Thank you all for the lovely comments on Claudia’s cake. It was so much fun to make. Now I will show you how to make the flowers. I used rolled fondant, but you can also use pastillage/gum paste, which will dry faster and harder. They are used in exactly the same way, but the pastillage/gum paste can be rolled much thinner and will hold up better.
What you will need:
Wilton Pure White Rolled Fondant, 24oz (Wilton is easy to work with, but you DO NOT want to eat it. I only use this if the person I’m making the cake for intends to peel off the fondant. Yes, you just peel the entire layer of fondant off and reveal some delicious icing underneath. I’m suggesting you start with Wilton’s product just because it is so easy to use.) or Gum Paste Mix.
Food Color Soft Gel Paste (Use the gels, not the water based kind you get at the grocery store.)
Food Service Grade Disposable Latex Glove (This will protect your hands from the food coloring.)
Heavy Gauge Clear Vinyl(This is the clear sheet that I roll out the fondant on. Nothing sticks to it and you can lift it up easily and move it around. you can also use a Roll’Pat Pastry Mat, but it is much more expensive.)
Spatula
Corn Starch
Ball Tool (This is what you use to give the flowers some dimension, so they are flat)
Cake Decorating Student Kit – Fondant & Gum Paste (A good set that has most of the tools that you will need.)
Fondant Shaping Foam (this allows you to use the ball tool to create dimension to the flowers.)
Flower Former Set (This is what you use to dry the flowers in so they don’t just lie flat.)
101-Piece Tool and Caddy Cake Decorating Set (This is the set that has everything for anything. Only for those of us that need every decorating toy known to man!)
Metallic Luster Dust (For painting the flowers and giving them a great sheen.)
Dragees (They come in all different sizes and colors. The big ones are great for borders, the medium size for finishing flowers and the tiny ones coated the “C” on top of the cake. I wouldn’t eat them as breakfast cereal, but they are edible when consumed in small amounts. They are VERY hard so watch your teeth.)
I started with a plan, not that I followed it to the letter, but it helped me figure out shapes, colors and patterns. I then mixed the fondant with the colors to make my flowers.
Using one packet at a time I rolled out the fondant on the vinyl mat. Keeping the other colors well wrapped in plastic.
For the circles on the cake I used round biscuit/cookie cutters.
Then I painted the circles with non-toxic silver Metallic Luster Dust
Roll out the other colors and use cookie cutters to make the shape flowers that you want.
Using a Fondant Shaping Foam and a Ball Tool you will create the shape of the petals.
Gently rub the Ball Tool over the petals and they will curl up on their own. If the tool is sticking then dip the ball in corn starch. When the flower is the shape you want lay it in the curved Flower Former to dry.
Continue with the rest of the fondant/gum paste until all of the shapes are formed. Allow them to dry before assembling the flowers.
Using royal icing glue the different shaped flowers together to form your own creations. I also used silver and pearl Dragees to add some sparkle in the middle.
I used rolled balls of fondant and dragees for the border between the two layers of cake. Then I used the royal icing to glue the circles and flowers onto the cake.
To create the “C” for Claudia I made a cardboard template that I laid out on a sheet of gum paste (because it is stronger and more durable than fondant) and I cut it out with an Xacto Razor Knife
I used lots of Royal icing to attach it to a dowel that would slide into the top of the cake.
After you have rolled out the fondant, covered your cake layers and stacked the cake then you are ready to use the flowers we just made!
ok im gonna try that. i have another question for ya….is wilton the best premade fondant i can use or is there something better out there? or should i try to make my own?
Hi Crystalyn,
thank you! you can try adding some flavored extract to your fondant, but be careful not to add too much or you will change the consistency of the fondant and it will be hard to work with.
Let me know how it comes out! Zoë
your cake is soo cute!! i have a problem with my fondant. i tried making a zebra striped strawberry cake for my besties b day and it was way cute but the fondant tasted like crap… i used wilton fondant what can i do make it taste good?
That is an amzing cake!! I love it! x
Hi Chath,
How fun, your sister will be so thrilled!
You can make the flowers days, even weeks, ahead of time. The minimum time they need to dry is a few hours, if they are pretty thin.
Have a great time and let me know how it goes and send pictures!
Thanks, Zoë
Hi,
Fabulous cake, i’ve been inspired to make one for my sister’s 21st.
How long do you recommend the flowers need to dry before we can stick them on the cake?
Chath
Hi Zoe!
LOVE the cake!
Got a question. What icing would work best to hold candycanes together. I’m trying to make a farris-wheel.
Thanks so much!
Stephanie
Hi Dawn,
Thanks, I hope you have reason to work with Fondant and Gum Paste, they are so much fun!
Zoë
Hi Zoe,
fantastic instructions. Thank you so much. You’re a great resource!
Thank you Athas,
Your cake sounds so interesting, wish I could see a picture!
Zoë
Thanks for this. I made a red and white version for a canadian friend for canada day. Your step by step was brilliant.
Thanks Gizmar and Marye!
I hope you both try your hand at fondant and let me know how it goes.
Zoë
zoe-that is fabulous!What great descriptions of each step. The cake is amazing.
I so plan to try fondant but just waiting til I feel focused enough to do it. I love what you did and the step by step is great.
Thank you Landa!
Lydia, you have nothing to fear. It is so much fun once you dive in. I’ll look forward to hearing all about your fondant creations!
Thanks again for your support on your website http://www.theperfectpantry.com
Zoë
Fondant still totally intimidates me. Your cake is beautiful, so maybe I’ll work up the course to try something like this.
Awesome!
Hey Gabi,
Thanks and welcome! I can’t wait to make something with my rhubarb. Thanks for the inspiration.
Zoë
Wow Zoe!
What a beautiful blog you have here- you do amazing work. Thanks for coming to visit me at mine and leaving such a nice comment 🙂
Hi Bubbles,
Now that should be a great party. I hope someone is making you the cake of your dreams. Perhaps that cute little pizza maker will help out?
Enjoy and Happy Birthday!
Zoë
Now, that’s just fun!! MY birthday is next week. . . .
Hi Emilie,
Oh the fun you will have with all those tools. I suggest you get some fondant or gum paste and just start building lots of flowers. They last a really long time. It is more fun to do it when you don’t have a deadline.
Jeff and I are thrilled that so many people have taken an interest in the book. We have also learned a lot from the questions and feedback. All of the people who have written in will play a big part in making the next book even better.
Thanks, Zoë
Thank you so much for the detailed descriptions and photos, Zoe. I just bought the tools to start making fondant flowers, etc., so your examples will really come in handy. Next time, make a friend a cake with gum paste flowers so we can see those too! And BTW, it’s so kind of you (and Jeff) to respond to people’s comments personally. It sets you guys apart from most other successful authors, and undoubtedly builds tremendous loyalty among your readers. Can’t wait for the next book to come out!
Hi Clumbsy Cookie,
So glad you are enjoying the book. I’ll look forward to hearing more about the bread you bake.
Thanks, Zoë
Beautiful pictures Zoe and great step-by-step! Thanks for sharing! by the way did the first bread from your book today and it came out great! Just did the master recipe to start off, can’t wait to experiment now!