To Make a Paper Pastry Bag

What constitutes a pastry bag versus a piping bag, by definition, is that a pastry bag, being larger, must be held in your hands when piping, while a piping bag is held with the fingers only. Therefore, technically speaking, the size determines the name. However, in general, people referring to a pastry bag are speaking of a reusable bag made of canvas or other material; a piping bag is usually a handmade paper cone meant for a single use. These directions, combining the two, are for making a disposable pastry bag from baking paper. This is fast and easy to do and is a practical solution in many instances. I simply tear a sheet of baking paper in half when I need a bag, but you could certainly cut sheets ahead of time so you always have 12- × 16-inch (30- × 40-cm) pieces handy. In several European countries, including my own, Sweden, professionals are required by law to use disposable pastry bags when working with dairy products.