Hi,
I am making a gumpaste high heel shoe and I would like it to have a black patent leather look. Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way for me to go about this? I have heard using confectioners glaze or corn syrup and alcohol works, but I wonder if it would keep the shoe sticky. Thanks in advance,
Sonia

They sell like a finishing glaze spray, but I've never tried it before....

Someone on here said they use airbrush colors to paint with and they give off a shine. Also, you could try putting a coating of shortening on the fondant. Apply it with a paper towel. Wipe off the excess.

I use the edible varnish (recipe found on CC). It comes out looking exactly like patent leather and dries to a non sticky finish. You can sort of see it on the shoes and belt on the Santa cake in my pics, but it doesn't really capture how well it worked.

The only thing is you need to keep it hot as you paint it on because it gels up pretty quickly when cooled and you'll have problems. I keep it in a heated saucepan as I work and it goes on smooth as silk.

I did a couple of the gumpaste high heeled shoes and painted them with a half-half mixture of corn syrup and gin. The gin makes the corn syrup spreadable, then evaporates off. It takes a day to dry, though, so you need some time to use this method. It came out better than I had hoped for--just like patent leather! You can see both shoes in my pictures...

Here is a bag I did recently


http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1665911.html

I made it shiny like patent leather - I mixed 1/4 cup vodka with 1 tablespoon of liquid glucose - mix it together and then paint it on.

It drys quickly and gives a great shine, hope this helps,

Good luck,

Kim

The edible varnish (laquer) will work, you can also use piping gel or clear pastry glaze.

Thank you all for help! I will let you know which I try and post pictures soon!