Decorating cupcakes is one of my greatest joys. Follow my simple tips and tricks to make beautiful cupcakes for any occasion! Be sure to use my perfect Cupcake Frosting for the beautiful cupcakes that taste amazing!

Cupcake Frosting & Cupcake Decorating Ideas

Cupcake Frosting

The recipe I have shared below is for a “cheater” Swiss Meringue buttercream. It uses pasteurized eggs and does not require heating so can be much more time-efficient! This recipe is less sweet than a traditional American buttercream and so lovely to work with. It takes color quite easily and I have found that using any type (liquid, gels, powder) works just wonderfully. This is my Easy Coconut Frosting which is the same is the recipe below except for the addition of coconut flavoring. Feel free to play around with your extracts as well! (These would be lovely with a lavender extract!)

Cupcake Decorating

Petal Decoration

Using a piping bag fitted with the #104 tip and purple icing, begin by piping one petal on to the outer edge of the cupcake. Start near the center, apply pressure to the bag and gently rock your wrist up and then down to create each individual petal.  Continue piping overlapping rows of petals.

This could also be referred to as a Carnation, but might look better with a soft pale or white buttercream.

Cupcake Frosting and #104 tip Decorating

Petal Spiral Decoration

Using a piping bag fitted with the #104 tip, pipe spiraling ruffles around the cupcake starting at the outer edge. This is easiest if you are able to turn the cupcake in one hand while applying pressure to the piping bag with the other. You can also use a rotating cake stand for this method, just be sure to place the cupcake in the very center.

Cupcake Frosting Cupcake Decorating

Classic Rose Decoration

Using a piping bag fitted with the #104 tip, begin by placing a dollop in the center of the cupcake. Hold your bag so that the smallest part of the tip (the top of the teardrop) is facing up. Place tip at the base of the dollop, apply pressure and move the bag around the side of the dollop, about 1/3 of the way. Release pressure. I usually start with 3 petals around the center dollop for a nice tight center bud.

Continue this same technique around and around, eventually making your swoops bigger and facing out and away from the center of the cupcake.

Finish with some leaves and you have a perfect rose. Here is a video showing how I am a Giant Buttercream Rose.

Cupcake Frosting Recipe

Skinny Petal Decoration

Using a piping bag fitted with the #104 tip, hold your tip with the large opening of the tip (upside down teardrop) is at a 90° angle. Apple gentle pressure and the drag tip down through the frosting. You will start at the outer edge of the cupcake and move around the entire cupcake. Then move in slightly from the edge and pipe another row.

Add leaves for a decorative touch.

This technique also works well when decorating lilac cupcakes!

Easy Cupcake Frosting

If I had to pick a favorite I might say this one, the purple rose with light blue accents. These piped roses often vary in look because they are so open to artistic impression. Each decorator will have their own special flair that comes across so beautifully in this design!

flowers-1
4.86 from 7 votes

Easy Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Decorating cupcakes is one of my greatest joys. Follow my simple tips and tricks to make beautiful cupcakes for any occasion! Be sure to use my perfect Cupcake Frosting for the beautiful cupcakes that taste amazing!

Ingredients

  • 4 oz pasteurized egg whites
  • 2 cups (220g) confectioners sugar
  • 2 tbsp. McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1 lb (4 sticks or 452g) softened unsalted butter

Instructions

  • Add pasteurized egg whites and confectioners sugar to stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment.
  • Turn mixer on low, let ingredients come together. Then turn on high speed for 3-5 minutes, or until egg whites and sugar are fully incorporated.
  • With mixer off, add in the extract and mix on low speed until just combined.
  • Now start adding in butter, about 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) at a time. After each addition, let the mixer run of medium-high speed until the butter is mostly incorporated. It can take about 3-4 minutes just to add in the butter.
  • Once all the butter is added, turn the mixer on high speed and let it whip for at least 5 minutes. (I have let it go for as long as 10)

Notes

It is important to use PASTEURIZED eggs for this recipe. You can purchase pasteurized eggs in most grocery stores. If you are unable to find pasteurized eggs, I would not attempt this recipe.
A few things to talk about. The original recipe calls for 2 full pounds of butter and 16 ounces of confectioners sugar. I decreased my version considerably…  I only used 1 pound of butter and 8 ounces of confectioners sugar. I found that this amount of ingredients was perfect for my 5 quart KitchenAid and that it was plenty of frosting to cover 24 cupcakes.

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Meet Amanda Rettke

Amanda Rettke is the creator of I Am Baker, and the bestselling author of Surprise Inside Cakes: Amazing Cakes for Every Occasion – With a Little Something Extra Inside.Over the course of her 15+ year blogging adventure, she has been featured in and collaborated with the Food Network, New York Times, LA Times, Country Living Magazine, People Magazine, Epicurious, Brides, Romantic Homes, life:beautiful, Publishers Weekly, The Daily Mail, Star Tribune, The Globe and Mail, DailyCandy, YumSugar, The Knot, The Kitchn, and Parade, to name a few.

Reader Comments

  1. I have enjoyed making several different recipes posted under I Am Baker but this is the 1st time I’ve read your bio or seen a picture. It’s nice to put a face and info with a site I’ve come to trust as a good source for very tasty recipes. I’m looking forward to trying this meringue frosting!!

  2. I just had to say a few words of praise for this amazing recipe. Very easy to mix up and for it to all to come together but you must follow the directions. It takes a bit of patience but it will all pay off…it’s the most velvety, perfect sweetness that melds so well with the cake. It’s also AMAZING to pipe and decorate your cupcakes with…I’ll be using this recipe again and again. I can’t wait to play around with it and try different flavors. 😁

  3. Can it be made in advance? How stable it is. If i top my cupcakes with this a day before will it hold up the next day for bake sale actually?

    1. can it be made in advance? How stable is it? If I top my cupcakes with this a day before will it hold up the next day for bake sale?

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