Hi everyone!

I am thinking about making some gumpaste decorations for my new year's cake and was wondering if I should wait to put them on the cake??? I refrigerate all my cakes and do not want the gumpaste decorations to get messed up. Does gumpaste get slimey like fondant when put in the refrigerator??? Thanks for any advice!!!

Traci

I would like to start making the decorations in the next couple of days. Anyone out there had a problem putting gumpaste decorations(already on the cake) in the refrigerator??? Thanks!!!!!

I have never had any problems with gumpaste or fondant decorations on a cake in the fridge. I think it should be ok!

I wouldn't add them to the cake until just before... the humidity in th fridge can soften them, and if anything is very thin, it will sag if it's in for too long (don't worry about short periods of time though)

In my opinion, it depends on the gumpaste. I have one recipe that dries as hard as a rock and nothing could change it (except being dropped from just about any height! lol). It could definately go into the fridge. BUT, then there is the kind you make from a mix and the pre-made ones - which I also like to use (gives me more time to work on the flowers and doesn't choke my poor mixer), but these gumpastes seem effected by humidity and temperature so I would be reluctant to put them in the fridge.

Usually I attach my gumpaste flowers on site (for weddings, which is the only time I bother with them). If you can, try to put your GP decorations on at the last moment.

Gumpaste does not need refrigeration.. they are at their best at room temp.
The coldness and humidity of the fridge will do something bad to them..
Buttercream yes, but not gumpaste.

I have never had any problems with gumpaste or fondant decorations on a cake in the fridge either.

I have purchased the Wilton gumpaste mix. I am planning on making some gumpaste stars and attaching them to some floral wire. I think I will just be safe and wait to attach them before the party.

Has anyone used the Wilton gumpaste mix??? Is it easy to work with???

Thanks!!!!

The gumpaste is easy to work with. I needed to add a bit more PS than it recommended to get away from the stickiness. And if you are just putting the stars & wires in the cake then waiting until the party should be fine. I just don't like waiting until the last minute to do things to a cake but those are finer details that should be fine. Good luck!

mamafrog...I am with you...I really like to have everything finished way ahead of time!!! I do not like having to add decorations at the last minute. But I really do not want to take a chance on having saggy stars!!!! I guess just sticking wire in the top of the cake is really not that big of a deal...I think it just takes me a long time to arrange decorations in a way that satifies me...I am too picky!!!

Thanks!!!!

If you will look in my profile I recently did a chocolate cake with singing animals on it. The music notes in the background of the cake are fondant (from push molds) on florist wire. This whole cake animals, wires, everything, was put in the fridge overnight until the next morning. This cake was very heavy and I have this belief (may it be true or not) that even if the cake doesn't require refrigeration, sometimes it seems to really seal things up and solidify the cake. The cake, decorations, fondant, everything was fine. Fondant decorations can get soft in the fridge but it was my thought that this was only when they were in something air-tight (tupperware etc.)
Now, I didn't have any problems with this cake or these decorations.
About Wilton's gumpaste mix, I don't care to make my own b/c I usually don't use enough of it. It's very simple and easy to use especially if you've never worked with gumpaste before, or if you simply want to make life easier! I make up a whole batch and use it when I need it. It keeps a very long time!
Good luck!

mamafrog...I love your cake!!! Did you have to mix gum-tex into your fondant when you molded your animals??? I use satin ice fondant and notice it is really soft for molding decorations without them drooping. Also...did you have any problems with the decorations being too heavy for your wire??? I have purchased some floral wire from Michael's...it was the thickest wire they had.

Thanks!

Thanks Traci!
Those animals were my 3rd attempt at the little boogers! I had a lot of problem with them getting squatty, so YES I did have to use GumTex, wish I would have figured that early on. I also had to use toothpicks inside them for stability. The wire I used for the notes was 22 gauge from Michaels. It's pretty thick but those notes were heavy! I didn't want them falling over or anything. If I was doing something dainty I would probably use thinner wire, it would give more of the illusion of them floating?!
Good luck!!!

Also...do you know if handmade fondant pearls dusted with pearl dust(I plan on using for a border) would be ok to refrigerate overnight???? One layer I would like to do large edible pearls for a neat border!!! I am worried the condensation might mess up the pearl dust finish.

Thanks for all your help!!!! This is going to be a big cake and hope to get some business from this one!!!!

Now with the pearls as a border I would wait until the next morning. Allow yourself enough time but just do them in the morning. I would be afraid of the dust as well. Like we talked about before, I HATE waiting until the last minute to do something, or adding something on site. I have had too many last minute problems come up! But I think the pearls should probably wait.
Will this cake be iced in BC???

The cake will be iced in Buttercream. I am doing 4 tiers and the top tier will be a ball cake. I am doing a similar cake that I saw on another website. The top tier will have the edible pearls going around the ball. That should be fine for me to apply them before the party...I have had so many orders that I have not even made the pearls yet. This will give them a chance to firm up overnight. If all else fails...I may just end up piping a border!!!! Sometimes I get these really great ideas in my head, but when it comes to putting them on the cake...Well, it never happens that way!!!!

I know what you mean Traci! I always come up with great ideas and somewhere between my brain and my hands something happens!!!

I really think the best thing to do is wait with the pearls. Being on the buttercream, they may soften up a bit and then who knows what that would do to the dust.
Good luck! I can't wait to see it!!

I've gotton some PMs for my homemade recipe for GP. Just PM me if you want it.

Mind you, I use the Wilton one, the Satin Ice pre-made one, and my own - each for their own purposes. My recipe (given to me by a so-called "Master" who taught me - I have a grudge with him though) which dries very very fast and rock hard. Will stand up to any climate, but it is harder to work with - you should know what you're doing before using it (since it gives you a much shorter time frame to work with).

Thanks for all the input! The New Years cake was a big success....however I decided not to do the gumpaste decorations. I have decided to do the gumpaste decorations for my daughter's birthday cake on January 15th. How soon can I make the decorations and how should they be stored??? I will be doing cut-out stars on floral wire that will be put in the top tier of the cake.

Traci---
Glad to hear everything went great! Can't wait to see this next one. Your cakes are ALWAYS great, such vibrant colors!!

I have made gumpaste/fondant decorations up to 2 weeks ahead of time. I have kept some in tupperwear containers and they actually stay soft. Others I have left on wax paper covered baking sheets and they have been fine. Keep them out of direct sunlight b/c the colors will fade.
I have an area in my pantry where I keep stuff like that---no chance of animals, kids, or my clumsiness knocking something over!!
Good luck!

Thank-you mamfrog! The cake was so interesting! It had 3 tiers that were round and the ball cake on top. I had each tier a different color(very bright) with a different decoration on each tier. Everyone kept telling me it look like Time Square! I actually did not even think about that when I designed it. I will post a picture soon.

I am hoping the gumpate idea will work out for my daughter's birthday cake...sometimes I end up doing something completely different. I will keep you posted!

Hi Perry,

Could you please mail me your Gumpaste recipie, my email is [email protected].

Girlu, Perry hasn't posted since 2009, so there's a good chance you aren't going to hear from her.