The 1M Piping Nozzle vs The 2D Piping Nozzle.

Andrea Omolo
Aug 4, 2022
4 min read

These popular icing nozzles produce excellent decorations for small and large cakes. Both nozzles are used to produce the most gorgeous decorative icing by professional cake decorators, pastry chefs and enthusiastic home bakers. Although the results produced by each cake nozzle are very similar, the differences can be spotted by the trained eye! Here we bring you the low down on both of these invaluable icing nozzles.

Ruoth produces both icing nozzles.

The name ‘Ruoth’ is synonymous with quality and if you are wanting to buy either nozzle – or both- it is well worth investing in simply the best.

The Routh 2D tip (nicknamed ‘the ‘closed star’’ or ‘Grand Douille’) is a generously-sized cake nozzle that is easy to use with great results. It has six points and these curve towards the centre, where they almost touch.

The Ruoth 1M tip also known as the ‘Open Star' tip also has six points but these are open with a gap of just under 1cm in the centre.

Both icing tips are made in quality food-grade stainless steel that will last for years and never start to rust. The Ruoth 1M ‘Open Star’icing nozzle icing tips are carefully crafted in a seamless design, making them really easy to use and super easy to clean. Routh icing nozzles are also dishwasher safe. Both the 2D icing tip and 1M nozzle tip can be used with both reusable and disposable icing bags.

When it comes down to which is best for you to use, it is purely a matter of personal choice, but it is well worth knowing what can be achieved with each tip and having both in your icing nozzle collection. It pays to use a larger tip for I; the 1M and 2D are large icing nozzles. The 1M is the most popular nozzle of all, but the 2D nozzle is not far behind in popularity!

The differences between the icing nozzles.

Both of the Ruoth icing nozzles can be used to decorate large and small cakes to a professional standard. Great results can be produced by holding the icing bag at an angle of about 45ºto to the cake, applying steady pressure to the icing bag and pipe slowly. A clever way to make your icing look really good is to use two-tone buttercream.

The1M piping nozzle does produce a nice thick flow of frosting that is uniform in consistency but to achieve this, it is best to chill your cake/cupcakes before you ice them. It is also necessary to sift your icing sugar when you are making the buttercream to ensure that it doesn’t contain any lumps that can clog the icing nozzle – sifting seems boring and laborious but is time well spent!

The buttercream swirl.

If you are piping a classic buttercream swirl, the results are similar using the either piping nozzle, but there are noticeable differences that can be spotted by a professional! When the classic swirl is piped using a 1M nozzle the result is a classic ‘soft ice cream ‘swirl with the edges of the curves of the swirl standing vertically straight.

When the 2D nozzle is used, the result is a much softer shaped swirl with a softer edging that gives the buttercream almost a ruffled effect.

Piped Rosettes

The Rosette is a really popular icing decoration because the finished result looks like a pretty iced rose on the top of the cake. Both nozzles produce a professional effect- but the trained eye can soon spot when a 2D nozzle has been used! A rosette iced with a 2D nozzle has a much softer finish because the upper edges of the icing gently curl inwards and look remarkably like the petals of the most beautiful rose.

To pipe the perfect rosette - with either nozzle- start from the centre of the cake and ice to the outer edge of the cupcake.

Frilled Domes

This design is very easy to create and the two icing nozzles produce very similar results. To create this design, hold your icing nozzle just above the centre of the cupcake at a slight angle and squeeze your icing bag steadily- without moving it- until the icing covers the top of the cake.

Release the pressure on the icing bag and withdraw the nozzle- both nozzles produce a lovely crinkly dome of icing, but it is the 1M that will produce a small pointed tip in the centre when you remove the nozzle.

Other clever icing designs

While these are the most popular designs that are made with icing nozzles, both are versatile and can be used for a variety of designs for the top of cupcakes and large cakes as well as edgings for the top and bottom of large cakes. These designs include individual flowers and zig-zags (also known as ‘the wave pattern’). Both nozzles can be used as star nozzles to create individual stars and also flowers in varying sizes. Both are equally easy to use and you will be delighted with the photo-worthy finish to your cakes. The 2D nozzle produces a slightly softer-looking finish for all these designs because the edges of the icing tend to fold slightly to produce its characteristic ruffled effect.

It is well worth baking a batch of cupcakes and experimenting with the different effects that both nozzles can produce as the exaggerated ruffle effect can be used to great effect.

It is certainly great fun and very rewarding to be able to create beautiful and professional-looking icing designs on large cakes and cupcakes. Many countries now celebrate everyone’s favourite cake with a national day and if you are reading this in the UK, it is time to get practising as Wednesday 17 August is Cupcake Day! If you are in the United States you have more time as it is Thursday15 December!