Buttercream Petal Cake Tutorial
Today, I'm going to show you how to make a beautiful buttercream petal cake!
I love cake designs that incorporate lots of piping or texture. Buttercream petal cakes are a perfect example, and this pretty "Petal Effect" around the sides is one of the easiest techniques there is.
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Easy, Beautiful Buttercream Technique
I absolutely love working with buttercream. Whether piping, or applying simple texture with a spatula, the decorating options are endless.
We have done countless tutorials on piped and textured methods of decorating, and today's technique is one of my favorites!
In today's tutorial, I am demonstrating a technique that not only looks like beautiful buttercream petals, but it is SO easy to create.
Your friends and family will be so impressed with this petal cake design, and the simplicity of the method will be our little secret. Enjoy!!
Petal Cake Video
How to Make a Petal Cake
Below is our original petal cake tutorial that we published to the site years ago. Sometimes it's helpful to see still shots as well!
I am working with Vanilla Buttercream, a smallish angled spatula with a rounded edge, and a piping bag fitted with a medium sized round tip (I used a Wilton Tip 12). First, pipe a vertical row of dots...
Next, spread the buttercream dots with a spatula as you see in the picture. I used a small offset spatula with a rounded edge (but you can use a spoon if you'd rather!). This creates the look of petals!
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat... one vertical row at a time. 
You can experiment with your spacing..
or you can even stagger if you'd like (This looks like fish or dragon scales!)
There are so many fun ways to change up this buttercream petal effect- you could use multicolored petals, create the design on top of a sheet cake, use it as a bottom border, etc.
I do this technique with the tip itself . I make lots of cupcakes for the bakery every morning. I started making daisies and always managed to drag the tip too deep and the effect comes out like this. Since I have to make a lot, it started as a mistake but I liked the effect it gave the daisies. You don't need to go back with a spatula. Just bubble it and drag it fast.
Would this technique work with whipped chocolate ganache? I want to try it on a chocolate cake but much prefer the taste of the whipped ganache to a chocolate buttercream. Thanks! Shannon
Hi Shannon, if your whipped ganache is thick enough to hold its shape it should work fine. However, we have never tried the "petal effect" with whipped ganache.
Hola, quiero saber la receta para la crema de vainilla, muchas gracias me gusto mucho la idea y quisiera hacer para mi cumpleaños.
i feel like a total bonehead after reading this. i tried this technique, but did horizontal rows, not vertical. at least i have this sunday to redeem myself! thank you for this clear tutorial!
Hi Kate, it will be perfect this time!
WOW! Thank you so much! I love love love this. I will definitely be doing this for Valentines :-)
I am so glad I found this tutorial. It pays to peruse your website. I just made your giant rose swirl and I'm going to be doing it again tomorrow for a birthday cake for a little girl. I think I want to spice it up a bit by using this technique on the sides of the cake. Thanks for the tutorial.
Thanks Claire!
@Cake it is-- So happy to hear it! ;0) --Have fun! Sounds like a great idea for a design.
Very delicate
Hi Sonia, I think you could, just don't know how long it would hold.
Hi! I wanted to try this technique for my daughter's cake I have to make this Friday, but I'm not a buttercream fan. Can I use regular cake frosting?