Piping bag

A cone-shaped bag, used with or without a metal or plastic tip, for piping frosting, cream, batters and doughs in neat shapes.

Piping bag: a filled piping bag with a star tip piping a swirl of white buttercream onto a cupcake, empty piping bags and tips
  • Equipment, utensils and bakeware

Also called: pastry bag

Disposable plastic bags are the most convenient; reusable cloth or silicone bags are washed after use. A coupler lets you change tips without emptying the bag. Fill the bag no more than about two-thirds full, twist the top closed, and squeeze from the top with one hand while guiding with the other.

Piping bags are used for frosting and decorating, choux pastry, meringues, macarons and filling doughnuts and cupcakes.

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Tools for this

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Related entries

Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

  1. 4-H Cake Decorating project manual, University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service (hosted by Nebraska Extension)
  2. Mini 4-H Cake Decorating, Purdue Extension – Elkhart County
  3. US Patent 4,205,765, Pastry bag, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office