My SIL has enlisted me to help her with a wedding cake (I am not doing the cake), she wants 75 buttercream roses. I don't think I have done more than 10 at a time! My wrist is going to be hurtin'! I have to have them done in two days because I am going on vacation and the wedding is on the 4th. I wish she would have let me know sooner, I am no pro at this and am starting to worry if I can do it and how they will come out. I need these to be really nice!

Question is, how much sugar and Crisco will I need? She said do all Crisco and I am doing the kisses for centers. I have no clue how much to buy. I'd rather stock up and return than run short. I haven't even cleaned the house or packed yet! Anyone have a good rose-making BC besides the Wilton? Help, tips, ideas? AUGH!

Zamode, sorry, I don't know how much shortening/sugar you'd need. But you can freeze BC roses. Pipe each one on a small square of wax paper and put on a cookie sheet or flat object to freeze. They come to room temperature quite quickly. They're also easier to handle frozen - just peel off the waxed paper. This way you don't have to do them all at once!

This is funny, I just made 67 for my daughter's cake yesterday. They're not perfect, but I got them done. What I did was used royal icing. I thought they would get harder than BC... if she's set on BC, I don't know how long or how to store those... But anyway once I got all my little wax squares cut and had my piping bags and tips ready, it just became habit and they kept coming. My wrists didn't hurt as much as my feet did from just STANDING there - but then I'm 5 months preg so maybe that was it. Here are mine. Don't judge harshly please lol.

This is funny, I just made 67 for my daughter's cake yesterday. They're not perfect, but I got them done. What I did was used royal icing. I thought they would get harder than BC... if she's set on BC, I don't know how long or how to store those... But anyway once I got all my little wax squares cut and had my piping bags and tips ready, it just became habit and they kept coming. My wrists didn't hurt as much as my feet did from just STANDING there - but then I'm 5 months preg so maybe that was it. Here are mine. Don't judge harshly please lol.

I make tons of roses at a time and just air dry the buttercream roses. I made about 120 a few weeks ago, knowing I had 28 to each tray. Someone left the door to the spare bedroom open for a minute and the dog must have snuck in because when I went in to bring them out- two trays were empty. groann...I would be surprised if you needed much more than a two pound bag to make that many roses- maybe 2- 2lb bags. You get a lot out of a batch of buttercream. Relax, make a cup of tea and put your feet up- it really isn't that bad! smiles.

As what you mentioned, you are not a pro at this and you have a wrist problem, my suggestion is buy them...I know it means a lot to you SIL if you make them..go here : www.discountsugarflowers.com


It will save you grief and her flowers would look perfect for her wedding cake..

I don't know why mine posted twice but I can't seem to delete one.... sorry.

I have heard for making bc roses you should use a all crisco, or hi-ratio shortening recipe, and add meringue powder for stability. I agree too, freeze them. They will be much easier to handle. It not, they will slip off the was paper when you try and place them on the cake.

Hmmm good question...

Using kisses for the center perhaps 2- 3 batches of icing?

could someone explain using kisses for the center? I am not familiar with this? Thanks

I've never heard of that term either.

Instead of making the rose base yourself, you can use Hershey Kisses.

Here's the wilton site's page on making roses and you will see the base:
http://www.wilton.com/decorating/basic/roses.cfm


You pipe the rose petals on the kiss the same as you would a rose base.

Also, if your wrist is hurting, maybe your icing is way too stiff....

Good luck - I hope it all works out for you.....

dumb question, what color do they have to be???

They have to be chocolate. I would have been better off making the fondant ones!!

I just got finished making roses for a party this past weekend and I basically used Wilton's Royal Icing Recipe and they turned out great. I think the corn syrup is the culprit since your rose petals are too soft. Usually crisco and sugar (along with liquid) will get u a nice stiff icing, but I always add merenge powder to it for added stiffness and longevity. Don't know how much it takes to make 75... Maybe Parismom can share with us how much it took for her 67 and you can guage from there. The Hershey Kiss idea sounds great! and it sure will save your wrist, not to mention making the roses more stable. As far as store-bought roses, I've never bought them from Wilton, but I've seen some in the stores and I wouldn't take them if you paid me..
Mak's probably right about your wrist hurting with the icing being too stiff. You can either warm it up with your hands to soften (as usually happens when we pipe too long anyway) or put a drop of liquid in the mixture. From the looks of your roses, it appears there are air pockets in the icing which can also happen with stiff icing or pressure may be off.. Wilton's website has instructions on how to guage different icing consistencies, check it out. Also you can't put Royal Icing in the fridge since the moisture from the fridge will soften it and the flowers will start wilting (according to a book I read) Note: This Is Not The Same As WILTon..lol
Aanywhoo, let us know how you end up; ask more questions or post your pics! Good Luck!!

Zamode, your icing looks overwhipped. Take the spatula and work it in to the icing use the same motion an artist use to mix paint on his pallet. This will break down the air pockets.

Did you use cocoa powder? This will make the icing a bit dry. Split edges.

Ummmm yea if they Are falling off you put too much corn syrup in the thing.

Check the nozzle of the tip you might need to open it up a bit.

Also, you need to pipe the centre so it;s nice and tight.

Back on strike...

C_P, I tried to smooth the icing the second go-round, it helped some but not much. I think I am screwed and will just make another batch tomorrow. Going to skip the corn syrup, will add a little Crisco if need be instead.

I used baking squares. I know my centers stink, I cannot seem to get them to make that nice tight "scarf". I am using Kisses for the base or that would be causing problems, too!

I did almost half and am not really pleased with most of them. For now, I have to get to bed.

Thank you for coming off strike

Too much air in your icing will cause fraying.... Let the icing sit overnight and let some of the bubbles break down -- or slowly smash your icing against the walls of your bowl which will help with too much air.....

Are you sure you didn't want piping gel instead of corn syrup...?

Mak I've tried bnth before; someone here suggested corn syrup awhile back. I think I just used too much of it.

Anyway, the buggers are done, I did 78 and they are waiting on my island for my brother to pick them up. I will kill him if he shows up in his pickup. My husband came home last night after a poker game and pointed one out, "what happended to this one?" I felt like stabbing him in the jugular with my rose nail. It was about 12:30 and I just wanted to get done. Sadly, I am really only okay with the last 20 or so. After all of my issues, I was finally getting some good ones near the end. Oh well, I hope my SIL and the bride are happy with them. Thank you everyone for your help, everyone here is great!