Gosh DANG it this ruffle cake trend refuses to die. But there’s a reason, guys. RUFFLE CAKES ARE FRIGGING CUTE WITH A CAPITAL CAPS LOCK! Frilly up a cake and it’s perfect for every occasion. Mostly occasions that ladies are into, but hey – guys can enjoy a ruffle cake, too. So I’m going to show you how to put it in your bag and pipe it – how to make a ruffle cake! I know there’s plenty of ruffle cake tutorials using the petal tip, but I wanted to show you how simple it is with a friendly little leaf tip! I love this look especially because it looks like the cake is covered in old timey candy ribbons.
Frost and fill your cake as you would normally. See my post on how to frost a cake if you’re all dazed and confused!
Frost your cake prettily on the top, making it as smooth as possible – but don’t worry about the sides as they’re about to get their ruffle on.
Fill your buttercream with a JUMBOTRON SIZED leaf piping tip such as Wilton 113.
Place your piping bag at a 45 degree angle, starting at the bottom of your cake. Hold the bag with the piping tip “beak” pointing into the cake, so if you looked down at the piping tip you would be able to read the number.
Grazing the cake lightly with the piping tip, begin piping out. As you pipe, you will want to move both upwards with the piping bag as well as an “in and out” motion, lightly jabbing the cake with each ruffle piped.
Work your way to the top and then pull away.
Continue piping around the exterior of your cake until you’ve piped all of these adorable candy-ribbon like ruffles!
You can totally pipe the top of the cake too in ruffles – see this blue ruffle cake I made for ideas! I styled this one very simply here – just a cute lil blueberry doing its job.
I love using a single berry as a topper – this blueberry especially gives it a minimalist finish.
But you can style it any way you like, too: how about rainbow sprinkles? Perf for a kiddo birthday.
You can also add a monogram letter cake topper, too! I made this guy out of craft paper and a wooden skewer, but I love this candy melt idea: my post on how to make a monogram cake topper!
My sweet niece Kensie turns 5 today – I made this cake for her! She is very specific in her cake requests every year. This year, she asked for a rainbow cake with Princess Aurora and Mulan. She’s super into princesses… it seems inevitable with little girls! Anyone’s daughters or nieces or friend’s kids NOT into princesses? When I was a kid, I was into girly dolls too – but I was also into Transformers and He-man.
I drew a rendition of these two princesses, coloured them with felts and attached to wooden skewers to make custom cake toppers! I gave Princess Aurora some normal figured proportions (heehee) and I gave Mulan a sword! Yeah!
And here’s the final ruffle cake gone wild: radiant orchid purple, with pastel cake layers, sprinkles and hand drawn cake toppers! So you see, the ruffle cake really can go a number of different ways. How do you like your ruffle cake? :) I pretty much like mine sliced on a plate with a side of ice cream. Happy decorating, cake pals! xo Lyndsay
How to Philosophize with Cake
Love this! I’ve never tried making a ruffle cake but this has inspired me. Looks so adorable! :)
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
thanks so much! once you get the hang of the piping it’s really quite easy!!
Michelle @ MakeMeCake.Me
I’ve used the leaf tip for ruffles going horizontally around the cake, but vertical is way fun too and I love that the strips are shorter and thus a little easier to manage. Love!! Leaf tip for ruffles = the best! :)
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
ha, yes! go leaf tip go! ^__^ thanks michelle!
Michelle @ Hummingbird High
CUTE. Been wanting to make something like this for a while, but I am way too intimidated. Thanks for breaking it down though! Seems much less scary now ;-)
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
oh hooray!!! i hope you try it michelle, thanks so much! xo
Monica @ Mocha & Moccasins
the ruffles are so pretty! i love the colour you chose, too :)
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
thanks so much, monica! ^__^
Nik@ABrownTable
I loved your tutorial, I need to get better at icing cakes and pastries. It’s definitely something I struggle with.
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
aw thanks nik! just takes a little practice, you’ll be a pro in no time! :)
Anne @ Sugar Baby Bakes
Lyndsay, this cake is GORGEOUS!
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
thank you, anne! :)
Laurel (@abubblylife)
I love this, so beautiful, you are so amazing!!
My girl loves princesses but also loves trains, cars, monsters… As much as I love pink, I actually was not that girly as a kid, never played Barbie etc… but I loved She-Ra! She always defeated my brother’s He-Man ;)
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
aw thank you so much, laurel!! yeah, she-ra was awesome! haha… i love that your daughter likes both. my son seems really into cars but also loves singing and dancing… i love it! ^__^
Kate @ ¡Hola! Jalapeño
This is so cute! I have a certain 5 soon to be 6 year old who would think this cake is the bomb! Thanks for the tutorial.
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
aw – thanks kate! ruffle cakes delight people of any age! ;)
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine
I never make cakes- but I am pretty sure I’m going to have to now just so I can make ruffles and stare at my beautiful creation. Such a great “how to” post! Loving your blog.
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
oooh michelle i’d love to see your version – ! thanks so much! :)