I have heard of a edible glaze that makes fondant shiny...does that work? Thank you!

I have used crisco on parts of the cake to make them shiny before. A friends of mine uses Pam and swears by it. She says that if you use the butter flavored one it soaks into the fondant just enough, but leaves a nice sheen. I have also seen many people steam cakes as well.

Here is a previous post as well:
http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-599598-.html

I've never used it but there's several ways to acomplish this look, you can rub your fondant with a ball of the same fondant, this gives it a glow and brings it back to life, you can also use airbrush shimmer color or airbrush a little vodka with pearl dust. HTH

I have seen others use and swear by a steamer to give give fonant a very lacquer(hope I spelled this right) like shine.

It really depends on what kind of "shiny" you want. I have only been doing cakes for just over a year, so my knowledge is still pretty limited, but I have found that clear piping gel works good enough for what I need it for!

edible glaze definetely works- I love it. in the recipe section there is a recipe for homemade glaze......I tried it once, but like the premade stuff better, but I don't think I got the gelatin dissolved correctly. I'm interested in the steamer method...Buddy from cake boss does that...anyone have any knowledge of steaming?

I have seen MANY times on the cake shows and challenges that they use a steamer and it comes out looking very shiny. I watched one the other night and they made a black chanel pocket book, when they were done steaming it, it looked like beautiful patent leather shine lol. It was pretty awesome

The steamer works but you have to be very careful. I also use the airbrush machine with vodka in it. It shines the cake beautifully.

I'd try the steamer if I were you!

For me, everytime I put my cake in the fridge with the fondant on it, it gets condensation that makes the cake remain shiny.

Thanks everyone! I'm only wanting to shine one piece on a buttercream cake.So steaming...probably wouldn't work?(Do you buy a steamer somewhere...or what do you use? Thanks!

Yes, there are hand held steamers

If you search the recipeson here there is a recipe for edible varnish. It is VERY simple to use and dries well. I used it on my helmet cakes to make the face mask look more like shiny metal (hard to see in the pics though) It's great if you only want a few small parts shiny Plus does a steamer affect the gumpast? If you make something in advance you want to dry, will the steamer ruin it? Ihave wanted to try the steamer but have always been worried about that. I can look for the exact recipe but I know it is gelatin, water and corn syrup/glucosse.

If you want to steam it before you put it on the cake....hold it over a boiling kettle.

I have used a steamer before and the shiny look doesn't last. It fades as the steam.water dries. It down't affect the gumpaste decorations unless you soak them-thats why you use the handheld steamer, you have more control of it.

I tried a steamer that I had and it just ended up spitting water on my fondant..

I would even say for a small piece like that you could probably even use the steam setting on your clothes iron if you have one.

I think I'll have to do some experimenting... I have until November 9th!

Just a query - slightly off topic - but it seems that the idea of "steaming" is something new to soem of you

Do you guys not steam your gumpaste flowers after they have been dusted? Been using the kettle, pot on stove method for years - sets the dust and produced far better colour on flowers - especially the lustres.

I've used the spray oil ( our brand SPRINK) on fondant and whilst it does give a great shine - it isn't long lasting - so must be done fairly close to presentation time.

Piping gel is great but can leave brushmarks.

Never used any of these methods with buttercream - as it is rarely used here

Gum arabic dissolved in water brushed on for shiney. Get it at Global Sugar Art for like three bucks & change.