What is the best way to attach ribbon around the base of your cake? Both for buttercream cakes and also fondant. I've done it only once for a fondant cake, but only used piping gel to attach it in the back. I know there has to be a better way.

I use royal icing to attach ribbon to my cakes for either buttercream or fondant.

I also used royal icing to attach the ribbon and it worked great. It's just like glue. The ribbon was a wired ribbon on a fondant cake. I piped icing around the cake at the bottom of the cake and at the top edge of where the ribbon would go...attached the ribbon, smoothing as I went and piped at the end vertically where the two ends meet. Hope that makes sense!!! Best of Luck.

When you put ribbon on buttercream, does the grease soak through onto the ribbon?

I haven't done any buttercream cakes with ribbon ....good question? I'm sure someone out there has the answer.

yes it does, but i read a tip on this site that you line the underside of the ribbon with wax paper and that solves the problem.

Yes the grease does soak through, depending on the type of ribbon you use. I know that some people have used a coated ribbon, but I can't find it. So, I use wax paper: I cut the wax paper to fit the ribbon and use it as a backing. I attach the ribbon and wax paper to the cake with corsage pins. Hope this helps!!

Yes it does, thank you!

Thanks Everyone!!

I use a non-toxic glue stick, like the ones sold for kids - especially with the latest craze for 'SHEER' ribbons - I just run the stick along the back of the ribbon and 'voila!' it sticks well enough. Helpful hint - seems impossible these days to find NON-WIRED sheer ribbon, so I simply cut the length needed, and pull out the fine wire with a needle-nose plier. Ribbon goes on much easier to cake sides - leaves no 'ripples' - hope this helps