’t dream of attempting such a thing after having frosted 50 cupcakes, let alone my first attempt. Worse yet — from my perspective only — your cupcakes are as good as many of the store-bought I’ve purchased. You have emboldened me, though. Maybe I should make some icing and experiment on parchment paper. I wouldn’t have messy cupcakes to eat but I’d still have all that yummy icing. I think I’ll go with chocolate … :)
John, apparently the buttercream keeps well in the fridge for about a week, so you could practice, scrape it all up, practice again the next day and so forth and then have a final binge frosting eating session at the end..hahaha
I definitely thought of icing when I saw your title – no doubt because my piping really does need a lot of practice! Your decorating here is really impressive and I love the flowers.
Kari, thank you, I’m still trying to figure out how to finish up my roses. Needs more practice! :)
Beautiful – and I did think bagpipes too ;) Would happily come round to lick the bowls clean for you!
I love that you thought of bagpipes! Kindred spirits! :)
They look fantastic… Well done… I love those two tone roses… Beautiful! Liz x
Liz, thank you – getting the icing into the bag is harder than the piping bit. Need to figure it out some more!
Oh, Celia, your icing looks fabulous!! So professional looking!! And two tone – you don’t do anything by halves do you?! I’m not a bit fan of heavily iced cupcakes – much prefer the cake to all that sweet icing! But they are the perfect for kids to take to school as their birthday cakes as there is no portioning out/knife required – in fact, funnily enough, I just posted about Jake taking a batch of “Ambassador Cupcakes” to a birthday party that a friend was throwing for him – I had to stop and look at icing tutorials on YouTube before I could carry on! Need those larger nozzles in my arsenal now – mine are much too small!!
I remember you mentioned them in the last IMK post! They look wonderful Selma, and big tips are amazing, they make everything all swooshy and flowing!
Hi Celia, your two toned roses look fab, such a wow factor. From what I read on the ‘buttercup piping’ forums, adding a teaspoon or so of corn syrup (or honey, but it might colour) adds to the elasticity of the icing, helping smooth out any ragged edges. Hope this helps! K
Thanks Kirsty! My second attempt was less raggedy – I think I need to work on my bag pressure.. :)
I think I need much bigger tips too, and not be afraid to waste some icing – I always use less than they say and end up with skimpy rosettes that peter out…
Yes, I was really surprised how much icing gets used up in the process! I keep trying to stretch it out as well, but I get poorer results when I do that.
I have poor piping skills and it is something I want to improve. This post and the tutorial were very useful. Thanks for sharing!!
Stephanie, the tutorials on youtube make it all seem remarkably doable!
They look lovely! I used to pipe when I decorated what we called Fairy Cakes when my children were small. They were just like cupcakes.
I’m relieved to see how many of you don’t like them – I’ve been called weird because I don’t.
Pat, hello!! I was just thinking of you the other day, how nice to hear from you! Hope all is well in Yorkshire and you’ve had a lovely summer xx
Celia: I actually thought you might have a photo of bagpipes, and then say something like “Ha ha you thought I was talking icing, didn’t you.
And then when you mentioned it I had a good laugh.
Have a Joyful Day :~D
Charlie
Hahaha….see, I love that everyone who reads my blog is as crazy as I am! Thanks Charlie! :)
The two-toned iced cupcakes are so lovely.. Yum…. And how impressive to serve to guests. thanks for sharing. sue
womenlivinglifeafter50.com
Thanks Sue! They feel like a cheat – they’re not that hard to make, but folks are disproportionately impressed! :)
your icing certainly looks the business celia..very impressive..i love cupcakes but not with swathes of icing..in fact i rarely ice them..i tend to go for sweet/sour fillings with a bit of cream and sometimes praline for a texture surprise..they never look professional but then i don’t mind a bit of rustic..i love piping though and even did a course once..made all that fancy lacy icing that takes hours of patience..looks good but inedible..
Jane, I remember you said you took a course on piping once! The new big piping nozzles are a treat if you haven’t tried them – all the frosting comes out looking quite whimsical and blowy! :)
You are a star when it comes to baking Celia:)
Jody, you’re very kind, thank you! :)
They’re gorgeous Celia. You could share cupcakes with my kids who tend to eat the icing and then hand over the cake
Hahaha…I’ll only eat the cupcakes that my own kids have licked the icing off, Jo. And I haven’t had to do that for years.. :)
It seems the 1M is the best starting point! I love the two tone rose icing – gorgeous!
Danielle, if you’re only getting one tip, I actually think the 2D is a bit better – it can make both roses AND hydrangeas! :)
Celia, you are clearly a natural. What fantastic roses – I can’t do those. You have inspired me to try again. I love the two tone effect. So beautiful!
I read the comment about the honey – bet that will do the trick.
have a beautiful day.
:-) Mandy xo
Mandy, I went back to your youtube video for guidance as well! The big tips are great fun to play with, I bet you could make roses with your eyes closed! :)
The only advice I want to give you, Celia, is how to pack those beautiful cup cakes and forward them to me.
Mary, that’s actually advice I’d really appreciate actually. Transporting iced cupcakes is quite difficult! :)
OOOO Pretty Ms Celia! You are a fountain of talent :)
Not sure about the talent Fran, but I do get enthusiastic…hahaha…thank you xx
A non-fan of cupcakes make great ones! How much more if you are a fan?! Have a fun weekend, Celia!
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Julie, if I was a fan, I’d be beached now. :)
So pretty indeed Celia! I’m very impressed with how awesome these look. I hope your hands were OK after all that piping- don’t overdo it sweetie :) xox
Becca, I’ll be careful, thanks hon! xx
Looks like your practice was very successful! I always like the look of all the piping but find it to be too much icing to eat.
I’m the same with the whole cupcake! Thankfully I have many eaters.. ;-)
Wow, Celia, these are gorgeous. I can’t say I noticed any particularly raggedy edges, either.
Thanks Amanda! I’m pretty happy with them! :)
I’m a hopeless piper! I can’t wait to give these tutorials a go! Thanks so much for sharing. You’ve done a wonderful job.
Clare, thank you, they’re great fun to play around with! :)
I am so impressed by your talents. God bless your hands.
You’re very kind Norma, thank you! :)
I like the raggedy edge of roses. Not a big cupcake fan either. They were fairy cakes in my day, much smaller and not coated with such quantities of ‘frosting’. I did do a Wilton course and learned how to do a Wilton rose – too much sugar intake though…. we had cake coming out of our ears!
Sally, I don’t eat them – I know that’s ridiculous – but they’re too sweet for me, even though all the eaters assure me they’re not nearly as sweet as most cupcakes! :)
Gorgeous ~ Gorgeous ~ Gorgeous! :) You got some serious piping skills Celia.