Cake Central › Cake Forums › Cake Talk › Cake Decorating › Can anyone estimate how many pearls on this wedding cake??
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Can anyone estimate how many pearls on this wedding cake??

post #1 of 28
2/7/12 at 7:14am
Thread Starter 
Met with a bride who wants this cake, and when I looked at it, all I could think of was that the qty of fondant pearls on this must be...what...2000-3000?? When I count out 10 pearls in the photo, then kind of estimate 10 of those bunches, it seems like the bottom tier alone would have 800-1000! And they seem really small, like 5mm.

Have any of you created a cake like this before with such a huge qty of pearls? I really need to figure out a price estimate for her by tomorrow (Wed)

Thanks in advance! icon_smile.gif

Image
If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control top pantyhose. An entire garment industry would be devastated. ~Author Unknown
Reply
If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control top pantyhose. An entire garment industry would be devastated. ~Author Unknown
Reply
post #2 of 28
2/7/12 at 7:27am
Oh my gosh! Before I saw the photo, I thought of a linear arrangement around a border. But this is like trying to count bacteria on a microscope slide...or the number of zebras in a huge herd! Can you lay a grid on the picture and count the number in a certain section and then expand it to an estimate of the surface area---the size of the cake? It sort of sounds like what you've already done, though.
Whatever, it looks like you are in for a good pearl making session, that is if you make your own. I sure hope you are well compensated.
Sorry I can't be of more help. Good luck.

Jan
If you have knowledge, let others light their candles on it.

Never fear shadows. They simply mean there's a light shining somewhere nearby.
Reply
If you have knowledge, let others light their candles on it.

Never fear shadows. They simply mean there's a light shining somewhere nearby.
Reply
post #3 of 28
2/7/12 at 7:30am
Looks more like dragees to me. Might be easier!
The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
Mohandas Gandhi

No one can do everything but everyone can do something. Please help.
http://austin2011.livestrong.org/mike_tres
Reply
The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
Mohandas Gandhi

No one can do everything but everyone can do something. Please help.
http://austin2011.livestrong.org/mike_tres
Reply
post #4 of 28
2/7/12 at 7:33am
Apparently this is a popular cake right now. There's another thread going about it:

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopic-739082-0.html

You might check that out and see if it can help you. thumbs_up.gif
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 28
2/7/12 at 7:36am
I definately would not make them by hand. It would take forever to make them. I would buy them. I also think that they are dragees.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 28
2/7/12 at 7:38am
No, these aren't fondant pearls. They're pearl dragees and the large quantity of smaller ones are mixed with piping gel and spooned on. Then the larger ones are randomly placed individually.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 28
2/7/12 at 8:38am
WoW,

That is a moster amount of dragees. Jgifford, that is a great idea of using the piping gel. I was sitting here wondering how in the world did they get them on this cake and at such closeness too.
I can do ALL things Through Christ who strengthens ME!!!
CAKE IS MY LIFE!!!!
Reply
I can do ALL things Through Christ who strengthens ME!!!
CAKE IS MY LIFE!!!!
Reply
post #8 of 28
2/7/12 at 8:42am
It took me a few minutes to figure it out, but if you look at the picture closely, you can see it. I can't imagine anyone trying to place each one - - they'd lose their mind!
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 28
2/7/12 at 8:50am
Thread Starter 
Interesting! Ok, so piping gel should work. And seriously you think they're dragees, Jgifford? Those are known to crack a molar! LOL! I'd be inclined to use fondant pearls for the simple reason that there are SO many, the alternative is for guests to either have a crunchy bite of cake or scrape half the finish off their cake before they eat it. I'm going to half to find a way to estimate these babies!
If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control top pantyhose. An entire garment industry would be devastated. ~Author Unknown
Reply
If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control top pantyhose. An entire garment industry would be devastated. ~Author Unknown
Reply
post #10 of 28
2/7/12 at 8:52am
I would say they're dragees simply because of the size and the quantity. Seriously, if you tried to make all those fondant pearls, you'd be at it until 2:00 next summer.icon_smile.gif
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 28
2/7/12 at 8:53am
Yes, I surely would lose my mind, lol.

Swed: Most ppl dont eat the fondant on their slice of cake. Plus from the look of it, The dragees are placed at the top edge of the slice.
I can do ALL things Through Christ who strengthens ME!!!
CAKE IS MY LIFE!!!!
Reply
I can do ALL things Through Christ who strengthens ME!!!
CAKE IS MY LIFE!!!!
Reply
post #12 of 28
2/7/12 at 8:55am
I also agree that they look like pearl dragees. I have never heard of mixing them with piping gel and spreading them on though, that is a great idea and that cake is gorgeous! Looks like it will be a lot of fun to make.
Let's face it, a nice creamy chocolate cake does a lot for a lot of people; it does for me.

--Audrey Hepburn

http://paulaspastries.wordpress.com/
Reply
Let's face it, a nice creamy chocolate cake does a lot for a lot of people; it does for me.

--Audrey Hepburn

http://paulaspastries.wordpress.com/
Reply
post #13 of 28
2/7/12 at 9:21am
LOL! I thought this was the other thread I replied to yesterday!

It must be very popular now.

The Dude abides.

Reply

The Dude abides.

Reply
post #14 of 28
2/7/12 at 9:45am
I would purchase pearls by the pound--have seen CK pearls at around $9/lb. Don't know if I'd mix them with the piping gel--don't know how the pearl would show through--but give it a test drive and see.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 28
2/7/12 at 12:01pm
I did a cake with a similar technique (see link below) , and I can tell first hand that it is a lot more labor intensive than it looks. With the exception of the top of the smaller tier, almost every dragee was applied with tweezers. It was the only way to keep them from going everywhere...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=267097116659146&set=a.267092556659602.56778.199991496703042&type=3&theater [url][/url]
You get more bees with honey!
Reply
You get more bees with honey!
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Cake Decorating
Cake Central › Cake Forums › Cake Talk › Cake Decorating › Can anyone estimate how many pearls on this wedding cake??