Hello! I need some tips on a cake I am making for a friend - something I've never done before. She wants a Chinese looking cake - a square gold, shimmery cake covered in fondant with Chinese lettering on it. I've read that the best way to get a gold effect is to mix some gold luster dust with some vanilla extract and brush it on. Is this the best way to do it? I saw at AC Moore/Michael's, they carry the small containers of gold luster dust (I think they are like .1 oz). How many of these will I need to cover a 12" square cake? And should I color the fondant first like a golden color? Any tips and helpful hints would be greatly appreciated! She needs it Christmas Eve and I don't want to be stressed out right before Christmas on trying to get this cake just right! Thanks!!

If the dust you saw at the store is by Wilton - *forget it!* You can only get a real looking, shiny gold by using Highlighter luster dust and Michael's does NOT carry it. You must get it at a cake supply shop or order on line.
That said, Highlighter dusts are NOT considered edible....they are non-toxic but not edible as in covering a whole cake. Any item/decoration that highlighter dust is used on should be removed & not seerved.
If you still want to proceed - one 'pot' will be enough. Mix it with vodka or *pure* vanilla or lemon extract. Once mixed, one must work quickly. Mix small amounts at a time as the vodka evaporates fast. No real problem because all one needs to do is add a few more drops and proceed.

Wilton now has Gold cake spray cans. I used it on a cake (trophy) and just colored it a deep yellow first then sprayed it. It wont give you the same deep rich (if that makes sense) gold color that you are looking for but it will be gold without making the outside inedible

I used Edible Liquid Color (Gold) from Sugarflair, UK for details on this cake:

http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2220994/

I first colored fondant yellow and then applied the liquid color. It's completely edible. Really pleasant to work with and very effective. Not sure if you can get it in the US but there will be surely something similar.