I am making a coin cake for my father in law's bday...i would like to use luster dust to give it that silvery sheen...but i've never used it before...please, how do you use it...i can't mix it with Vodka, he's a recovering alcoholic, can i mix it with vanilla flavor? how much flavor to dust ratio should i use...i have now idea what i'm doing here''
Crying or Very sad, please help me...TIA...Jen

You have to mix it with either Vodka..which in this case you can't ..Lemon oil not extract...or everclear which again is a high content of alcohol.As a last resort I guess you could try mixing it with a clear extract but it may not mix that well.Try it!!! Afew drops of liquid and a few taps of dust.

As far as I know it has to be an alcohol base. By the way you mix with lemon extract not oil. The oil will not dry. As far as ratio, put some dust on a plate or palatte and add a drop at a time of extract. I do this with a medicine dropper.

Also about the alcohol, I believe the alcohol evaporates as it dries.

stupid question coming your way... what's the difference between lemon oil and lemon extract? is it the consistancies? i haven't taken any classes, so all this basic "i should know this already" stuff, i really haven't got a clue...sorry.

Hey Jen - you don't have to use Vodka. If you have clear vanilla or even lemon extract, either of those will work fine. Just put a little of the extract in a small cup or bowl, add some of the luster dust...mix just until you have a loose paste. If it starts to get too thick on you as you use it, just add another drop or two of extract. Just paint it on with a super soft brush. I hope this helps you!

ps - don't throw the leftovers away when you're done, either! Just cover it tightly and put in a cool, dark place...cabinet is fine. It can always be reused by just adding a few drops of extract again and re-mixing it...as there is always residue left in the container once it dries. Hope that made sense...

lemon oil is just that. Oil that is extracted from the lemon rind. Lemon extract is the lemon essence usually mixed with alcohol. As is pure vanilla extract.

thanks ya'll for the quick responses. i hope i get this right, i will post the pic when i'm done, just hopefully not in the disaster forum...

Jen

If you can´t use alcohol, I think you should be carefull with extracts too. The alcohol will evaporates, but a little bit of the taste will "stay".

KCsmom98--
I agree with Tuggy. Before you use the extract, find out if it is OK. Someone I know is a recovering alcoholic and can't have any alcohol either, even if it evaporates. They also can't have cough syrup. They also can't have pure vanilla extract, pure lemon extract, etc because the alcohol evaporates, but like Tuggy said, the taste stays which could be dangerous if the person was very addicted. I guess it depends on how long he has been sober and if he can tolerate it or not...but definitely find out first.

wow, never thought about that...the alcohol causing a prob for a recovering alcoholic...the things we learn here!

I was told that in the taste is the thing that gives the "klick" to the brain. So even rum flavor without any alcohol can be the wrong ingredient.

I have seen in Scott Clark Woolley's book and on his website:

http://www.cakesbydesign.cc

that he mixes petal dusts and luster dusts with vegetable oil. His cakes (and website) are fabulous, so even if it doesn't dry, I guess it works pretty well. If you don't want to just experiment with this, you could send him an e-mail and ask about it. I have sent him e-mails in the past and he has answered them, though he doesn't know me at all. He seems to be a very nice person.

I wouldn't use extracts if there is the least chance of a problem, some of them are actually more alcoholic than liquor! I have purchased lemon and orange oils (and even lime oil) in the past. They are pretty expensive, and each has some color of it's own, but if you didn't like the idea of vegetable oil, I suppose those might work. They are very strong. The most common brand I've seen is Boyajian.

Good Luck!

Shalom,
itsacake!

Wow...such a good point about the alcohol 'aftertaste'. I have never noticed it whenever I've eaten a cake I used luster dusts on (that I applied either with vodka or extracts)...but I guess whatever taste of it is left behind would probably really stand out to a recovering alcoholic. Really glad that ya'll pointed this out because otherwise I don't think it would have ever occured to me. Thanks!

never would have thought about that. i will have to be very careful when making cakes for my fil. thanks for the info. and itsacake, thanks for the website, i think i'll send an email and ask about the mixture. Thanks Jen