Wedding Cake Icing Types
Glean Icing Inspiration From These Magnolia Bakery Wedding Cakes
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Whether you're planning the design of your wedding cake (or just dreaming of one), it's all important to determine the icing decoration. Should you go with rosettes or cornelli lace? If you don't even know the icing terminology to use, Magnolia Bakery shared photos of its wedding cakes along with the names of the various icing techniques, so you can verbalize every detail to your wedding-cake baker.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Sculptural
For a cake that looks painted on with a palette knife, opt for a sculptural look with cascading flowers.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Rosettes
A star piping tip, when rotated in a circle, forms a rose shape called rosettes. Cover the whole cake in rosettes, or choose a center layer for surface contrast.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Swiss-Dot Lace
Let your lace wedding dress and/or veil inspire your cake design.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Star Flowers
Star flowers floating around the cake's circumference add a touch of femininity.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Flowers, Leaves, and Vines
Keep the cake pure white but add textural contrast with piped-on flowers, leaves, and vines.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Spackle Ombré
Spackle refers to the paste used to cover cracks and holes in the wall, and the cake playfully takes on that texture. A pink ombré hue lifts the eyes to the BHLDN rabbit cake topper ($158).
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Paisley
It doesn't just belong on a cowboy's shirt! Try it on the groom's or the bride's cake.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Swiped Pearls
Swiped pearls (also called petals) are formed by piping on large pearls of icing, then dragging them at an angle with an offset spatula.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Petals
The icing is piped on using a petal tip. Each petal is piped on top of the other to form a ruffled look. Colorblocking the petals makes the cake pop.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Gold or Silver Leafing
In between two petaled layers of cake, cover the center layer in gold or silver leafing. The flaky, shimmery appearance is eye-catching!
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Strung Pearls
Piped-on icing dots that touch are called strung pearls.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Ombré Horizontal Stripes
Combine the bride's and groom's cakes in an ombré vanilla-to-chocolate cake iced in horizontal stripes.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Pressed Dots
Pressed dots distributed throughout the layers make it look like confetti has been thrown on the cake. Match the dots to your color scheme.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Fleur de Lis
Keep the cake classic with piped fleur de lis.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Cornelli Lace
A small round piping tip is used to achieve cornelli lace, which is basically a freehand, curvy design that swirls around the cake, but its edges never touch. The intricate pattern indicates a formal celebration.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Pillars
Keep the icing fuss-free and smooth, and let the colorful flowers stacked between the pillars do the talking.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Clustered Pearls
Though a simple design, clustered pearls instantly change the textural interest of the cake.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
Fancy Frills
Can't decide on one design? Mix and match fancy frills for each layer of cake.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
"Birthday Suit" Cakes
For a casual, modern look, don't ice the cakes completely! Exposing the cake in between the iced layers lets guests know what flavor they're in for.
Source: Magnolia Bakery
