UPDATE: Watch a video tutorial here on How to decorate a Messy Ruffles Buttercream Cake!
I cannot believe it's been more than a week since I shared a new cake. WOW - I've got some work to do!
Okay, I know I say this alot, but I was absolutely in love with this cake. I love the bright, bold colors and I am crazy about the crazy, messy ruffles.
When a family friend asked me to make a cake for her adult daughter's birthday, she let me have carte blanche with the design.
I have wanted to try to do a ruffles cake for a long time (yes, this is my first one!), and after the Peacock cupcakes last week, I was in love with those vibrant bright colors.
SO..... the idea was born to combine the bright colors and the ruffles... and the final cake was dazzling (if I might say so myself).
This cake was made with 6" and 8" round pans and it was vanilla cake. I used my vanilla buttercream recipe for the frosting and a Wilton #104 Petal Tip to make the ruffles.
Update: Thanks to a question in the comments by Michelle... here are a few more details. I used my favorite Americolor gel colors. Specifically, I used Electric Green, a mix of Violet and Electric Pink, and a mixture of Electric Blue and Sky Blue (and maybe a drop of Teal?).
UPDATE #2: Watch a video tutorial here on How to decorate a Messy Ruffles Buttercream Cake!
Do you like the look of the ruffles on a cake? Do you have any questions about this cake? Please leave them in the comments!
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Vero
This is amazing!!!!! I wish I had your talent:)
Rose
Thank you!
Belinda
hi i love your cake. Could you show a tutorial on how you made the "messy ruffles". Please 🙂
Rose
Thank you! I really hope to do a video tutorial soon (actually two or three of them) - but I'm working out some "technical" difficulties 😉
Yaneri -Sweet Baker
This would be fabulous Rose!!! Seriously, you would be awesome on YouTube!!!
I would love to learn too!!! Your such an amazing inspiration..............but u know that already Rose........I've told you that many times!!!! Keep it up my dear!!
Sarah Beth
Love Love Love!!!! DId you go around in a circle or up down all around lol 🙂
Rose
Thanks Sarah! It was very random... I just moved around and up and down and side to side in a random pattern.. BUT, I did about 3-4" band at a time - going all around the cake, then I'd move up and go around again. Does that make sense?
Alicia Oliver
This is TOOO CUTE! Love it!
Rose
Thanks Alicia!
Kristen Miller
Rose!!! I sooooo love this cake! I'm not kidding...like L O V E! Can't wait to try my hand at it this weekend. 🙂 Except white won't be nearly as stunning. So I had hydrangeas in my wedding bouquet. Do you think I could do some roundish spots in light blue (just a few of them) and then fill the rest in with white. How do you think that would look? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=198442749440&set=a.198441434440.122528.557494440&type=3&theater
Rose
Thanks Kristen! I think your idea would be gorgeous! I've never tried to pipe hydrangeas at all but I don't think they'd be hard!
Kristen Miller
I was actually just talking about doing the messy ruffles in blue in some spots and then the rest of it white messy ruffles...not actually piping hydrangeas. That would be pretty...but I don't know if I'm up for it this weekend. Never tried that either! Haha
A.J. Dub (Amy)
This is amazing! I Love the colors and texture. Bravo! Glad to hear you are working on a tute!
michelle
hiiiii rose i was just browsing online and was looking for peacock themed cakes ... this is awesomee!! what's the brand of the icing colors that u used? i really like bolddd colors! <3 5 stars for this one 🙂
Rose
Thanks Michelle!! I can't give you exact details but used my favorite Americolor gel colors (here: http://amzn.to/americolorgel). Specifically, I used Electric Green (Electric Gel Colors: http://amzn.to/electricgel), a mix of Violet and Electric Pink, and a mixture of Electric Blue and Sky Blue (and maybe a drop of Teal?).
michelle
what an impromptu reply. thanks rose! u just gained another follower of your lovely blog 🙂 looking forward on ur next entries 🙂
Rose
Awesome! Thank you.
julie
Hi there, my friend is having a 'mexican fiesta' party for her upcoming 40th. I just found your cake searching for ruffle ideas and this style really reminds me of the mexican dancers skirts which would work beautifully. Just wondered do you do a buttercream base on the cake or fondant and how do you keep your buttercream to hold its shape so well on the side of the cake without sliding off? Do you add more icing sugar to make it firmer? Thank you
Rose
Hi Julie! The ruffles would be perfect for a fiesta cake! I crumb coat my cake with buttercream then pipe the ruffles right onto the cake. I actually just use the same buttercream consistency that I always use and it sticks just fine. I make sure to apply pressure when piping it on so the ruffles are really firm against the cake. I hope that helps! Oh, and be sure to practice ahead of time, maybe on a smaller cake to get the hang of it!
Kaley Rose
made this for my 18th birthday 🙂 it was a hit!! i made the colours more muted, and added three peacock feathers to the top!
Kim
Hi, Rose! Was this cake two of each 6" and 8" cakes? Or was it one of each that you torted? It looks so nice and high. That is the effect I want too when I make it.
Thanks!
Rose
Yes, each tier was two (2 inch) layers of cake with filling in between!
Kim
Makes sense and sounds yummy!
Thanks, Rose!
Christina
I'm about to start this cake; and had a quick question. I was wondering about how much of each color of frosting to do. I always have a hard time judging that. I made up your vanilla buttercream recipe; and have not started the crumb coat yet. any tips would be helpful!
Rose
It's always a guessing game, honestly. I *think* I probably used about 2 cups of each color, but I don't really measure - I just "eyeball it" and go from there.
Christina
Thank you for your quick response! Can't wait to see how this turns out! I've made a gum paste masquerade mask and I'm going to add peacock feathers to the top. Thanks for sharing the tutorial! 🙂
Barbara
Hey Rose,
I have been looking for a wedding cake to make for my daughter's wedding which is July 19th (just 2 weeks away) and her theme is Peacocks!! I found this cake on pinterest and she LOVES it and wants me to try and pull this off for her in the shape of hearts. Well first let me say that I have only made 2 wedding cakes in my life, one about 25 years ago, and a simple cake about 2 years ago, so I am Not a Pro by any means!!! I do make a lot of the "Doll" cakes and decorate by using the star tip. I was thinking I would do that with this cake, but after watching your tutorial on how to make the messy ruffles I decided to give it a shot!! I have never "stacked" a cake. the one wedding cake I made I used the columns to lift each layer up.
My question is with doing the heart shaped cake (3 tier...with the 3rd being for their 1st anniversary), can you advise me as to how to stack the layers please. and any other suggestions for this adventure that I am about to take on. Oh and did I mention....It is an OUTSIDE WEDDING and RECEPTION in the middle of July.....Let's just call me CRAZY!!!!
Rose
Oooh.... a challenge for sure. The heat and humidity are my biggest enemies and I shudder at the thought of outside in July!! I have a tutorial here for how I stack cakes. The method would be very similar for the ruffles cake... I'd do the bubble tea straws, then stack them and dowel it, THEN do all the ruffles on the stacked cake. Be sure to do a fresh (wet) crumb coat just before piping the ruffles... 'wet' frosting (as opposed to crusted already) sticks better to 'wet' frosting. Also be sure to apply enough pressure with the wide end of the tip closest to the cake so that there's plenty of contact for the frosting to adhere. I hope that helps!
Christine
I love the look of this cake! I will certainly try it soon- maybe for my own birthday! Well done 🙂
Rose
Great!! Thank you 🙂