Anybody know what tip to use to get the spiky, kind of porcupine-looking icing effect? I've seen it done on a couple shows recently (Challenge, Cupcake Wars), but am not sure where to begin to achieve that result.

I have an order of cupcakes due tomorrow that I'd really like to try it on, so any help is appreciated!

you can use a piping tool and put individual icing on all over that gives the spiked effect. That doesnt really make it very clear sorry but thats what I do

Are you talking about using a grass tip?

I use Wilton tip number 233 for making hair, grass, etc.

No, not the grass tip. It looks almost like a teardrop shape but with a sharp point at the top.

Let me see if I can find a picture to upload...

I'm not having any luck finding a picture.

It was on Cupcake Wars a few weeks ago. I wish I could give more details, but all I can remember is that it was a man and he had these beautifully iced cupcakes.

352 leaf tip?

One point at the top, or several?

do you remember what the theme of the show was? or who they were making the cupcakes for?

I know this picture isn't from cupcake wars, but are you looking for something like this? on the cover of the Hello Cupcake book?

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lifeonthebalcony.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/hello-cupcake.jpg&imgrefurl=http://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-adorable-gardening-inspired-cupcakes/&usg=__hif5zOJMbDMgIjcGhLGHMTMPSYI=&h=576&w=519&sz=120&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=qIBJkhEUTxK-FM:&tbnh=168&tbnw=157&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcupcake%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1676%26bih%3D844%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=858&vpy=110&dur=0&hovh=237&hovw=213&tx=141&ty=163&ei=kvibTIvEGIbPnAeg08j7DA&oei=kvibTIvEGIbPnAeg08j7DA&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=32&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0

From your description i'm wondering if it was a round or star tip that was piped all over the top pulling up into a point. but not exactly sure w/o a picture b/c i can imagine to many things

Could it have been a rose petal tip?

Leily, that's close, yes. But it had a rounded bottom. I'm sorry I can't come up with a picture, but I do appreciate everyone's help!

I might just have to experiment with several tips when I get my icing ready in the morning.

The teardrop shape is a rose petal.

Thanks, everyone, for your help!

Are you talking like a hershys kiss teardrop look?

Couldn't you use the 1A tip at a 90 degree angle, let the icing build up and pull away as you taper off your pressure to create the "tail"?

1A tip or bigger, press hard at the beginning to get the round mound of icing and then go straight up and pull right away to get the tip.

I saw those at the challenge, very pretty. And not a ton of icing!

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/photogallery/cupcake-ideas?lnc=6b9c139b22b1d110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&rsc=lpg_cakes&lpgStart=1¤tslide=16¤tChapter=1

like this?

Yes, at least that's what I saw. Of course the cupcakes were bigger, and the little mound of icing stood in the center, covering them a lot less.

Funny, I posted that link yesterday for something else and today I couldn't remember those!