Decoration with a drawstring bag and adaptors

You have just the right cupcake or cake in front of you, because we stick to pastry tricks during the preparation . But as always before, don''t feel super talented at decorating cakes and cupcakes, because it''s extremely intimidating. Do you feel the same way?

Chocolate toppings are getting a bit boring, you want to decorate with swirls of chocolate cream, which is what chocolate muffins are usually decorated with . You do a bit of research on the web and find that they can be made, but you need a piping bag.

The actual preparation of the custard in the piping bag and the choice of the right piping tip may seem challenging and a pastry nightmare at the moment, but with a little practice, the swirls of chocolate custard will be perfectly easy to draw on your next chocolate muffins.

1. How to create a decoration with a piping bag?

If you''ve ever created improvised zipped piping bags, the time has come when you''ll need to swap them for some higher-end piping bags that won''t burst when in use. The confectionery market offers a wide range of both disposable and reusable shaker bags.

When you buy BAM products, you can use the code RECEPT, which gives you a 10% discount on your entire purchase.

Both options are great, except that reusable bags are quite difficult to clean, which is especially important when you use several different creams for decoration. The reusable bags have thinner plastic, which means they are also easier to work with.

2. How do I hold the shaker bag correctly?

When you start decorating, hold the top of the piping bag with the hand you will be using to create the decoration. Grasp it with your thumb, twist it and apply light pressure to create the desired patterns. It is important to squeeze the piping bag with only one hand to ensure even pressure. Normally hold the piping bag perpendicular to the surface you are applying the decoration to.

3. The closed star shaped nozzle makes a rose motif.

Wilton 1M is a name you must have heard of. It is one of the better known manufacturers of decorating accessories. The name represents a classic tip for drawstring bags which creates a rose-shaped decoration. The base for the decoration is buttercream, but the spout can also be the product of another maker, it is just important that it is the same dimensions.

The easiest way to fill the buttercream piping bag is to use a tall glass. Place the bag in the jar and fill. Start by creating a rose in the centre of the cupcake and work your way towards the outside of the cupcake to create a snail house shape. Be careful to create a ''flat'' shape and not to move the piping bag towards the top as you would, say, to make an ice-cream ball shape.

4. The wide star shape is the most commonly used.

The wide star shape is the most commonly used attachment when making decorations with a piping bag. Is this true? The Wilton 8B is very easy to use and at the same time creates a beautiful decoration. There you go again. We can also use other confectionery manufacturers'' nozzles to make decorations with the wide star shape, just make sure you use the same size nozzle. The decoration is easily made by cutting the piping bag a little at the tip, so that you have a slightly larger opening through which to push the piping tip. With a wide star-shaped nozzle, care must be taken to fill the piping bag with enough cream so that it does not run out in the very last stroke. The decoration is quite simple: start in the centre of the cupcake and continue with the ice-cream ball decoration.