Hi everyone, I was hoping to get your helpful advice on what is best used to make black roses. Normally I would use fondant or gumpaste, or even a mixture of both. However, I've only used the Duff brand black fondant which tends to be very soft, and doesn't mix well with tylose powder to make it harden. Can someone please tell me what is best? I would very much appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

They're not roses, but for the leaves on this cake I used 1/2 Duff's black fondant, 1/2 Wilton gumpaste and a little black food color to offset the loss of color from the gumpaste.

http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2296488/black-white-ruffled-all-over

The red roses on this one, same formula. Duff's red fondant, Wilton gumpaste, red food color.

http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2293131/hearts-and-flowers

I think if I were going to make black roses, I'd dust them with a deep purple or burgundy to give them some depth. I hope you post pictures!

I would start with a dark leftover gumpaste I have on hand, then when completely dry, airbrush them with black.

Try making your own gumpaste... if you have a few eggs, powdered sugar and tylose you are golden. Nicholas Lodge's recipe is awesome and if you color it when it's in the Royal Icing phase it comes out beautifully, even black.

That's what I would do.

Wilton just came out with 2 lb packages of red and black. I love it for making my figures. I could never find a fondont I liked for red and black because it always was so soft. I have not made roses out of the red or black but its worth a shot.

a big "THANK YOU" to all of you for your great advice, I will definitely try them all.
... so very helpful!!