Hey all! Can someone tell me how you get that wonderful sparkly effect by putting sugar crystals all over the cake. I know when I put sugar crystals on cookies, I have to push the cookie into the crystals. Well, you can't really do that with a cake and if you just shake them on, would it cover completely? Also, you wouldn't want to use a crusting bc right? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

I've never done it but I think I remember hearing that you use pastry gel then the sugar, but I think that is with fondant.

I have wondered if anyone had done this technique on BC...I have dusted fondant with sugar crystals and the effect was lovely (one of the Wilton books). Anyone?

I did it on buttercream - but I used the wilton cake sparkles, and I put them in a thumb operated pepper mill to grind them really fine. I let the buttercream crust, then as my DH LIGHTLY misted the cake (with my airbrush and pearl), I was running the sparkles in the peppermill and "tossing" them on the cake. It actually did work - but it was not fun doing it....and it took forever too. The pearl airbrush also added to the sparkle effect. The bride loved it, and that was all that mattered in the end!

I know some folks use piping gel on the fondant to get that effect, and I am sure it works out better than my grind and toss - but for buttercream, that was the only way I could come up with.

I did this for a pretty heart shaped red 3 teir cake
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1191976.html
and I covered in fondant then smeared piping gel on then added crushed sugar in 2 hues of color to get a more full deep color. I have done this on ivory buttercream with clear sanding sugar which is a finer grain and texture to the the sugar you might put on cookies unless you happen to use this for that too!

But I digress, I used sugar shack's crusting butter cream recipe which you canm find all over this site and her's. I just put the butter cream on and then applied with my hands the sanding sugar to the sides and tops then let the bc crust around it. I stacked later at venue and took a soft, new, non shedding bristle makeup type brush to the layers and swept away gently the excess before stacking and it covered beautifully and stayed on. I would use the crusting bc as it will harden some and trap more of the sanding sugar without being concerned in over loading your cake in sugar crystals.

I have been talking to some decoraters and this is what I came away with....be sure the icing is really, really crusted and don't apply too far in advance as there is a really high chance of the crystals melting.

Take 3-5 tablespoons of clear writing gel, water it down a bit and brush it on the cake, immediately add to the cake. Im doing one today white cream cheese buttercream with white large sugar crystals. Cant wait to see it finished :O)
Good luck.
Dee

I just did this on a fondant cake and it was really messy...but pretty! I loved the finished effect. With the fondant, I thinned piping gel and spread it over the entire cake, then just used my hand to guide the sprinkles onto the cake. [/img]http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1439921[/img]I WOULD RECOMMEND PUTTING A LARGE COOKIE SHEET UNDER YOUR CAKE TO CATCH ANY BOUNCING SUGAR CRYSTALS. I will be interested to see how it works for you...do you put on before the BC crusts, or after and mist the buttercream.[/img]

PM _Jaime_ I saved a pic of a cake she did, and it is gorgeous - sugar crystals all over it!

hi all at one time i has seen roses with silver on all the pedals, they must have been royal icing?

2sdae, I loved the red cake you made; how did you get the sugar crystals on the sides?

I used the piping gel on the fondant and then used red and hot pink sanding sugar to coat the cakes and viola!

Use a tilting cake stand.

I can't tell you how many times I've made that cake. Brides love it. And it's easy - you guys are making it way too hard!!

First your base icing doesn't have to be perfect. (love that.)
Then take the sparkling sugar crystals and dump the container into a large bowl, and place the bowl under the edge on your turntable, on the counter.
Gather up some crystals in the palm of your hand and "roll" them up the side of the cake. Have you ever applied chopped nuts to the side of a cake? Some process. Some of the crystals will fall back into the bowl. Reuse those.

Use either a non-crusting bc or apply the crystals BEFORE the icing crusts.

These sugar crystals are NON-hygroscopic, meaning they WILL NOT dissolve on the bc. I put them on the cake on Friday night and when I deliver on Saturday they're still perfect.

leahs...thanks for that tip about the not melting sugar crystals. Don't you love all the doom sayers?

Hi Leah,
What brand of sugar crytals do you use? Any tips as to where to purchase them? I have a white chocolate buttercream frosting that I use, but recently I have had two brides ask if I can make them cakes with sugar crystals on top of the icing. I have never worked with sugar crystals before. Any and all tips would be helpful.

I would suggest laying a clean dish towel under the bowl to catch any that miss the bowl and they will stay on the towek rather than bouncing all over the counter and floor....this is adding to Leahs directions

Hi Madge,
Do you have any suggestions as to where to purchase the crystals, and what type would you recommend that will work with a white chocolate bc frosting?

I don't buy many Wilton products but I do like their sugar crystals. Nice and chunky, like sea salt.

Minicuppie, agreed. the sugar crystals are 1 of 2 Wilton products I think are good! Most of their stuff is such total junk. I have actually tried other brands of the Sparkling Sugar (definitely NOT sanding sugar) and the W is better.

The dividing mat. The mat that shows you where to place things on the cake in equal parts. I may not know the proper name . . .

Like this? I pour it all around the bottom of each tier. Then slowly drag a pallette knife up the sides, pulling sugar up, but not smooshing into the icing. Works really well. Brush the excess off the bottom ridge with a dry paintbrush .

i looked it up -- cake dividing wheel. it says it comes in a set with the garland marker. i only have the marker, but the mat seems like it would do more of what i wanted. i'll be buying one of these.

thanks for the tip!

That cake is gorgeous! Well done!

AJust found this site and was looking how to use sanding sugar for a snowy looking wedding cake , so can I use sanding sugar for that or do I need something else thanks so much I'm self taught and try to learnot as I go so all help is appreciated

ASanding sugar can be dull. Try the Sparkling Sugar for, well, sparkle.