Hello All,

I have spent quite a bit of time trying to duplicate these vertical ruffles and I'm just not getting the same look...any advice?

What piping tip would you suggest? (I'm assuming it is buttercream...is that correct?) How do I get the pretty ruffled edge on the right but still have a neat and straight edge on the left? What consistency would be best? Any recipe suggestions for getting a super creamy icing that is able to stick to the cake and is still able to hold it's shape well? I'm still new at all of this so obviously I'm trying to cover all my bases here as I'm trying to figure out what I'm just not quite getting right about this technique.

Thanks for your help!

I couldn't get it to attach, so here is the address to a website with the photo... http://500daysofweddings.tumblr.com/post/6894333713

Could be buttercream, could be fondant. If buttercream, I would guess a rose tip...one side piped straight on, the other side "ruffled" with the fat end of the tip on the inside, the thin edge making the ruffle. Not sure what size rose tip you would use. I guess it might depend on what size you want the ruffle. If out of fondant, just cut strips and ruffle one side (make sure you cut wide enough) and leave the other side flat. You can then do whatever decorative border down the center of each "ribbon". That's my take on it! Hope it helps!

I'm pretty sure the sides were piped with a large leaf tip held vertically using an up-and-down ruffling motion. I wish the top was totally in focusthe top looks more like a large rose tip. I think a medium consistency buttercream would hold up fine; maybe a bit stiffer. Good luck!

OK; I just gave it a closer look. I still think the sides were done with a large leaf tip, but I think that maybe they were overpiped with a tip #1 or #2 in a squiggly line down the center of each ruffle. It's a really cute cake; this technique is inspiring!

You can use a rose tip or there are flat straight tips as well. I honestly just think it's a rose tip and then a tip 2 squiggle was applied down the edge touching the cake.

annie

I would suggest looking in a Wilton Yearbook (either at Michael's or Joann's) in their product section where they show pictures of their different tips and the effects they produce to find the tip you're looking for, or... on Wilton's website? OR take the pic to a cake decorating supply shop and ask them?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5gszWxCIV1s/UQGjpJLNkTI/AAAAAAAAHkQ/COCeHXchanM/s1600/rufflecake.jpg

This cake looks similar, I am trying to research how to make it to.  I think this was done in one swoop, the ruffle on each side and the line down the center...I believe it was made with one motion.  Now to figure out what tip was used! lol
 

http://theicedqueen.blogspot.com/2012/04/piping-with-leaf-tips.html

this person ^ shows some piping done with a leaf tip and you can see that line in the center!!

It's a leaf tip!!!  It's gotta be!  Scroll down on this page and look at the photo showing the different designs with a leaf tip, the one looks JUST like the ruffles.

http://www.make-fabulous-cakes.com/cake-decorating-tips-guide.html

The first cake shown is piped differently (with different tips) then the second and third cakes posted. Unlimited correctly described how the first cake was done. You can't get that look with a leaf tip.

The second and third cakes are done with a leaf tip.