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How to Make a Buttercream Shells Cake

by Louise 5 Comments

Buttercream Shells Cake Rose Bakes

For more months than we’ll talk about here, I’ve been wanting to do a tutorial for How to Make a Buttercream Shells Cake.   

This technique is really easy to do but the finished look is very pretty and elegant. You can change the look a little with different pastry tips and you can make the design even more interesting by doing an ombre effect.

Today I’m going to show you the basic technique to start with.

How to Make Buttercream Shells Cake 01

You’ll need:

  • A prepared cake (filled, stacked and covered with a thin crumb coat of frosting)
  • Buttercream – I used my Vanilla (American) Buttercream recipe
  • A piping bag
  • Open Star Tip (I used a 2D)
  • Small Spatula
  • Sprinkles (optional)

2D Piping Tip

 

This is the frosting tip I used… the Wilton 2D. Another similar tip is the Ateco #825 – but it’s a little larger. Once you have your frosting bag filled prepped, you’re ready to start.

How to Make Buttercream Shells Cake 02

You’ll want to start at the bottom of the cake and pipe on a shell, pulling away to the left (or right if you prefer) and tapering it off. Then move up and pipe another… and another until you reach the top of the cake.

How to Make Buttercream Shells Cake 03

 

For the next row of shells, start piping before the end of the previous row, so that there’s an overlap and none of the underlying cake can be seen. Again, go bottom to top.

Continue this pattern until all of the sides of the cake are covered:

How to Make Buttercream Shells Cake 04

How to Make Buttercream Shells Cake 05

 

When you get to the end (or where the shells run into each other), pipe one last row, doing your best to make them meet without leaving any cake exposed:

How to Make Buttercream Shells Cake 07

 

You can see toward the left side that that row is a little “off” – but the seam is hardly noticeable!

How to Make Buttercream Shells Cake 06

Now, using a small spatula, cover the top of the cake with a thin layer of frosting and smooth down the tops of any shells that are sticking up.  I knew I would be adding sprinkles, so I didn’t worry about getting that top layer of frosting perfectly smooth, but if you’re going to leave it “blank”, be sure to get a nice smooth finish.

How to Make Buttercream Shells Cake 08

Once you have it smooth and all covered, take up your piping bag again and add a shell border all around the top. I’ve actually seen this technique done where the entire top was also covered in shells and it’s beautiful that way too, but I like to leave the top smooth.

Buttercream Shells Ruffles Cake

Add some sprinkles and you’re done! Or you could also add a number or “Happy Birthday” or a personalized topper. The sky’s the limit!

What I love most about this cake is that it’s really beauti

Previous Post: « How To Make a Beach Themed Cake
Next Post: How To Decorate A Cake With Fondant Braids »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Patricia

    May 3, 2017 at 9:40 AM

    I bought the Russian nozzles but cream was too soft.The flowers were mushy.Can you please give me a buttercream recipe that’s harder. thank you

    Reply
  2. Ziba

    August 14, 2015 at 7:34 AM

    Hi Rose,
    your tutorials are always fantastic, you are so generous in sharing your techniques with us.
    Best,
    Ziba

    Reply
    • Rose Atwater

      August 15, 2015 at 2:03 AM

      Thank you Ziba! xx

      Reply
  3. Yvonne Koroma

    August 13, 2015 at 8:42 AM

    Hi Rose
    Love this cake decoration will try it out. love the colour will go great with my strawberry flavour sponge 🙂

    Reply
  4. Veronica

    August 10, 2015 at 8:32 AM

    Hey Rose,
    Such a gorgeous cake! Thanks for sharing the method. I’ll try it for my sister’s birthday 🙂

    Reply

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Kristen is the author of Cake Journal and a graduate of the Professional Baking program at Renton Technical College. She has worked as a pastry chef at a top Seattle restaurant and loves sharing her passion for baking amazing cakes on this site.

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