Best Piping Tool For Beginners?

Decorating By VanillaCake000 Updated 5 Feb 2013 , 7:02am by Ducky316

VanillaCake000 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
VanillaCake000 Posted 4 Feb 2013 , 7:49pm
post #1 of 7

I've only just started baking cakes (only just signed up too!) and want to be able to do all the fancy swirly icing icon_biggrin.gif but I'm not very good with a piping bag...I know there's alternatives like icing syringes but which would you all recommend for a beginner?

6 replies
-K8memphis Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
-K8memphis Posted 4 Feb 2013 , 7:53pm
post #2 of 7

piping bag

 

try parchment -- try different textures, different bags

 

piping is piping though

 

it's like learing to ride a bike or cursive writing

 

it's technique--you need this

DeliciousDesserts Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
DeliciousDesserts Posted 4 Feb 2013 , 7:59pm
post #3 of 7

A/agree with k8memphis.

Local craft store will carry the Wilton piping practice board.

BakingIrene Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
BakingIrene Posted 4 Feb 2013 , 9:10pm
post #4 of 7

You don't need a practise board.  

 

But you do have to make sure your icing is the correct consistency for piping. Read these and watch the videos.

 

http://www.wilton.com/decorating/icing/icing-consistency.cfm

 

http://www.wilton.com/decorating/decorating-basics/using-decorating-bags.cfm

Stick a piece of bakers parchment onto a cookie sheet and start piping.  Use a full cup of icing and make swirls using a  Wilton 1M (Ateco 846) tip. 

 

When you are done, scrape off that icing and put it back into the bag.  Do this again every day until you can make perfect swirls. Use the same icing over and over--just don't use it on a cake...

 

Then you go on to flowers the same way. Start with flat flowers like violets and wild roses.  Learn to move and control the tip and bag pressure until you can make a decent flat flower.  Then you can go on to 3D roses and other complex flowers. 

 

Same exercise for writing--using soft icing.

hbquikcomjamesl Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
hbquikcomjamesl Posted 4 Feb 2013 , 9:36pm
post #5 of 7

Way more than half a lifetime ago, I tried piping with a syringe that came in a set with a screw-drive cookie press. I tried it exactly once, then went with a disposable piping bag, and never once looked back.

 

Piping syringes, guns, and whatnot are a pain in the butt to clean, given the number of moving parts. By contrast, even a reusable piping bag has only one moving part, and it can be turned inside out. With a syringe or a gun, you need to be able to push on the plunger; with a piping bag, you just need to squeeze.

 

Quote:
Same exercise for writing--using soft icing.

 

Strange: unless I mix it really stiff, mine always seems to slump and spread out. What could I be doing wrong?

Izzy Sweet Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Izzy Sweet Posted 4 Feb 2013 , 9:48pm
post #6 of 7

Watch you tube tutorials... They helped me so much.. they show you how to hold the bag and how to move it.

Ducky316 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Ducky316 Posted 5 Feb 2013 , 7:01am
post #7 of 7

Best tips for a new beginner is the 1M and the 2D! You'll get that fantastic swirl you're looking for :) and it's SUPER EASY!!!!

Quote by @%username% on %date%

%body%