4 Easy Cupcake Designs Using Wilton's 1M Piping Tip

Ever wonder how bakeries make such beautifully piped cupcakes, but you can never seem to get the same result at home?

I know I did.

The first cupcakes I ever piped icing into, I recall, did not turn out the way I had anticipated.

Years ago, I made cupcakes for my husband’s birthday, and when I tried to pipe the frosting on, I didn’t understand why it didn’t look right to me.

I discovered that the piping tip I was using to pipe buttercream was not the right size.

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Pictured below is the difference between a smaller piping tip vs. a larger one.

With a bit of research and practice, I was able to transform my cupcakes.

One way to level up your cupcakes is by using larger piping tips.

The smaller tips are great for more detailed piping designs or small treats, so definitely keep those on hand.

I put together a step-by-step guide to show you how to make four cupcake designs using Wilton’s popular 1M piping tip.

These cupcake styles can change the look and feel of your cupcakes.

If you’re interested in learning how to make buttercream from scratch, check out my buttercream class where I show you the process of making creamy buttercream frosting that can make your cupcakes look like fluffy clouds of frosting.

Join here: BUTTERCREAM CLASS.

Below are the piping styles we’ll cover in this guide.

You can add colors and decorations to make them pop and stand out.

Piping Styles:

Swirl
Rosette
Ruffle
Hydrangea

You can create different designs for cakes, cupcakes, and many other treats with this tip.

Here is what you’ll need to create these piping designs.

Things to think about before getting started:

Think about the position in which you are holding your piping bag. Is it up and down or at an angle?

If it doesn’t come out perfect the first time, scrape it off, try again, or grab another cupcake.

Practice getting comfortable holding the piping bag; notice the flow of your buttercream and the pressure with which you are squeezing the bag.

Sometimes your hands get warm from holding the bag, which in turn makes the buttercream warm, and the consistency can be too soft. If this happens, put the piping bag inside the fridge to firm up. Then try again.

Keep your house at a cool temperature. If you are hot, then the buttercream is probably warm too. This will help the buttercream hold its shape; if not, the buttercream can start to melt. If this happens, put the piping bag inside the fridge to firm up. Then try again.

Let’s get started:

1. Swirl

Hold the piping bag up and down. Place the tip on the edge of the cupcake. Squeeze the bag to form a star.

While squeezing the bag, pipe along the outside edge.

Continue piping around the cupcake.

Once around the cupcake, go around again, this time overlapping the swirl before it. Pipe about three swirls.

One.

Two.

Three. Stop squeezing the bag and pull away from the cupcake.

2. Rosette

Hold the piping bag up and down. Place the tip in the center of the cupcake. Squeeze the bag to form a star.

Pipe around the star.

Keep applying the same pressure to the bag.

Once around the star, pipe along the outside edge of the cupcake.

Continue piping.

Once around the cupcake, stop squeezing the bag and pull away. Tuck in the tail, so it’s not sticking out.

3. Ruffle

Hold the piping bag at an angle, begin piping on the edge of the cupcake.

To make ruffles, pipe in a zig-zag motion.

Squeeze the bag and pipe to the right.

Then, to the left.

Back to the right.

Keep zig-zagging until you reach the bottom of the cupcake.

Once at the bottom, stop squeezing the bag and pull away. Repeat the same steps until the whole cupcake is covered.

4. Hydrangea

Hold the piping bag up and down. Start at the edge of the cupcake, squeeze the bag to form a star, then stop squeezing and pull away.

Pipe stars along the outside edge of the cupcake.

Keep all the stars the same size.

Fill the whole cupcake.

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