Cake Decorating Tips for Tubes

Write Messages
Write messages using a round No. 1 tip. Thin buttercream frosting or royal icing works well. Add 1 tbsp. of corn syrup per ½ cup of buttercream frosting for smoother flow and better defined points. Lightly draw the message on the cake using a toothpick. Smooth the icing over and start again as often as necessary. Hold the bag at a 45-degree angle and the tip lightly touching the cake. Move your entire arm when you write rather than only moving your hand. Lift your arm up at the end of the letter or word, and be sure to stop squeezing the icing bag before you lift your arm to avoid making tails at the ends of your words. For printing, hold the bag toward you for vertical lines and to the right or left for horizontal lines.
Make Flowers
Star flowers can be done by using the No. 2D and No. 3 tips. Use the No. 2D to make the petals. Make six petals in a circle. Begin at the center of the circle, squeeze out the petal holding the bag straight up, stop squeezing and lift your hand. Make the petal a bit thicker in the center and taper off toward the end of the petal. Use a No. 3 tip to make the dot at the center of the flower connecting the petals. The petals can be a different color from the center for a more realistic look. Frosting for the petals should be of medium consistency and the center dot of a thinner consistency.
Make Leaves
Use a leaf tip to add leaves to your flowers. Mix up medium-consistency, dark-green frosting and draw the stem with the round No. 1 tip. Adding 1 tbsp. of corn syrup per 1/2 cup of leaf frosting will give a nice crisp tip to your leaves. Attach the leaf tip, point one of the pointed sides of the tip face down. Start the leaf at the stem and, as you finish the end of the leaf, pull up as you stop squeezing the frosting bag. This will give the leaf a three-dimensional finish.