It seems a little silly, but even though I’ve been baking cupcakes for years, (even as far back as they were called fairy cakes!), I’ve only just started using piping bags and proper nozzles when frosting cupcakes, in order to achieve that perfect bakery-style cupcake swirl.
The perfect swirl!
When I first started out, I was a little unsure what nozzle was the best to achieve the perfect swirl and also what effects the various other nozzles on the market produced.
So I got a pack of 7 nozzles from Lakeland and set about experimenting. I also recently bought the Wilton 1M tip that I’ve heard so much about (its supposed to be THE classic nozzle to achieve the perfect swirl) in a set along with the Wilton 2D tip.
All my nozzles – Wilton 1M and 2D bottom left and right
The Wilton 2D tip is the one that gives the rose swirl effect cupcake, like this – I think these look amazing and I’m excited to try it on a real cupcake!
The first nozzle I tested was the Wilton 1M
As you can see it has a wide star tip – the tip you buy doesn’t necessarily have to be a Wilton tip – one of my Lakeland ones gives a similar, if not even better swirl, but it needs to look similar.
Here’s the first swirl with the Wilton 1M nozzle (on top of a jar of pasta sauce!) – as you can see its *pretty* much the perfect cupcake swirl. Any lack of perfection is down to my technique and not the nozzle. If you don’t already have any nozzles and you’re interested in making cupcakes, this is definitely a great nozzle to get. I got mine on ebay in a set with the 2d for £8 for both, including postage. You can get it here.
You can also see a great tutorial on how to pipe the perfect swirl with the Wilton 1M here on the Wilton website.
Onto the Wilton 2D!
Ever since I’ve (only fairly recently, in the past couple of months) been seeing amazing pictures (and getting amazing birthday cupcakes from Star Bakery!) of lovely rose swirl cupcakes, I’ve been dying to know how you get this amazing effect. I was very surprised to learn that its (apparently) as simple as a certain kind of nozzle! Of course the technique counts as well – check out my effort below
Mine is fairly awful compared to a really good rose swirl, but this is my first attempt! You can see a really great tutorial on how to do a better rose swirl here at Bella Cupcakes site!
Next up is the first nozzle from my Lakeland set which looks like a spoke at the top. To my surprise, this shape gave a really really great swirl! Maybe even better than the Wilton 1M swirl? What do you think?
Its so swirly whirly, I’m mesmerised!
Next up is the second nozzle from Lakeland which is just a wide hole. I was quite dismayed to see my nemesis (after fondant) – the poo cupcake
Just wrong
I’ve always been mystified in the past when I’ve been into or seen pictures on blogs / of fancy cupcake bakeries where they’ve decorated their cupcakes with this nozzle. There’s only one possible outcome – no matter what fantastic colour your frosting is, it will always look like poo.
Seriously – does anyone know what you would use this nozzle for – other than an occasion when you’d WANT cupcakes that look like poo, of course!
Anyone?
Phew! Lets get back on track with Lakeland nozzle#3 which looks like a central star tip.
At this point both my hands, clothes, hair and camera are coated in a layer of frosting, as you can see.
Just for you.
You’re welcome!
And here’s the swirl!
Its okay, but I think you’ll agree that the Wilton 1M and the Lakeland#1 tips both give much better swirls.
Next up is Lakeland nozzle#4 which looks quite similar to the Wilton 1M – It also gives a good cupcake swirl!
Good swirl definition
Okay, next is Lakeland nozzle#5 which looks pretty much like Lakeland nozzle#1 except that the spoke is thicker.
If you understand me.
My hands are now completely covered in frosting.
Next up is Lakeland nozzle #6
Its another circle one 🙁
You know what that means!
Moving on…
Finally, we have Lakeland nozzle#7!
I still have no idea what shape this was supposed to make even AFTER I tried it.
I mean it was a hot day and the buttercream was definitely getting melty but really…
Anyone?
So there you have it – IN CONCLUSION, the best nozzles for the perfectest, most professional looking cupcake swirl is the Wilton 1M. You can also achieve a similar (or even better?) effect with any nozzle which looks like it has a spoke shape at the end like Lakeland nozzle#1, so I’d definitely recommend getting the Professional Piping Set from Lakeland if you’re starting out, as it’s great value for a lot of nozzles.
Once you have your nozzles, watch and read tutorials, practice practice practice and before you know it, you will be creating cupcakes with the perfect swirl!
I hope this tutorial helps you to achieve a more professional look when frosting cupcakes! Let me know any questions in the comments!
x Kerry
Gem says
January 11, 2018 at 10:43 amGreat article, very helpful. I think you’d have more success of you reduced the amount of butter in your buttericing or increased the icing content as it would be stiffer in consistency .worried all this is coming out in capitals??? Definitely not being rude hahahah. Keep up the great blog xx
Nikki :) says
March 30, 2016 at 12:25 amI found this really helpful. I’m 14 and making my own recipes-but no one will want to eat any if they don’t look good! I almost hit myself when I realized I never put the nozzle inside the bag, what a nightmare! Thanks though.
Kerry Cooks says
March 30, 2016 at 9:31 amThank you so much Nikki! Good luck on your baking journey, and don’t worry – I make mistakes like that all the time! 🙂
Karen says
September 4, 2015 at 3:38 amI like the”poo” tip for one great reason, it makes a great ghost cupcake! Pile it up a bit high (like how they do those soft ice cream cones). Then buy the “eyes” that are now available everywhere and presto – ghost cupcakes for Halloween! (You might have guess I’m from the USA/California).
Kerry Cooks says
September 14, 2015 at 11:59 amThat’s a GREAT point re the poo tip! I LOVE halloween!
ak says
April 16, 2015 at 1:58 pmVery useful post as I am looking to get some tips to start decorating with!
I’ve always thought the same about the effect of the round tip haha I don’t understand why people use that tip when you can use other tips to give a MUCH better effect 😛
I think the round tip is great for making petals for an ombre cake though! It looks so beautiful!
Phuong says
February 25, 2014 at 10:56 pmHi, the circle ones that you said you don’t know how to do with. You can make baby booties, it looks cute and easy:
http://www.wilton.com/technique/Baby-Booties
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PZs0lomlngs
Best
Kerry Cooks says
February 25, 2014 at 11:04 pmThanks for the tip!
Roshwill says
November 24, 2013 at 5:40 pmHi! Thanks for this interesting post!
As a newbie in cupcake baking I am finding relative articles for the perfect cupcake. As much as possible I want it to be detailed since it’ll be my first time and I want something irresistible, something my mother in law and other relatives wouldn’t spit out after eating- be it so perfect and flawless no one could ever say anything to it and also don’t want to throw money on trashy cupcakes. This article of yours help me what tip to use to achieve the frosting I wanted or I was wanting to create. Again, thank you for this info.
Charlotte says
August 7, 2013 at 1:46 pmThis is a great post. I think #7 can also be used for piping leaves for decoration. I am working on trying to make nice a nice rose top as well.
Kerry Cooks says
August 7, 2013 at 3:00 pmThanks Charlotte! I heart the url of your blog! x
Ilan says
August 6, 2013 at 10:07 amYou definitely need to invest in a coupler 🙂
Kerry Cooks says
August 6, 2013 at 10:09 amI do! I tend to stick to my two favourite swirls, rose and star, so its not normally a problem.
Kate says
August 5, 2013 at 2:06 pmThanks Kerry! Reading this has been really helpful. I have a set of 3 nozzles I bought from Sainsbury’s although having looked for my favourite one, I am panicking I have lost that, but it is similar to Lakeland nozzle 1. Will definitely not be experimenting with the nozzle for poo type frosting. I think I might put a good set of piping nozzles etc on my Birthday list!!!!
I will enjoy keeping practising my technique to achieve the perfect swirl!
Kerry Cooks says
August 5, 2013 at 2:15 pmThanks Kate, so glad you found it useful!
Lakeland have a great set (the £11.99 one) which I would recommend, or else you can’t go wrong investing in a Wilton 1D and star tip nozzle.
T29 says
July 25, 2013 at 9:48 pmAbs loved yr breakdown of the tips! Finally someone thowt to break down and explain (with pics) wat these nozzles look like.
Wat a relief, very funny commentary 🙂
Laughed so much reading the poo result comments. Brilliant! 🙂
Recipe Geek says
July 20, 2013 at 5:04 amI have not laughed so hard at a tutorial EVER. Good job!
Engaging, able to laugh at yourself … the Poof Swirl got me. I had to keep reading 🙂
I haven’t put my cupcake recipes up yet … have some that friends are ambushing me for … but I make have a commercial space so am reticent/selfish to share in case it happens. I just MAY though 😉
Keep it up Kerry … will be adding you onto my blogroll. I have been a bit busy to update my site. I’m bad. Will be doing so shortly and definitely be doing so August onwards.
You made my day. Pooh Swirl. Still chuckling!
Judie
Kerry Cooks says
July 20, 2013 at 7:18 amAw! Thanks so much Judie!!
Your comment made my day too!:D
michelle says
July 6, 2013 at 1:28 amfirstly thank you for trying out different tips and sharing your experiences with them…. secondly….THANK YOU for being honest… lol iv always thought that nozzle made icing look like a big neat poo…. and all these bakers and cooking shows think it looks great…how do they not see what we see? anyways enjoyed it! :o)
Kerry Cooks says
July 6, 2013 at 8:56 amThanks for reading Michelle!! X
sammys says
May 29, 2013 at 9:37 pmAwesome blog – have lots of nozzles and have never really perfected the perfect swirl and now I know why. Will def be investing in the Wilton 1M nozzle straight away.
Thanks for the info.
Happy baking!
kerrycooks says
May 30, 2013 at 9:18 amThank you so much! You definitely can’t underestimate the power of a good nozzle! I absolutely love 1M and 1D, they’re really the two basic ones 🙂
Lishacupcake says
May 8, 2013 at 7:22 amThe large round is for things like piping meringues, the small round is for writing, and the last – nozzle#7 – is for piping shells.