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    Home » Piping Techniques for Cake Decorating

    Icing Coupler - What Is It and How to Use It

    Published: Aug 16, 2020 · Modified: Aug 4, 2022 by Priya Maha

    Have you heard of icing coupler before? Well, I have definitely mentioned in quite a number of pages on my site and it is a tool that is closely associated with piped cake decorating techniques. Having said that, 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. So first things first. This is what a coupler looks like:

    A white icing coupler

    It's made of plastic and has 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. So I decided to do this small write up on icing couplers.


    What is a Coupler Used For?

    Icing couplers are basically used for all kinds of piped decorations that use piping tips. They 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.

    How to Use an Icing Coupler - Video

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


    How to Use an Icing Coupler - A Step by Step Guide

    Ok, this is the fun part - the demo. I'll show you how to fit an icing coupler into a piping bag. Also, how to secure a piping tip with it in the best way to avoid icing leaks.

    These are the supplies you would typically need:

    • 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 fit an icing coupler into a piping bag

    • And this is how to fit the coupler to your 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

    • Next, 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

    • And then, 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

    • Next step is to 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

    • You can then fill the bag with icing and start decorating your cake. And 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. 

    Happy Decorating 🙂

    More Piping Techniques for Decorating

    • Buttercream Basket Weave Cake Decorating Tutorial
    • How to Pipe Consistent Lines on Cakes
    • Easy Lace Cake Decorating Tutorial
    • Filigree Icing Technique

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gberikon Deborah

      January 30, 2021 at 2:28 pm

      This is great

      Reply
    2. 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

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