Hello everyone! I tried to do the gel technique transfer to a cake and it did not work out.

What I did was print out "Happy Birthday" and then put wax paper over that and then trace the words with store bought Wilton gel and tried to quickly transfer to an iced cake. That did not work out because the wax paper brought up some icing (it was not the crusting buttercream-it was regular non-crusting buttercream).

I even tried to freeze the gel on the wax paper and then transfer it but still brought up the icing and then I had to re-ice the top again.

What should I do about the wax paper bringing up the icing? Should I spray with non-stick cooking spray or use corn starch or powdered sugar or something?

Please help-I am making my little's boys 8th birthday cake and do not want to mess up! TIA!

I have only tried the gel transfer on crusting buttercream.

I wonder if you put the cake in the fridge for a little bit if that would keep it from coming up.

Cindy

You know that I have not tried that yet (on putting the cake in the fridge, at least I don't remember-LOL)
I will try that if no one else puts in there input.

Thanks.

How about doing the letters in Royal Icing and then place on the cake after the letters dry.

You know I thought about that, but I do not want to make a whole batch of royal frosting just for words. I don't make enough cakes to use the royal icing up. But, I will use that information on another cake when I have to do royal icing flowers.

Thanks so much for your reply!

I use the CK brand of Royal Icing, you just add water and mix like the regular Royal Icing.

With this, you can make up the amount that you need...adjusting the water amount.

That is a good idea Stephanie.

Whenever I make a batch of royal icing (which is not often) I make a bunch of drop flowers in different colors and sizes then after they dry store them in a plastic container. That way I have flowers on hand when I need a quick and easy cake.

Cindy


Edited to add that the royal flowers will last practically forever.

What about using parchment paper instead? Just a thought I really don't know!

I have used melted candymelts, piped the message on wax paper, let it set up & then flip onto cake, gently press letters into icing & peel off paper. I got some mini squeeze bottles from sugarcraft & I can melt just what I need-use white candy melts and color any color you like! this has solved my trauma of writing on cakes!

That sounds like a good idea. Thanks.

Do you print out the words in mirror image and "flip" the words or do you peel them off the wax paper? This is just a cool idea!

Missy

I have done writing transfers a million times with a lot of successs...............you can't use wax paper, it's not stiff enough and the water in the piping gel will affect it....I always use clear piping gel, I'm sure you can use any color you want though........I do just like you said....I reverse whatever I'm printing.......put the parchment over it.....use a really small tip maybe a 0 or a 1 and pipe over the letters.....then I let it sit for about 5-10 min. this allows the piping gel to set up somewhat......then I flip it over on the cake.....take a clean paintbrush and gently run it over the lines on the back of the parchment paper.......then carefully peel off the parchment paper and you should have a nice transfer of piping gel........just a little ......to your cake and then you can trace over this with buttercream or a colored piping gel if you so choose.

Thanks to all for the replies.-Josie

Maybe this is too late-but, I print the message in the size and font I need on the computer (I am unable to print in mirror image or would do so) Then I tape the message to the table (good side down) so that it is piped backwards & then is correct when flipped onto the cake