How to Pipe a Braided Border

Top off your cake design with a unique, easy to pipe braided border. Use tip 1M for a braid that really stands out or smaller star tips for delicate braids on cupcakes and treats. Tip 1M also pipes realistic looking braided hair for whimsical cakes.

Skill LevelBeginner

Ingredients & Tools
Instructions

Ingredients

Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Supplies
1M Tip
Decorating Bags
Silicone Spatula

Instructions

Click to mark complete

Fit a decorating bag with tip 1M and medium consistency icing. Hold the decorating bag at an angle with the back of the bag pointed slightly to the right with the tip touching the surface.
Applying even pressure, pipe a straight line of icing about 1 in. (2.54 cm) long angled downward towards the right. Release pressure, pulling the tip down and away.
Place the tip on the surface, halfway up on the right side of the line of icing, with the back of the bag pointed slightly to the left.
Pipe another straight line lifting the tip to cross over the first line, moving downward towards the left. When the line of icing is the same length as the first, release pressure pulling the tip down and away.
For the third line of icing, position the tip slightly above the end of the previous line. Begin piping to cover the end, then lift the tip crossing over the line, downward towards the right, releasing pressure and pulling away.
Repeat piping lines of icing, alternating direction using even pressure until you reach the desired length of the braid. The braid should look even and continuous. To end a braid border, tuck the last line of icing into the “V” of icing at the starting point.

Notes

Use consistent pressure with each piped line to make a smooth braid. Experiment with different sized star and round tips to change the shape and size of the braid. If piping a braid for other purposed than a border, give it a finished look by crossing the final piped lines over each other, bringing them to a point. Give it a tied off look with a bow or pipe stars across the end.