6 Steps to Perfect Buttercream Daisies
No More Pancake Daisies!
Let’s be honest: piping buttercream daisies might sound straightforward in theory, but it’s all too easy to end up with a sad little pancake that only vaguely resembles a flower. The good news? Once you learn the right technique—especially using the magical Ateco 227 tip—you’ll be whipping up daisies so shapely and lifelike, they might just outshine the real thing!
These cheerful flowers, with their sunny yellow centers and crisp white petals, are classics for a reason: they’re gorgeous, and they’re also not as hard to pipe as you might think. In this article, I’ll walk you through the whole piping process, from building a sturdy base to shaping those delicate petals. By step 6, you’ll have a daisy that is anything but flat and awkward.
So, set aside that bottle of maple syrup (we aren’t making pancake daisies today!) and let’s talk about the tools and tips you need to bring these blooms to life
What You’ll Need:
Before you begin, gather these piping tips: Wilton 4B, Wilton 199, Ateco 1, and Ateco 227.
- Fill the Wilton 4B, Wilton 199, and Ateco 1 bags with yellow buttercream.
- Fill the Ateco 227 bag with white buttercream to create the daisy petals.
Need to find the Ateco 227 piping tip? You can find it here.
Then you will need an XL flower nail, a flower piping block, scissor flower lifters, and a wet towel or paper towel for cleaning your piping tip. Ready? Let’s get piping!
Step-by-Step: How to Pipe a Realistic Daisy
Step 1: Create the Base
Using the Wilton 4B piping bag, pipe a blob of buttercream onto your flower nail. Think of this blob like a car jack—it hoists your daisy up, allowing you to easily work underneath the flower to add petals. By lifting the flower up, you’ll have all the clearance you need to give it that realistic flower shape.
Step 2: Add the Bud
With the Wilton 199 piping bag, pipe a small bud on top of the base. This forms the shapely center of your daisy.
Step 3: Pipe the Daisy Center
Switch to the Wilton 1 piping bag, and pipe tiny dots around the bud to mimic the iconic textured center of a daisy.
Step 4: Inner Petals
Grab your Ateco 227 tip and, holding it at an angle, pipe clusters of petals around the center. Don’t worry about making them symmetrical—a little variation adds to the natural look. Be sure to attach the petals firmly to the daisy center so they don’t flop.
Step 5: Outer Petals
Move behind the inner petals and, using the same Ateco 227 tip, pipe more petals. I like to place them in a slightly random pattern so the daisy doesn’t look too symmetrical. As you pipe, make sure about 75% of each petal is attached to the backs of the inner petals—imagine the front petals giving the back petals a piggy-back ride! This is a technique I call “buttercream attachment,” and without it, your petals will flop.
Step 6: Optional Lower Petals
For a fuller look, move your tip behind the outer petals and pipe a few more random petals. Again, make sure you get good buttercream attachment and avoid perfect symmetry—a little randomness makes your daisy look more natural.
Step 7: Lift the Daisy
Once your daisy is fully piped, gently slide your scissor lifter under the petals (instead of the base), then give the nail a slight twist and carefully lift the daisy off. You’ll notice a bit of the base remains on the nail, which is perfectly normal.
Step 8: Store or Use
Place your finished daisy in an airtight container to freeze for later use, or go ahead and add it directly to your buttercream flower arrangement. If you need some airtight container recommendations, I love these!
And there you have it—no more sad, flat pancakes pretending to be daisies! With a solid base, the right tools (including that magical Ateco 227 tip), and a little know-how on “buttercream attachment,” you’re well on your way to piping cheerful, realistic daisies that stand proudly in any buttercream bouquet.
If you’re ready to take your daisy flower piping skills further, check out my Shasta Daisy class inside The Piped Peony Academy. Not only will you learn to pipe a more realistic daisy button center, but you’ll also pick up tons of tips, tricks, and techniques that go beyond the basics—perfect for anyone looking to add a realistic touch to their buttercream flowers.
Happy daisy piping buttercream fam!
