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    Decorated Treats » Tips & Techniques

    Icing Coupler (What Is It and How to Use It)

    Published: Aug 16, 2020 · Modified: Mar 5, 2024 by Priya Maha

    Learn how to use icing coupler correctly with this easy tutorial. It is a simple tool that helps make piping work for cakes and cupcakes easy. Fit them to your piping bags and starting piping like a pro in no time!

    A white icing coupler.
    Jump to:
    • What is an icing coupler?
    • What is it Used For?
    • 🎥Video Tutorial - How to Use
    • 🧾Tools required
    • 👩‍🍳How to Use
    • ❤️More tutorials you will love

    If you like piping work, check out these other tutorials on how to make buttercream basket weave patterns, how to make easy buttercream flowers, how to make royal icing butterflies and filigree icing technique.

    What is an icing coupler?

    Icing coupler is a tool that is used to hold piping tips to piping bag when decorating cakes and cupcakes. You do not need a coupler for all piped decorations. Some can also be done without a coupler, and it all depends on the piping tip you are using.

    An icing couple is made up of 2 components. One long cylinder-shaped piece and another one that looks like a nut. These are mostly made in plastic and come in many different colors.

    The ones I use are Wilton couplers and the size can fit all Wilton standard piping tips. By standard, I mean the normal-sized piping tips and not the larger ones like tip number 2D.

    There are off course larger couplers for the larger piping tips. But I find that the larger tips don't really need couplers. They are good to use without a coupler.

    Using a coupler is so easy that it is often assumed one would know how to use it without any demo. And that was what I thought too all this while until someone asked me what a coupler is and how to use it.

    What is it Used For?

    Icing couplers are used primarily to secure the fit of piping tips to piping bags so that the icing does not leak out when squeezed for piping.

    It also makes changing piping tips easy as the tip is held by the coupler outside the piping bag.

    🎥Video Tutorial - How to Use

    Check out my full video on how to use an icing coupler:

    🧾Tools required

    This guide is to show you how to fit an icing coupler into a piping bag. It will also show you how to secure a piping tip with it in the best way to avoid icing leaks.

    • Piping bag (I am using a disposable piping bag here)
    • Icing coupler
    • Piping tip
    An icing tip, coupler and empty piping bag against a grey background.

    👩‍🍳How to Use

    Step 1: Insert the cylinder component into the piping bag. Start by dropping your cylinder component into your piping bag and push it right to the tip.

    An icing coupler inside an empty piping bag.

    Step 2: Mark the cutting line. Using a marker pen, draw a small line as a cutting guide.

    The position of the line is very important to avoid leaks in the piping bag so always make sure it is no more than the one-third mark from the bottom of the coupler.

    Also, make sure, the line is always below the thread lines on the coupler. 

    Using a market to mark the tip of a piping bag.

    Step 3: Cut the tip of the piping bag. Push the coupler up so that you can cut your piping bag along the line marked earlier. 

    A piping bag with a coupler in it and the tip cut off. In the background is a pair of red scissors.

    Once cut, push the coupler back to the tip of the piping bag. This is how it would look like.

    An icing coupler inside an empty piping bag.

    Step 4: Fit the piping tip. This will be done using the coupler nut. 

    A petal piping tip and a coupler screw.

    Place the nut as shown below:

    Piping tip in an icing coupler screw.

    And then, simply lift the tip with the nut on and screw it to the coupler in the piping bag like this:

    Fixing the piping tip into an icing coupler.

    This is how it should look like when done.

    Piping bag fitted with an icing coupler and piping tip.

    Step 5: Filling the bag with frosting and start piping. If you need to change the tip, simply unscrew the nut and replace the piping tip before screwing it back again. 

    And that is how you use a coupler for cake decorating piping. 

    ❤️More tutorials you will love

    • Basket weave buttercream pattern in white against brown background.
      Buttercream Basket Weave Cake Decorating (How to Make)
    • 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
    • How to Manage with One Coupler for Many Icing Colors

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marilyn

      February 17, 2022 at 11:07 am

      Thank you for the coupler info. I am a beginner and found it very helpful.

      Reply
      • Priya Maha

        February 18, 2022 at 9:20 pm

        Thank you Marilyn. I am glad you find it useful 🙂

        Reply
    2. Gberikon Deborah

      January 30, 2021 at 2:28 pm

      This is great

      Reply

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    A poster of images showing how to use an icing coupler.