How to use the Russian piping tips to decorate flowers on cupcakes or cookies.
Russian piping tips
I have been eyeing this 9-piece set of big flower decorating tips for awhile now, and I decided to just order them already.
A few folks on facebook told me that AliExpress has them for less money, but that they take weeks to arrive.
When I ordered the Russian piping tips from amazon, they were available on Prime, and it looks like they are no longer (though they are available for Free Shipping). So keep your eye out for changes at amazon.
I do like them, a lot, although I prefer smaller decorating tips rather than the huge ones because I find them easier to wield. It’s best to use the larger, 16-inch disposable decorating bags with these, although I had to stick with my smaller ones since I was out of the larger.
UPDATE: If you want couplers so you can change the tips on the same color frosting, THIS LARGE ATECO COUPLER does fit.
what frosting to use with Russian tips
If you use a stiff buttercream frosting with the Russian piping tips, they work well.
Although I would prefer a smaller set of tips for less money, since I a few of the tips are similar. For the frosting, you can use either bakery frosting OR my recipe for buttercream frosting, adding only three tablespoons of milk.
If you’re using another recipe that’s thinner (or, if you’re using store-bought frosting, which is not stiff enough), to thicken your frosting to a stiff consistency, you’ll need a good bit of confectioner’s sugar.
Confectioner’s sugar is very fine, so you’ll need more than you think. However, be sure not to make the frosting too thick, or you’ll have trouble squeezing it out of the decorating bag. You want to squeeze the decorating bag easily, but the frosting should still hold its shape.
Note that royal icing is NOT recommended for these decorating tips, as royal icing doesn’t hold a three-dimensional shape as well as buttercream frosting.
how to color frosting
For the food coloring, I used my trusty Americolor Soft Gel Pastes, of course: Red Red, Orange, Egg Yellow, Electric Green, Sky Blue, Electric Purple, and Electric Pink.
how to pipe flowers
I lined a baking tray with wax paper and piped frosting on the tray.
You may need to use your fingers to secure the flower as you pull the bag away.
Let the frosting set well, several hours, before removing from the tray.
Then, you can decorate cookies, cupcakes or cakes. Adhere the flowers with dabs of frosting. OR, pipe flowers directly on your cookies, cupcakes or cakes.
FIND THE BIG FLOWER DECORATING TIPS AT AMAZON.
Like this idea? You might also like these how-tos for decorating mini cupcakes with mini flowers or these how-tos for decorating sunflower cookies.
PIN FOR LATER:
Kate says
Thank you for the blog! I bought these tips, but haven’t played with them yet. Thanks!!
Tami Seaver says
Where do you buy the tips at ?
meaghanmountford says
Hi Tami, these are the tips: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C8H3ZWM?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B01C8H3ZWM&linkCode=xm2&tag=thedecocook-20
Susan Nienhuis says
I’ve ordered from AliExpress twice and neither item was authentic to what was advertised and because it comes from China, returning them would have been more expensive than just saying, “lessons learned!”
I think these flowers are super cute!! I can’t wait to see what you end up doing with all of them:)
Happy Spring!
Susan
meaghanmountford says
Thank you Susan! I debated ordering from AliExpress, but ugh, last time I ordered from a company that shipped from China it was a disaster, so I just couldn’t! Good to know for future, too!!
Sherri Bagwell says
Ordered the same set from Amazon but haven’t had a chance to play yet. Your choice of colors along with the ahapes are jusr beautiful!
Burgundy says
Try Amazon. Ordered and received them the same day. Still to experiment though.
Cindee says
Any clue if there is a coupler available for these tips? I want to be able to change out tips so I can play around with them and learn to use them. Thank you for this post!!
meaghanmountford says
Great question! I wonder if this one would fit? I’ll order one and test it and let you know!!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012H8EF8?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0012H8EF8&linkCode=xm2&tag=thedecocook-20
meaghanmountford says
Okey doke, Cindee, I tried the coupler and it works! Will update the post above. Got it at amazon Prime:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012H8EF8?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0012H8EF8&linkCode=xm2&tag=thedecocook-20
Jamie says
These are gorgeous! I have 3 different sets and love them all. Very fun to play with!
meaghanmountford says
Thank you Jamie! You just reminded me I need to pull them out again. Love them too!
DIANNE says
Could I pipe some in thick royal icing and let them dry for later use ?
meaghanmountford says
Hi Dianne, If your royal icing is quite thick, you could try.BUT… Buttercream is better for this size (but of course that doesn’t fully dry like royal icing). Royal icing is better for smaller flowers and flatter designs to dry for transfers later. I feel like it collapses more easily, and if it’s really thick, might be hard to pipe.
Tatiana says
Please, give me your recipe buttercream!
meaghanmountford says
Hi Tatiana! You can find the recipe on this page:
https://thedecoratedcookie.com/2008/11/cookie-dough-and-frosting-recipes/
Thanks for visiting!