Hi guys!

Well for starters I'm fairly new to cake making (maybe 6 months) and new to CC (just a few weeks) and I have already spent plenty of time browsing the *amazing* cake creations on here. I have seen quite a few cakes with pretty wire looking swirls and loops. See example here:

http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1811940

Now, I know from doing craft projects that wire is very toxic and should not be used with food. My question is.....how do you do this? Is there a special non-toxic food grade wire available??

There's been lots of postings on this topic and lots of opinions. Many of the bigger named cakers stick the wires directly into the cake. Many people on here do not and are against it. They often stick the wires in a mound or ball of fondant or gumpaste or use coffee stirrers and stick them in the cake and the wire in that. I read somewhere of one person using cloth-covered wire. I haven't found any, but found it an interesting idea. Welcome to CC and good luck with your baking and decorating.

Hmm...the coffee stirrers sounds like a neat idea. And I have actually used cloth covered wire in a craft project before. In fact I may still have some on hand. (I think It was some type of floral wire, probably from Joann Fabrics) Idk though...i'm not sure if I would still be content (safety wise) with just that thin fabric between the wire and the cake.

Thanks for your quick response!

I've stuck wires into my cakes before and I used the thinnest drinking straws available here for children's yogurt drinks (I believe they are as thin as coffee stirrers) to hold the wires in the cake. HTH.

There is a thread in the Cake Decorating forum:
http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-632290.html
"For those who stick wires in cakes." You could probably get a lot of information/advice there.

If you are seeking colored wire, wire is made in some colors. However, check out paper-covered wire for a Japanese craft called mizhiki. These wires still need to be put in a straw or coffee stirrer with a plug (gumpaste, fondant, royal icing) in the bottom for safety. These wires come in many many colors including different metal colors.

Thanks so much for all the help/info!

i put gumpaste or fondant into a straw and then insert the wire into that. let harden then put into cake. It actually makes the wires feel more sturdy in the cake too

I spelled that Japanese craft wrong: it's mitzuhiki.

Ok - how do you create a smooth loop/swirl?

Find something the diameter you want your loop to be, and bend the wire around it. I usually want my loops to be the diameter of the small wilton rolling pin, so I cover it with press and seal and then use it to shape the wires.