I am making a cake that will have several medium/large gumpaste flowers on it and I know I will be asked if the entire cake is edible... the lady this is for always asks.... in the past I have not used any wires in the stems of my flowers nore any artificial stamens but in this case i will. So when she asks this time I will simply say, "yes, except for the stems and middles of the flowers"...

However I've heard and read of others who have made flowers like this and when asked the question just say "yes"...

The reason I hesitate to just say 'yes' is that if I do someone may bite into a flower and be very disappointed/upset with what they find.

Wondering what others think about this? Would you simply say 'yes' or not?

I would say that the only thing not edible on the cake is the wires that are used as supports in the flowers and the stamens- I think you are right in being upfront with that.

I think the reason some people say yes is that they aren't expecting anyone to actually eat the gumpaste flowers. Gumpaste, while edible, isn't actually good to eat and isn't really meant to be eaten. I can't figure why anyone would want to eat it! Anyway, just incase they do want to eat the hard as a rock flavorless gumpaste, you should tell them about the nonedible things used to support the flowers.

Great point, Prterrell.

You should tell them about the wires anyway, even if they don't ask. You don't want to get sued because some idiot thought it was a good idea to chow down on one of those wired flowers. I leave a form that has the instructions for cutting and information about the wires, etc. on it whenever I deliver a cake.

I couldn't really understand that either. How can you say, yes everything is edible when you cannot really eat a rock hard gumpaste flower. I know a lot of people take pride in their cakes being "100% edible", but I always warn my 'clients' that yes, while technically edible, decorates will not be very tasty and they will probably prefer to remove them.

Just be honest, otherwise you are just deceiving yourself and the customer and opening yourself up for lawsuit should someone actually eat a flower.

I know people want to impress people, but I don't think people will be any less impressed if you tell them that a few parts of the cake are non edible. Especially if you explain why.

I always wondered on those cake shows, How they say everything is edible, when those flowers has wires in them, and they also know how the gumpaste dries hard, I guess they are meaning everything is made with edible materials, but to me that is not the impression that the customers are getting.

Your cake is entirely edible - EXCEPT for the cake boards. You don't expect to have to tell them to NOT eat those. So, you can answer "yes, it is edible" and advise about the wires.

I always tell them it's "made from sugar" rather than "edible" and explain that while made from edible materials it isn't really palatable or intended to be eaten but it IS hand made from sugar. If there are wires I do advise them of that.

Don't get too literal about the "all edible" and the wires. You don't make cake without cake boards and dowels and some flowers can't be made without wires.

ta ta for now!

I warn them about the wires because the ones most likely to eat a sugar flower is going to be a child...and the child is the one most likely to get injured or possibly choke from a wire or toothpick or whatever else.

I think people ask the question because of some of the cake competitions where the rules require an entry to be entirely edible, meaning no cake dummies, no wired flowers (but supports for tiers are permitted), etc. You should definitely mention the wires and, as for gumpaste, I think the standard answer is "technically edible, but not palatable" and "should be removed". Some people like to know that if the gumpaste is kept away from moisture and humidity, it will last a long time and can be a memento of the occasion.

I made some black Mickey ears...black and then black airbrushed!!! And saw pictures later of the cute little birthday kids taking bites out of them.

EWW. haha.

My kids eat dried gumpaste just to "prove" that it tastes good when I say it doesn't! Gumpaste is basically the same stuff that Necco wafers are made out of, but with no flavoring, so it's edible. I wouldn't want to eat it, though. I don't want to eat Necco wafers, either.

I send an instruction sheet with the cake that says how to disassemble and serve it and explains if anything is not edible. I haven't used wires (yet), but when asked if something is edible, I reply, "Technically, yes. but it doesn't taste good" and then I explain why is doesn't taste good and why I chose that medium over something else. "Fondant by itself doesn't dry hard enough" is usually the explanation. I wouldn't want someone to pick something off the cake, taste it, and decide the whole cake must taste that way.

What usually happens is one person teases/dares another person to try it so it turns into a fun moment.

I've seen kids argue over who gets the gumpaste flower or butterfly to eat. And I once found my son hiding in the dining room gnawing on a cake board that was covered in fondant a week before. I would never assume that no one will try to eat it.

Yuck.

Thanks everyone for giving me your input!

This lady WILL want to taste it if I say it is edible... or at least she has in the past. I think she wants to see if I'm telling the truth or not... She say's it tastes like 'wierd gum'...

Thanks again!