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'm still having a problem in printing just your recipes. Is there a simple solution to this?
Thank you,
shirley
Hi Shirley--- You can just highlight exactly the words (recipe) that you want to print and then when you click print, choose the option to "print selection". That should do it! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Melissa,
Love this technique. I had a little 5 inch tier from another cake and I needed to do something for the little thing. This was perfect! Added a couple of white chocolate roses and a sprinkle of cocoa and Voila - So pretty.
Thank you so much.
Jeanne
I've done this too, but instead of using the offset spatula, I drag out the dot with just my round tip. Saves so much time and looks just as good!
Can this be done with non-crusting buttercream as well? I tried with RLB's white chocolate cream cheese buttercream and that was a no-go; ended up piping large rosettes instead. Thanks!
Hi Tara, it works fine with the non-crusting Swiss meringue buttercream .
Hi Miss Tori, that is good to know, I'll be trying that
I love this cake! My mom and I are having our birthday dinner (her bday was the 13th and mine is the 18th) this coming sunday and I am going to do this cake for sure! thank you so much for the tutorial I really appreciate it you are really good at this!
Thanks Beth-- Happy Birthday to you both!!! I hope that you have a great time! ;0)
So pretty! Please tell me what the consistency of the frosting is? I would like to give it a try! Thanks!
Hi Jamie-- medium consistency is what I use ;0)
I am new to this school but I love the look of the cake and I will surely try that technique. Thank you Melissa.
I make more cupcakes than cakes but this one is at the top of my list to try in January. Thanks!