Does anyone have an idea on the best way to make realistic sea shells for a beach themed bridal shower cake. Fondant? White Chocolate? How to mold them? What to color them with? Any help would be great!

I like fondant, nice texture for sea shell and Global sugar art has tons of great molds for them, super realistic. I would use luster dust to color(also Global Sugar Art)

Hmm, well...I've never actually tried it but in the "Wedding Cake Decorator's Guide" by Alan Dunn, he describes how to make your own simple molds using silicone putty.

Using the silicone putty and an actual seashell, I think it would be relatively simple to make a mold that you could use to make a seashell out of anything...chocolate, fondant, or gumpaste.

I LOVE using chocolate and I LOVE doing seaside cakes! Feel free to PM me and I'll send you some pics of cakes I've done. (I can't give out my e-mail here, cc rules). I swirl the choc. with subtle colors....they really are beautiful. I even pipe my coral now using white choc. and dust it with super pearl...it's SO pretty!

Also, you can do them in white choc. and dust them with luster dusts. Those look awesome as well. I can steer you to my friend who does them just beautifully this way.

I can help with molds sources as well.

Jen

I am with Jen, chocolate is the best way to go!

Edna

So beautiful, Edna!!!

Yep - chocolate tastes the best! We made a seaside cake (in my photos) and used the 'make your own mold' product. Purchased a package of seashells from Michaels for a few dollars and made a variety of different shells. Much cheaper than buying molds.

If you do use chocolate, it works nicely to melt some cocoa butter, mix with luster dusts or other powder colors, paint the molds where desired, let set, and pour in tempered chocolate. I like this look better than painting the shells afterwards (JMO)!

Thanks fullhouse, the bride didnt wanted much color on hers, but they can be done in many different ways.
Edna

thanks everyone I am really bad with chocolate but I am going to get both a try, what is this make your own mold product?

Your sea shells are incredible. They are so beautiful. I used chocolate to make my first shells too, How did you get them so shiny??

Pearl Dust will make them shiny!
Edna

thank you so much for all of your answers. this website is such a great link to amazing cake designers like all of you!

ok one last question do you have to temper the white chocolate for the shells?

Try firstimpressionsmolds.com, they have great sea shell molds. I used them w/white choc for my cakes. I didn't temper the choc.

Good luck with your shells! Sounds like you have a plan. I have made shells out of gumpaste. I made them using molds. I used white and "flesh" colored gumpaste. Once dry, I dusted them with various shades of petal dust to make them as realistic as possible. My mom took them to work to show a bride who was getting married on the beach, and she simply could not believe they were not real shells. I look forward to seeing what you do, so please be sure to post pictures for us!