Craft Your Fairytale: A Magical Cinderella Cake with Enchanting Buttercream Ruffles

Welcome to a world where dreams come true, one delicious slice at a time! I’ve partnered with Cakes.com to bring you the ultimate inspiration for a truly magical Cinderella birthday cake, complete with an enchanting new buttercream ruffle cake tutorial that will transform your celebrations into a fairytale.

Today’s creation is more than just a cake; it’s a dream brought to life, perfectly fit for any little princess who adores fairytales, whimsical frills, and a sprinkle of magic. We all know a Cinderella enthusiast or two, don’t we? This stunning dessert promises to be the dazzling centerpiece of any princess-themed birthday party, capturing the hearts of guests with its intricate details and elegant design.

My Journey with Fairytale Cakes: From Professional Bakery to Home Baking Magic

Creating this Cinderella cake takes me back to my days as a professional custom cake decorator, long before The Cake Blog came into existence. Summertime was always bustling with birthday parties, and my order book was a vibrant collection of Cinderella cakes, Ariel cakes, Spiderman cakes – you name it! While I loved bringing these beloved characters to life, working with licensed characters always presented a unique challenge. I constantly balanced the immense customer demand for their favorite princesses or action heroes with the intricate copyright laws that surround them. Initially, I experimented with various techniques: freehand drawing characters with buttercream or meticulously sculpting them from fondant. I must confess, 3D character sculpting was certainly not my strongest suit, often leading to more frustration than fairytale magic.

Once I educated myself on the nuances of copyright laws, I realized I needed a more reliable and legally compliant option for my business. That’s when I discovered DecoSet® Cake Toppers through my bakery wholesaler. It was a revelation! Here were all the popular characters my customers desired, crafted from food-safe materials, and designed specifically for cake decorating. Flipping through the DecoPac catalog became a source of endless inspiration, sparking ideas for countless new cake designs that were both beautiful and effortless to create.

Fast forward ten years, and I’m thrilled to share that these very same professional-grade products, trusted by bakeries nationwide, are now readily available online to everyone at Cakes.com. If you haven’t explored Cakes.com yet, I urge you to visit! You’ll uncover an impressive array of cake decorating tools and supplies used by the pros, featuring top brands like DecoPac, Kee-Seal, Ateco, and many more. Beyond the products, you’ll find a rich gallery of ideas and comprehensive tutorials designed to empower you to create truly impressive cake displays right in your own kitchen.

Designing Your Dream: Incorporating DecoSet® Cake Toppers with Elegance

One of the aspects I adore most about DecoSet® Cake Toppers is their incredible versatility. They can be seamlessly integrated into any cake style, from the elegantly understated to the extravagantly whimsical. Personally, I gravitate towards minimal designs where the cake itself is inspired by a character rather than being a direct, literal interpretation. This approach allows for creative freedom and a more sophisticated aesthetic. While this exquisite Cinderella topper would certainly shine in an over-the-top, grand cake creation, today she takes center stage as the leading lady in this dreamy, ethereal ruffle scene.

Speaking of those captivating ruffles, let’s take a closer look at these delicate buttercream ribbons! They are undeniably frilly and intricate in appearance, yet I promise you, they are far easier to create than you might imagine. The secret lies in using a closed star tip. This specific tip allows us to pipe multiple lines of ruffles simultaneously, all beautifully interwoven at once. This technique not only speeds up the piping process but also offers a generous amount of forgiveness when it comes to achieving perfectly straight and even lines – a feature I think all cake decorators, regardless of skill level, can truly appreciate!

The Magical Finishing Touches: Bringing the Fairy Godmother’s Spell to Life

To perfectly complete the enchanting Cinderella look, I delicately sprinkled a magical circle of mixed jimmies, nonpareils, sanding sugar, and small fondant stars atop the cake. My vision was to evoke the glittering, ethereal stars that magically encircle Cinderella as her Fairy Godmother waves her wand, uttering those iconic words: “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!” Right in the very center of this dazzling starry display sits Cinderella herself, ready to make a grand appearance at the ball.

Throughout the entire process of shooting this tutorial, my daughter had her eyes fixated on this captivating Disney Princess Cinderella Transforms DecoSet® Cake Topper. She was absolutely thrilled and practically bursting with excitement to finally play with it once we had cut and enjoyed the cake. This delightful topper set comes complete with a coordinating plaque and charming dress clings, allowing the birthday girl to continue the magic and enjoy dress-up play long after the party festivities have ended. It’s truly a gift that keeps on giving!

I believe it’s high time to slice into this magnificent creation and officially commence our detailed Fairytale Ruffles tutorial! Let’s embark on this magical decorating journey together!

DIY Cinderella Cake with Fairytale Buttercream Ruffles: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

Created by Carrie Sellman for The Cake Blog

Supplies You’ll Need:

• 8″ Round Layer Cake (baked, cooled, and ready)
• Swiss Meringue Buttercream Icing (2 batches for ample coverage and decoration)
• Gel Food Color, in royal blue and just a touch of violet (to achieve Cinderella’s iconic dress color)
• 12″ Kee-Seal Ultra Grip Disposable Piping Bags (for comfortable and controlled piping)
• Closed Star Decorating Tip #852 (the key to those beautiful ruffles)
• Disney Princess Cinderella Transforms DecoSet® Cake Topper (the perfect princess centerpiece)
• Various sizes of sprinkles for a magical effect:
  • White jimmies
  • Royal blue jimmies
  • White nonpareils
  • White sanding sugar
• Fondant stars (for an extra touch of sparkle)
• Offset spatula (for smoothing icing)
• Ruler (for marking straight lines)

Detailed Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare Your Cake Base

Begin by stacking and filling your chosen cake layers. Once assembled, coat the entire exterior of the cake with a thin, even layer of frosting. This is your “crumb coat,” essential for sealing in any loose crumbs and ensuring a smooth finish for your ruffles. Refrigerate the cake for at least 10 minutes, or until the crumb coat is firm to the touch. This chilling step is crucial for stability. PRO TIP: To help keep your rows of delicate ruffles perfectly straight, use a ruler to gently mark vertical lines around the side of the cake, spaced approximately one inch apart, before you refrigerate. These faint guides will make piping significantly easier.

Step 2: Color Your Buttercream

Take the remaining Swiss Meringue Buttercream frosting and color it to precisely match the beautiful light blue shade of Cinderella’s iconic dress. Achieve this by adding the royal blue gel food color, then introduce just a tiny tad of violet gel food color. The violet helps to give the blue a softer, almost periwinkle tone, mimicking the fairytale elegance of her gown.

Step 3: Prepare Your Piping Bag

Fill a Kee-Seal disposable piping bag, fitted with the closed star decorating tip #852, with your beautifully colored buttercream frosting. I highly recommend using a 12″ bag. The larger size helps to prevent the heat from your hand from melting the icing as you work, which is vital for maintaining good definition and crispness in your ruffles. The ultra-grip feature of the Kee-Seal bag also provides a slightly textured, canvas-like exterior, ensuring you maintain a firm and comfortable grip, even when the bag inevitably becomes a little buttery.

IMPORTANT TIP: For the best results and to preserve the integrity of your bottom ruffles, it is always best to decorate this cake directly on its final cake stand or on a finished cake board that is at least several inches larger than the cake itself. Attempting to move the cake after the ruffles are piped can easily damage the delicate bottom edge (a lesson I learned the hard way!). Remember, you’ll want to store this cake in the refrigerator, so choose a cake stand or board that fits comfortably.

Step 4: Begin Piping Your Ruffles

Position your decorating tip at the very bottom edge of the cake, gently resting it against the side. This is your starting point for each vertical ruffle row.

Step 5: Master the Ruffle Technique

Applying steady, consistent pressure to the piping bag, begin to move the tip side to side in a gentle, undulating motion. Simultaneously, slowly move your hand upwards along the side of the cake. This coordinated movement will create the beautiful, flowing ruffle effect.

Step 6: Complete Each Vertical Row

Continue piping upwards until you have created a complete vertical row of ruffles, slightly overlapping the top edge of the cake. This ensures a seamless transition to the cake’s top surface.

Step 7: Cover the Entire Cake

Create a second row of ruffles immediately next to the first, following the exact same process. Repeat this method, meticulously covering the entire circumference of the cake with these enchanting buttercream ruffles. Once the sides are fully adorned, fill the remaining open portion on top of the cake with a swirl of icing. Use an offset spatula to gently smooth and level the top of the cake, preparing it for the final magical touches.

Step 8: Add the Sparkle and Topper

Now for the truly magical part! Delicately sprinkle a light circle of your mixed white and royal blue jimmies, white nonpareils, white sanding sugar, and white fondant stars onto the smooth top of the cake. Arrange them to resemble a shimmering cloud of fairy dust. Finally, carefully place the Disney Princess Cinderella Transforms DecoSet® Cake Topper right in the center of your starry sprinkle circle. And just like that, your fairytale Cinderella birthday cake is complete!

Serving Your Fairytale Masterpiece

To preserve the exquisite definition of your buttercream ruffles, especially in warmer climates or during summer celebrations, always store your completed Cinderella cake in the refrigerator. For the best flavor and texture, allow the cake to come to room temperature for about 30-60 minutes before serving. Then, gather your little princesses and princes, slice into this enchanting creation, and enjoy the pure magic of your homemade fairytale!

Exclusive Offer for Our Readers: Free Shipping at Cakes.com!

As a special thank you for embarking on this magical cake journey with us, Cakes.com is delighted to offer our readers Free Shipping on any order! Simply use code: CAKEBLOG at checkout to redeem this fantastic offer.

(Free Shipping valid on Standard Shipping only to the 48 contiguous United States. Offer not valid in Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico. Cannot be combined with any other offer.)

Cakes.com is your premier online destination for an extensive range of high-quality cake decorating products. Trusted and preferred by professional cake decorators and leading bakeries across the continent, Cakes.com boasts over 1,500 products. From charming cake and cupcake toppers to essential fondant, delicate gum paste, and a comprehensive selection of decorating tools, Cakes.com has everything you need to bring your creative visions to life. Whatever memorable occasion you’re celebrating or whatever intricate design you’re crafting, Cakes.com provides the supplies to make it truly unforgettable.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Cakes.com. The opinions expressed are 100% mine, reflecting my genuine experience and passion for cake decorating. Tutorial, styling, and photography by Carrie Sellman for TheCakeBlog.com.