Hi,

What's the best way to paint a design on fondant? I'm doing a wedding cake where the bride wants filigree/scroll work painted on (she showed me an example pic).

I know food coloring or anything water-based won't work. I need something that will work with solid colors and metalics. Please help!!

Thanks!

Petal dust or luster dust mixed with vodka.

For metallics, try Americolor's metallic airbrush colors. You can paint them on with a paint brush instead of an airbrush.

Can somebody explain why regular straight icing color won't work? I've used americolor gels to paint small details on fondant and it worked fine. If I tried to do a large pattern like you're describing, would it not work because it's water based?

Gel color would work but I think she's looking for something that's not transparent. Personally I'd do filigree or scroll work with royal icing because it would be a lot easier.

I remember reading on one of these threads that gel color mixed with melted shortening makes a substance that looks and behaves like real paint.

Food coloring can work. I've tried it.

I'd use dusts dilluted in vodka or airbrush colors.

there is a painted cake in my photos, check it out, i used melted cocoa butter mixed with dust colours, its very user friendly, hope this helps

Hi all I paint on my fondant with browngel &lemon favoring to look like wood thats ok. now I want it shiny how can i get that look ?Thanks you sammie

Thanks for all your help/suggestions!! I just posted pics of the cake. I tried the silver metallic dust diluted with vodka first but it was too thin and transparent to see on top of white fondant.

Then I mixed it with vegtable shortening and that did the trick! The weather was very hot and humid while I made the cake even though the kitchen was air conditioned it still made the whole project tricky.

I found that at room temperature the shortening and the dust made a paint-like substance that I could brush on the fondant. I could go over the design a few times as needed to make it heavier or wipe some away with a clean brush. Of course refrigerated the whole thing once it was done but even at a hot outdoor wedding the next day the cake held up well.