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    Decorated Treats » Tips & Techniques

    Buttercream Basket Weave Cake Decorating (How to Make)

    Published: Aug 16, 2020 · Modified: Mar 4, 2024 by Priya Maha

    Buttercream basket weave piping technique is typically used to create basket weave pattern on cakes. It is very easy to pipe and can be mastered very quickly.

    Basket weave buttercream pattern in white against brown background. In the background is a piping bag filled with white icing.

    This is a very common cake decorating technique, but one that is capable of creating stunning results on cakes.

    It is also one of the more traditional ways of decorating a cake. I have seen cakes decorated using this basket weave technique for many years now and it is one that I would say is evergreen. 

    Jump to:
    • ❤️Why you will love this tutorial
    • 🧾Supplies required
    • 👩‍🍳How to Make
    • ❤️More tutorials you will love

    ❤️Why you will love this tutorial

    • It makes very pretty cake decorating.
    • It is also very easy to learn and master.
    • You can use this technique not just with buttercream, but with any other pipeable frosting like royal icing, chocolate ganache, and cream cheese frosting.
    • All you need is a flat piping tip and piping bag. Not other special tools required.

    If you like this tutorial, you should also check out my other tutorials on how to make royal icing butterflies and how to make easy buttercream flowers.

    🧾Supplies required

    • Buttercream Icing - I used buttercream icing for this tutorial, but any icing in piping consistency such as royal icing or even chocolate ganache can be used for this technique.
    • Disposable piping bags and basket weave tip/nozzle - There are many different types of basket weave tips/nozzles in the market. Choose the tip that best meets the type of texture you want for cake design. There are also extra-large tips if you are working on big cakes. The tip I am using for this tutorial is tip number 47 that is flat on one side and serrated on the other side.
    Piping tip number 47.
    Basket weave piping tip.
    Basket weave piping tip.

    👩‍🍳How to Make

    Step 1: Pipe the first vertical line of buttercream

    Fit a basketweave tip/nozzle into your piping bag and fill the bag with icing. Start by piping a vertical line on your cake. If you intend to pipe this on the sides of your cake, the vertical line should ideally be from the top of your cake to the bottom.

    And then, if you wish, you can mark the positions of the rest of the vertical lines with small dots of icing all around your cake to guide you for the vertical lines.

    The space can equal the width of your piping tip but it is not an absolute must. In this tutorial, I am not doing any marking as I am going to just eyeball the lines. 

    Marking the guide for the vertical lines help ensure the lines are distributed all around the cake at equal intervals.

    A vertical buttercream line on a brown cake board.

    Step 2: Pipe the first set of horizontal lines

    Next, pipe a short horizontal line across the first vertical in the above step. Mark a small dot of icing below the horizontal line as a guide for the next step.

    A vertical line of white icing with a short horizontal line at the top.
    A vertical line of white icing with a short horizontal line at the top.

    Pipe out another long horizontal line below the dot, across the vertical line. Mark another dot right below it if you need guide on the spacing between the vertical lines.

    I chose not to add the marks as I was able to eyeball the space for the intervals. Repeat until the entire vertical line is covered with horizontal lines. Ideally, the gap between each horizontal line should be the size of the tip or nozzle used.

    Basket weave buttercream pattern in white against brown background.

    Step 3: Pipe the next vertical line

    Once the first vertical line is covered, move to the second vertical line. Start by piping the vertical line first.

    Make sure all the edges of the horizontal lines piped in the above step are hidden under this vertical line.

    Basket weave buttercream pattern in white against brown background.

    Step 4: Pipe the second set of horizontal lines

    Following that, you will need to pipe another set of horizontal lines as shown. Start each line from underneath the first vertical line right across the second vertical line.

    The length should be the same as the first set of horizontal lines piped in the steps above. 

    Piping basket weave buttercream pattern in white against brown background.
    Basket weave buttercream pattern in white against brown background.

    Step 5: Repeat with the vertical and horizontal lines until the end

    Once the second vertical line is covered, move on to the third line. Pipe the third vertical line, again, making sure the horizontal lines piped in the step above are well covered underneath.

    Basket weave buttercream pattern in white against brown background.

    Repeat another set of horizontal lines across the newly piped vertical one, as shown.

    Basket weave buttercream pattern in white against brown background.

    Step 5: End the pattern piping

    Repeat the process until the last vertical line. And with that, the basket weave piping around the cake should be complete.

    You can then move on to add a rope border around the base of the cake and if you like, another similar border on the top edges of your cake. 

    Basket weave buttercream pattern in white against brown background.

    And that is pretty much the method for buttercream basket weave cake decorating.

    Hope you enjoyed this tutorial and find it useful for your cake decorating.

    Basket weave buttercream pattern in white against brown background.

    ❤️More tutorials you will love

    • Blue lines piped all around a round cake.
      How to Pipe Consistent Lines on Cakes
    • Filigree icing on parchment paper.
      Filigree Icing Technique for Cake Decorating
    • Fixing the piping tip into an icing coupler.
      Icing Coupler (What Is It and How to Use It)
    • How to Manage with One Coupler for Many Icing Colors

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    I'm Priya, and I'm so excited that you dropped by 🙂 Welcome to DECORATED TREATS, a place where I share all my cake decorating ideas & true and tried recipes for all things sweet.

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    A poster with a brown cake board and white basket weave frosting piping.
    Basket weave buttercream pattern in white against brown background.
    Basket weave buttercream pattern in white against brown background.
    Basket weave buttercream pattern in white against brown background. In the background is a piping bag filled with white icing.