This past weekend I got to do a cake and cupcakes for a Fiesta Themed party! As soon as Anna told me the theme of the party - I knew that I wanted to do bright festive ruffles cakes and cupcakes!
And with Cinco de Mayo just a few days away, I thought I'd go ahead and share this party because it matches the holiday festivities so well! Plus, the ruffles effect is easy to pull together and the possibilities are endless!
She told me her main colors were bright red, green, yellow, blue and purple. When she said "fiesta" was the theme, I immediately thought of those bright ruffled skirts that I associate with Spanish/Mexican celebrations.
I have been asked a few times about my white cake stands that have ribbon holes. I bought my set at Sam's Club, but I don't think they're available there anymore. Here's a similar set on Amazon: Set of 3 Cake Stands with Ribbons.
The cake is a 7" round cake, two layers. She only asked for a small "smash cake" sized cake, but I had extra batter so I went ahead and made it a little more substantial!
To do the ruffles, I used Wilton #104 petal tips... and I made up 5 bags - one of each color! These colors are all Americolor gel colors: Regal Purple, Electric Blue, Tulip Red, Electric Yellow and Electric Green.
I started at the top of the cake piping one row of ruffles at a time, going around and around and around the cake - all the way to the bottom!
The flower was made from gum paste. I colored the gum paste Tulip Red, then made the flower the night before so it could dry! I dusted the yellow center with gold luster dust to give it a pop!
For the cupcakes - these ruffled flower cupcakes I did a few weeks ago were so popular, I decided to mix some ruffles flower cupcakes along with some striped ruffles to match the cake!
When it was all put together, I loved the look and Anna loved it all as well! The cake and cupcakes were all vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream. Would you like to Pin this party or cake? Here's a Pinterest friendly collage for you:
Do you have any questions about this cake or cupcakes? Do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo or have you ever had a Fiesta-themed party?
Anna
You ROCK Rose!! Awesome colours!!! LOVING the theme. You are too clever!!
Anna XX
Mary
This is so beautiful and festive. I just love it! For the ruffles, did you use stiff buttercream icing or medium? Do you think it would be okay to make it as a 9 inch cakes and still use the #104 ruffle tip in terms of proportion? I am thinking of making this for my mother-in-laws 80th birthday party which is a fiesta theme. Probably around 20-30 folks may attend. I was thinking 9 inch with the cupcakes will be plenty of cake for all :-). I appreciate your advice!! Thanks, Mary
Rose
I used more of a medium consistency buttercream - definitely not stiff! Yes, you could do it as a 9" cake. Check out this cake: Pink Ombre Ruffles.
Dinah
How did you do the ruffles on the cupcakes? Making a circle going from middle to outside or just messy? Tip still in same position as with the cake?
Thank you so much,
Dinah
Amy
Love this cake and so does my brother! He is having a fiesta 30th birthday party and wants me to make his cake like this but using diffierent colors. I have taken cake decorating classes but still consider myself a beginner. My question for you is did you do a complete frosting of the cake or a crumb coating only before the ruffling?
Rose
It was a pretty good layer of frosting underneath the ruffles - definitely more than a crumb coat!
starla j
Love the cake! Awesome! !
Regina Joseph
GOD Morning Rose,
What type of chocolate you use for your Candy Apples and how do you make your Caramel Creamy enough to dip your apples?
Thanks and GOD BLESS
Laura
We are making this cake and having a problem with the layers falling off the side. Any suggestions?? We're practicing making this for my kids bday
Rose
Make sure you have a fresh crumb coat underneath it - fresh frosting sticks better to fresh frosting. If it's already crusted, it will fall off. Also be sure to apply enough pressure where you're piping the ruffles on so that there's a good connection to the side.
Jenni
Would love to know how you Ruffled the cupcakes like you did with buttercream. I've done a ruffle cake, but I'm not sure about the flower looking cupcakes!
Rose Atwater
It's hard to explain in a comment, but I used a small petal tip (#104 maybe?) and started in the center, piping out and around and around to ruffle them.
Carla
Skinny tip up? Thank you!
Rose
Skinny SIDE of the tip 🙂
Marie
Wow! This looks incredible! The colors are vibrant and the design is stunning. This could be great for so many different types of parties. I love it. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday this week!
Rose Atwater
Thank you!
Teresa
What tips did you use for the ruffles and the cupcakes
Rose
Wilton #104 or #105.
Lea
Rose, thank you so much for supplying all the information on how you decorated this cake. A friend just sent me this cake to do for her daughter's college graduation and Cinco de Mayo next Saturday. I was so psyched to find this information. I'll be using a meringue type buttercream so I hope the ruffles hold up ok. I do have a question tho, why did you start at the top and not the bottom?
Giovanna Peterkin Trower
Can you give me a icing recipe that won't get running using all these colors because a lot of coloring must be used to get the vibrant colors? Do you use gel or regular food coloring?
Rose
I use Americolor gel colors for all of my frosting and I use American Buttercream 99% of the time: https://rosebakes.com/VanillaButtercream.