I have a client that requested real flowers on a cake. I have never done these before. I know that wilton makes flower spikes, but I don't have any and really don't have time to get them. Is there any other way to do this? I wanted to do a basketweave with the top full of flowers. Any pictures or ideas would be greatly appeciated.

Thanks,
Angela

you could cut a piece of parchment paper to set on the top of the cake and then lay the flowers on that! or you could make some type of a bowl or something out of gumpaste and make a bouquet inside of it.

Would I just put icing on the parchment to"glue" the flowers to the cake?

I would just wire the flowers together in a nice arrangement and then just lay them on top.......unless the cake is getting moved around a lot it should be fine, it that's the case you can get thos florin pins I think they're called......basically it's like a horseshoe shape made out of wire and you just stick it over the stems of a couple flowers and push the ends down into the cake.......you don't want to stick the flowers themselves into the cake......some flowers are toxic.

I did a cake with fresh flowers on it for a wedding shower and for the top I just made a bouqet and laid it on top of the cake - that way the bride to be could take the bouqet home with her. I did stick other flowers cascading down the side but if you're doing a basketweave I would just lay the bouqet by it's self on top. I just wrapped the stems with satin ribbon and tied with a bow. I think it would be pretty with the flowers laying on top with the ribbon trailing a little down the side.

Thanks!

Depending on the style of flower -like if it were a rose- you can clip the stem and leave maybe 3" or so and wet a paper towel, and wrap it around the stem and then wrap the stem again w/ plastic wrap and insert it into the cake. Works like a charm

If you don't have time to get the flower spikes, which are great and I keep some extra on hand for emergencies, you can use a fat drinking straw like the ones for milk shakes. Stick the straw into the cake and put a little icing in there to hold the flower, and stick the flower stem inside the straw.

Here is a Christmas-Eve wedding cake I did with flower spikes. I loved that the bride picked out red roses and pine needles. It was so pretty and smelled great!

Deanna

TooMuchCake ... that cake is gorgeous!!!!

Thanks, cakesbyjess! I was a little taken aback when I got to the reception hall expecting to find only roses, and there was also a bunch of pine boughs and baby's breath there. I had about 2 dozen flower spikes with me, and I pretty much used them up on this cake. This is still one of my favorites, even though there isn't much decorating on it.

Bturpin, did you make that flower cascade yourself? I am no good at floral arrangements and am always so impressed when I see people who can do that. It's so pretty!!!

Deanna

cakesbyjess- i see your a big grey's anatomy fan too! I love that show. My husband was wanting me to go somewhere with him that night, I said are you kidding me, I have been waiting 3 months to see this, Im not going anywhere!!!

cakesbyjess--I love Dr.McDreamy! YUM! Thanks, I have gotten a few good responses from my "GET IN MY BELLY" I didn't know for sure if anyone would remember it!!!

I would suggest, if you're going to cover the top of the cake, that you use plastic wrap instead of parchment. Parchment is porous (breathable) whereas plastic wrap is not.

Also, if you don't have time to get the Wilton cake spikes, go to your local florist and ask if they can sell you some of their flower vials. They have lost of them and if you get in good with a local florist, you can really clean up because the two of you can recommend each other to your Clients who are in need of other services.

If your local florist won't sell you some flower picks, check out the dollar store or any craft store that has silk flower arrangement supplies. They will probably have some.

You can also wrap your stems with floral tape and then wrap the floral tape securely with plastic wrap if you are going to want to push the stems into the cake. That should help in protecting your guests from any possible insecticide contamination or poisonous foliage.

TooMuchCake:

Yes- I did the floral arrangement cascade myself - just another one of my hobbies I like to do! I think flowers are one of the simplest decorations to use that carries a big impact! As you can see by a bunch of my pictures flowers and ribbon are a favorite of mine for decorating cakes!

Thanks to KHalstead and everyone else who gave me tips on putting real flowers on a cake: I put a piece of wax paper on the top of cake and "glued" the flowers on the wax paper with icing.