Luster Dust, Gel/airbrush Paint, Or Gold Leaf – Which To Get This Look?
Decorating By moreCakePlz Updated 14 Sep 2016 , 8:51pm by maybenot
Hey CC folks,
A friend wants this look for her engagement party cake. I did a test using gold airbrush paint that I applied with a brush, and while it looked okay it was a little splotchy (sections of the white fondant just wouldn’t hold any paint).
So how do you think the decorator achieved this look? Is it paint or luster dust mixed with alcohol? It also looks like there is a texture to the paint, is this from gold flakes? I thought about doing it with gold leaf too. The leaf is not exactly the look she wants, but I tell everyone - if you want free cake I get to do whatever I want. :-)
So all you experts out there – what is the best way to get this hand painted look on a cake? And it has to be edible too cause it is going on the fondant.
Thanks,
Carol
Also, is each layer getting taller or is that just an illusion caused by the angle of the picture?
[postimage id="5081" thumb="900"]
Well, obviously they didn't use gold leafs on that cake and I think you would get a very different look to it. I personally love golf leafs... I also don't think it's gel they used as mine never gets that shiny (or maybe I'm using the wrong gel lol) and yes it looks very sparkly. So my guess is gold dust mixed with alcohol and brushed on. Maybe they mixed some gold disco dust or something in the paste (which people say you shouldn't but you can make an edible version of disco dust at home with gelatine). The problem with sections not getting enough coverage is went you paint over the same spot again. ..then you sort of wipe off what you already painted. So the trick is to be fast and to let it dry thoroughly before painting another coat.
I'm gonna guess gold highlighter painted on w/everclear -- this however is not edible -- but most any gold that bright and metallic is not edible --
and I hope our own 'maybenot' will chime in here -- i think she's an expert and vigilant on this stuff -- but even the gold leaf is not exactly edible -- and I bought a bunch for my daughter's cake but that was before maybenot enlightened me -- and I spent a bundle on it -- I'd only use it on a close family members cake and remove it before serving but I'd do my best to talk them out of it too
cake is food first
so just a few thoughts on it -- best to you
K8 is right, gold leaf is not considered edible in the US, and disco dust is plastic craft glitter, so it's not edible, either.
There are dozens of edible gold luster dusts that use FDA certified colors--thesugarart.com; sugarpaste.com; pristinepowders.com; and others. One of the newer types on the market is called edible hybrid sparkle dust. It's expensive, but the look is like that on the cake. https://www.globalsugarart.com/edible-hybrid-sparkle-dust-soft-gold-by-chef-alan-tetreault.html
It won't pass thru an airbrush, but I'd paint it on by hand mixing it with either Everclear or lemon extract, using a flat brush to get the softened edge.
The surface of your fondant needs to be grease free in order for the painting to be smooth. With white fondant, wiping it down with some cornstarch, making sure to remove the dust before painting, can help with that.
I think that all of the tiers are the same height--about 5".
Thanks everyone for the helpful info. I didn't realize the gold leaf wasn't edible! I ordered some of the Hybrid dust to give it a try. Fingers crossed that I can get it to look right. Thanks again.
Quote by @julia1812 on 17 hours ago
I don't know about the US, but 22 or 23 carat gold leafs can be consumed without a problem as gold is inert.
I've worked directly with the US FDA regarding food additives. No form of real gold [or silver, or any other metal]--no matter the carat designation--has been approved for use on, or in, food in the US. It doesn't matter that it's approved in other countries, that it's inert, or that anyone thinks that it isn't a "problem". The use of any unapproved food additive makes the food provider subject to an enforcement action by the FDA.
Is the FDA running around fining bakers and bartenders for putting metal on/in food? No. But, the fact remains that the agency hasn't approved the practice and food providers are supposed to follow the directives of the food safety agency of their country.
Quote by @moreCakePlz on 19 hours ago
Thanks everyone for the helpful info. I didn't realize the gold leaf wasn't edible! I ordered some of the Hybrid dust to give it a try. Fingers crossed that I can get it to look right. Thanks again.
I hope that the product works well for you. We'd love to see a pic of the finished product, too.
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