I am almost positive I saw them use a sharpie on fondant on Ace of Cakes the other night. I think it was on something that was not at all touching the cake. Is this okay? I know they have specially made writers for fondant. Do they work well?

They have food writers or edible ink markers. I used them on my ghost cookies and they work really well. I used a coupon and got them at Michaels last year.

The food writers work really well. I usually use the Wilton Foodwriter kind, but I noticed at the grocery store a few weeks ago that they are now selling them with the pre-made decorating frostings - Betty Crocker brand or McCormick or something like that. And I do believe they were cheaper than the ones I get at Michaels.

Was that the Milk Bone epsiode? If I recall correctly, they used sharpie on the display "cake" that wasn't really cake at all.

Was that the Milk Bone epsiode? If I recall correctly, they used sharpie on the display "cake" that wasn't really cake at all.

If it's on a figuring or a dummy cake--anything you 100% know for SURE that won't be eaten, then yes you can use a sharpie... otherwise, just go with food coloring pens... they work really well.

I use edible markers but the Sharpies specifically say "nontoxic". Another decorator I know says he uses anything that says nontoxic.

The non-toxic label does not make me wanna go suck on a sharpie I would use food color markers unless the cake was totally non-edible.

I agree, with the rest, Sharpies are for drawing on paper, not for cakes. Food-safe markers or even color paste /brush is much preferred. I know I wouldn't let my children put markers in their little mouths - non-toxic or not.

Crayola crayons are non-toxic too, but I'm not gonna draw on the side of my cake with them or grate em up and sprinkle them on my cake!

I think it was the Milk Bone episode. I have ADHD and most likely missed the part where they were using the sharpie on the box and not something going on the cake. Thanks for all the responses.

http://www.sharpie.com/enUS/MSDSSheets/default.html

Look for Material Safety Data Sheets before considering non-food items for edible uses.

Sharpies contain various solvents that help transfer dye onto the writing surface. Seems in the small amounts that they are present, they aren't a significant risk, but it's still better to stick with markers designed to be edible.

I think even on a dummy cake I would not use it. What if someone sees it, loves it, wants it and you can't get it to look as good b/c you used something that wasn't edible. I personally won't use anything on a cake, even a topper, that is not edible. I don't like the look and more specifically since I found out the kids were eating the bow I made out of 50/50 mix on a gift box cake. I was really surprised, I would have never thought anyone would eat the bow. sso for now on, I would never use anything that someone can't eat.