Essential cake decorating (piping) tools?!

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For cupcakes, you need extra large tips. I use a 1M star tip for decorating my cupcakes. Instead of buying a whole lot of supplies, you are good with a few basic things - bags, couplers, tips, spatula, and smoother, etc.

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Your best bet and buy is the basic kit, then you can add to that. The basic kit has about 10 tips in it and a coupler and I think, a couple of bags.

These are the tips most often used, so don't worry about it. And the star in it is the one I use for cakes like the Holly Hobby. Will work great for your cupcakes.

I use only the wilton tips. One thing you will want to have is the little brush to clean the tips with!! And you might get one of the "YearBooks". They are so handy with all the hints and current patterns in them along with recipes so you don't have to continually go to the site on line.

Have a happy valentines and happy cake decorating.

I was a cake decorator for eight years, but gave it up because I was always working weekends when my kids were home from school.

I would recommend you buy one of the Wilton tip sets. That will give you a good variety and it's a little cheaper that way. You will need paste food coloring and bags and couplers. Wilton has the mini jars in sets. You can go that route or buy the primary colors and black and brown to start with. I really like the clear disposable bags because I could see the color of my icing and they can be washed and reused several times before developing holes. They come in a box of several so you will have plenty if your using lots of colors. As far as couplers, again if you think you will be using lots of colors the more the better. A flower nail and scissors are also essential. Another have to have is a turn table for easier decorating.

That along with an instruction book should be plenty to get you started. Once you have done a few cakes you will kind of get a feel for what you like to use and what techniques work best for you. Have fun & happy decorating!

Yes to all. More than 1 of each. The best thing to think about is how many colors at one time you are going to use. You will need a bag and coupler for each color of icing you are making, paste colors , tips sizes would be : 2-3-16-18-104- 65 and a nail head used to make roses. I would use an size 18 tip for cupcakes.