I am one of those 'sugar artists' who want every piece of my cakes to be edible. Though I have only been doing this for a few months, I have tried many alternative tools, techniques, and recipes because of lack of training and funding. I simply do this out of my house for friends and family. I am just starting to attempt making flowers and wanted that dust effect so many use but cannot put money into paying for those luster dusts, etc.
I also only work with marshmallow fondant since it tastes the best and to me if a cake looks perfect but tastes like crap then it is not as good as it could have been.
Anyways, an idea came to me to make my own dusts. When searching for this, the only option people really list here is to use chalk. This is a GREAT idea if you are not planning on these pieces to be eaten. This is not the case for me. So I thought, why not use sprinkles? Those small sugar sprinkles that come in a multitude of colors at grocery stores for a very low cost-of which I have a ton in my kitchen already! I tried it and it works for me! So I thought I'd share the idea for anyone else who would like to try this and make it work for them. I simply start out with the color I like and grind it into a powder.A morter and pestal would work best. I had to use odds and ends so I put my sprinkles in a tea bag strainer and pressed it through then ground it a bit more in the bowl that had caught it. Then I could simply brush this powder on the mm fondant with water/alcohol-whichever works best for you and your medium. That is it. Though keep in mind that since it is a sugar, the color it is in the bottle is darker than it will be when crushed. So if you want a deeper color, get a very dark sprinkle. Good luck and hope it works for you all as well!
I saw on Rachael Ray show this morning of how to save $$. Take regular sugar. Put it in strainer, pantyhose, etc. then take vodka and put food color in vodka. dip sugar in colored vodka. once dried crush and have colored sugar for a fraction of the price. Haven't tested but looked like it would work. Just an odea
yup it works great. You can take regular sugar, put it in a plastic bag, add wilton color to it. grind the bag around until all the color is blended into the sugar. Then either use a mortal and pestal or a put in a food processor and instant petal dusts.
thanks guys, I'll have to try that for the colors I need that arn't already in sprinkle form.
I've tried it before but it really doesn't compare to regular petal dust. The colors aren't as intense and it doesn't stick to gumpaste the same way. After I tried for a while to come up with some way of making petal dusts, I gave up and started using chalk on inedible pieces.
Making your own colored sugar works really well though...and if you add a sprinkle of luster dust to it, then you end up with really glittery sugar.
You can also make something similiar to wilton's cake sparkles...those tubes of transparent, colored flakes. Mix gum arabic, water and food coloring, then spread very thin on waxed paper and allow to dry. Peel off, break up any large pieces, and store in a jar. I've made gold flakes that way before too...mixed gold airbrush color with gum arabic and let it dry, then broke it up. Gold flakes look great on a cupcake iced with a big swirl.
I saw on Rachael Ray show this morning of how to save $$. Take regular sugar. Put it in strainer, pantyhose, etc. then take vodka and put food color in vodka. dip sugar in colored vodka. once dried crush and have colored sugar for a fraction of the price. Haven't tested but looked like it would work. Just an odea
Well, I'll be!!! Sounds cool.
I've made "gold leaf" by painting gold airbrush color on to parchment paper and letting it dry, then using it just like regular gold leaf.
can you use something other than vodka to mix the food color in?
You can use a clear extract, like lemon extract or clear vanilla. Vodka is cheaper if you're going to be using a lot.
can you use something other than vodka to mix the food color in?
for just the gel colors, I use a small amount of water. It does take a little longer to dry than the alcohol that most people use, but it works just fine for me on my marshmallow fondant. people say it messes with the consistency, but i have never had this problem. As long as you don't drench it in water on the fondant then you are fine. plus this is SO much cheaper than using vodka! i suggest trying it to see how you like using it and decide if it works for you. if not than buying offbrand vanilla extract isa good way to go.Go to a chep grocery store and buy the clear kind and it will work fine and be cheaper than buying alcohol! Good luck.
I don't know offhand about the price of vanilla extract but I do know that you can buy a fifth of vodka for around 5 or 6 dollars.
I don't know offhand about the price of vanilla extract but I do know that you can buy a fifth of vodka for around 5 or 6 dollars.
Sorry, i had to chuckle a little...just struck me funny that you knew the price of vodka and not vanilla
On a more serious note....the vodka does last a lonnnnng time..i use it for painting and spraying my cakes for shine....it evaporates and there is no taste..no worries for using on kids cakes
For me, vodka produces smoother, clearer colors. A nip of vodka here is only $1. When I use extracts or water, the colors seems to clump more and are streaky on the cake. Whatever works for you!
Off the wall thought, I admit the idea came to me after I read this post and I went to a craft store to get dry paint powder to mix up some paint for a craft project, when thought occured to me: but what about using kool-aid powder? maybe can mix it maybe with some powdered sugar to blend the color make it easier to apply, rather then grinding regular sugar, plus it cheap. I might experiment with this thought...
I don't know offhand about the price of vanilla extract but I do know that you can buy a fifth of vodka for around 5 or 6 dollars.
Sorry, i had to chuckle a little...just struck me funny that you knew the price of vodka and not vanilla
On a more serious note....the vodka does last a lonnnnng time..i use it for painting and spraying my cakes for shine....it evaporates and there is no taste..no worries for using on kids cakes
Hahhahaha, I actually thought about that after the fact. It hasn't been so long since I was a college girl! ...and my liquor store had a sale today so I got me some vodka
Off the wall thought, I admit the idea came to me after I read this post and I went to a craft store to get dry paint powder to mix up some paint for a craft project, when thought occured to me: but what about using kool-aid powder? maybe can mix it maybe with some powdered sugar to blend the color make it easier to apply, rather then grinding regular sugar, plus it cheap. I might experiment with this thought...
This might work so long as you can get the right color an control it. I make a lot of kool aid in my house and when i pour the powder into the itcher it is so fine it goes everywhere in the air. Those particles are so small they mix in the air and break up and cover everything.
But I believe you may be right, so long as you can keep it in a fixed spot, get the right color, and don't mind the flavor then it should work.Good idea!
thanks for sharing all the great tips! can't wait to try a lot of these out!
ccc is the best!
~diem
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