I Hate Snowflakes!!!!

Decorating By karateka Updated 7 Jan 2007 , 4:56am by shannan6607

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karateka Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 1:35am
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Grr... icon_mad.gif

I can't wait until this cake is gone!! I got a winter themed wedding cake due tomorrow at 3:30pm. It's a 6in tier and and 8in tier, off set squares, decorated in winter theme. The pic she gave me has dots and snowflakes on it. I started those bad boys weeks ago, and broke probably 75% of the buggers!

I think I have 19 or so that aren't broken. I truly believe that I'm ready to put my fist through a wall. If any more break I don't have the faintest idea what I'm going to do for snowflakes. It's too late to make any more royal icing ones, and the ones I made with candy melts are more cream than white. icon_evil.gif

Just venting. Thanks for listening!!

35 replies
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notjustcake Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 1:43am
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I'm sorry just went through that myself for a teacher's cake. I decided to give the whole snowflake thing a try and this is the result don't give up I know these are supposed to break that's why I think I was supposed to pipe more : ( too late maybe someone here can give you some suggestions on what to add to use less snowflakes maybe swiss dots or a ribbon border to take up as much space from the cake on something and not notice the lack of snowflakes and only you know this, no one else will be counting snowflakes but yourself
hope this helps good luck
LL

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christeena Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 1:44am
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Can you make a wire skeleton for the snowflakes, then pipe over them for additional strength? Use a white floral wire in the basic shape you need, pipe the basic sbowflake over that, dry, flip over and pipe again adding more of the design to the re-enforced base! Just a thought! Good Luck!!

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IHATEFONDANT Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 1:45am
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I knowit is too late but...I did a wedding cake for today..snowflakes and was worried about the same thing..breakage.

Someone on CC...can't recall who..darnit...told me to use plastic wrap instead of parchment or waxpaper..I thought what the hey...I made about 85 snowflakes..total breakage...2....it worked like a dream!!!

I did overpipe them for strength..but the plastic wrap was a Godsend.. thumbs_up.gif

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mkolmar Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 3:06am
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you could just pipe some on in buttercream if you are desperate. It may be too late now but I had an emergancy needing royal icing flowers and butterflies. I put them in an oven for just a few minutes to help them harden. It worked like a dream! I used them for the cake the very next day.

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karateka Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 3:23am
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Ok, gotta try that plastic wrap thing! I used lightly greased wax paper. And some of them survived being taken off of that, only to break later.

I could just scream.

I like the wire idea, too. Maybe next time I'll try that. (If I'm ever dumb enough to accept another snowflake job, that is! icon_lol.gif )

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shannan6607 Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 4:20am
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I have a wedding cake due next Saturday. I have never done Royal icing snowflakes before and didn't realize that there would be an issue. I am doing the Wilton Snowflake Dance cake. I was going to start the snowflakes tomorrow. Should I make 3 times what I need to allow for breakage? these are going to have to be on wire sticking out of the cake. Help!!!!

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modthyrth Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 4:35am
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I've found that royal icing made with egg whites is more durable than royal icing made with merangue powder. when I'm making royal icing lace for a cake, or something delicate like snowflakes, I'd use the old-fashioned egg-white recipe.

Try cutting your waxed paper into smaller squares before piping your designs. One snowflake per square. It's easier to pull off the backing of delicate pieces this way.

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Barbend Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 4:52am
post #9 of 36

I used the wilton easy release parchment paper. My snowflakes dried overnight and some within 4-5 hrs. They slid right off the paper with no problem. Also, I may be wrong, but if you are spraying your paper with cooking spray you are adding oil to your royal icing and may be causing it to break down. I had really good luck with breakage. Only about 20%. Good luck.

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BlakesCakes Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 7:51am
post #10 of 36

Absolutely DO NOT grease anything you pipe royal icing onto if the piped item needs to dry and release from the surface in one piece! The grease thwarts the drying of the RI in the most critical area--the back of the piece.


Barbend has it---the silicone treated parchement is the best surface for these types of items, especially when you need them to dry very quickly. If you pipe on this stuff, you can also put it in the oven on warm to dry things in a snap.

Rae

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playingwithsugar Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 7:55am
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definitely parchment paper. I no longer use waxed paper for any decorating or sugar work.

Theresa icon_smile.gif

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redred Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 8:04am
post #12 of 36

Apparently adding gum arabic to royal icing will strengthen it. Anyone tried this?

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playingwithsugar Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 8:06am
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Never heard that one, but what the heck? I've got a whole jar of it, so I may as well try it. Do you know how much per batch?

Theresa icon_smile.gif

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redred Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 8:43am
post #14 of 36

In my notes, it says 2.5ml (0.5tsp) to royal icing made with 1 egg white and around 200g icing sugar. Let us know how it goes!

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playingwithsugar Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 8:47am
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Thanks, sure will let you know. Will not try it until the end of Jan.

Theresa icon_smile.gif

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karateka Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 1:37pm
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I followed Earlene's directions to the letter. She said to use very lightly greased wax paper, even said "important". But I'm willing to try parchment or silicone easy release paper.

I even used the royal icing recipe in ACD, with no acid in it to make it weaker. SO frustrating. But I appreciate all the tips, and if I ever have to do it again, I'll come back to this thread before I start.

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bobwonderbuns Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 1:54pm
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Anything like a lace point or a snowflake, anything with delicate "arms" that are easily breakable should always be piped using color flow. I use the Wilton Color Flow mix -- it's easy to use. Pipe your snowflake on wax paper (taped over your template) and when those dry, pull the wax paper off over the edge of the counter and flip over the snowflakes and repipe them for added strength. Trust me, you will never have a breakage problem again!! icon_smile.gif

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Barbend Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 3:31pm
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Let us know how it turns out. Love to see your pics.

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JaneK Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 3:44pm
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Quote:
Quote:

anything with delicate "arms" that are easily breakable should always be piped using color flow.




Thanks for the tip on this...I wondered about colour flow..but doesn't it break down if exposed to BC?

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bobwonderbuns Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 4:05pm
post #20 of 36
Quote:
Originally Posted by JaneK

Quote:
Quote:

anything with delicate "arms" that are easily breakable should always be piped using color flow.



Thanks for the tip on this...I wondered about colour flow..but doesn't it break down if exposed to BC?


Eventually it will, but not as fast as royal icing. And anyone who has taken Wilton Course 2 will know that Royal icing flowers take forever to soften up!!

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7yyrt Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 4:35pm
post #21 of 36

Remember: ALWAYS remove what you DON'T want from what you DO want, not the other way around...i.e. the paper from the snowflake - much less breakage.

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bobwonderbuns Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 4:38pm
post #22 of 36
Quote:
Originally Posted by 7yyrt

Remember: ALWAYS remove what you DON'T want from what you DO want, not the other way around...i.e. the paper from the snowflake - much less breakage.


Exactly! Put your finger on the snowflake and pull the wax paper down off the corner of the counter, thus pulling the wax paper away from the snowflake. Just be sure to catch the snowflake as it comes away from the paper!!

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JaneK Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 4:48pm
post #23 of 36

great thread!! I had NO luck with previous snowflakes..will try again I think!

Thanks

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IHATEFONDANT Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 6:49pm
post #24 of 36

I also overpiped my snowflakes...for added strength..and used a very small tip....I was dreading doing them but got them done and as I said minimal breakage.

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karateka Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 8:46pm
post #25 of 36

Well, here it is, the bane to my existence. The candy snowflakes look much more yellow than they did to my naked eye. I airbrushed them with pearl dust, and they seemed to match the frosting perfectly. Doesn't look like it, does it?

THe client seemed pleased, but it was in a box, and the light wasn't good. I hope she is still pleased when she takes it out of the box at home.
LL

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Irish245 Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 9:11pm
post #26 of 36

Looks really good to me!

I had to do spiderwebs for a Halloween wedding cake a couple years ago. I made the royal icing webs about a week before I needed them....(I had done lace points this way for a wedding cake previously and it worked like a dream). The day of the wedding, it had been raining all night and was still raining. I took the webs on cookie sheets. I guess it was too humid because when I went to lift them at the reception site, they just disintegrated. I had to pipe them on the cake. No biggie since I had cart blanc on this cake. I've found that if it's humid, they don't like to stay together. I make stuff early now and keep a fan on them for about 12 hours before I need them.

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lapazlady Posted 31 Dec 2006 , 9:18pm
post #27 of 36

That cake is spectacular! Great job!

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BeckySue Posted 1 Jan 2007 , 3:31am
post #28 of 36

It turned out great!! You really didn't need more snowflakes than that...maybe the breakage was a blessing in disguise icon_smile.gif

I always use at least a tip 3 when I am piping snowflakes, and like it has been said: remove the parchment from the snowflake, not the other way around.

Shannan6607: is this the cake you are making? Be sure to post when you are done!!
LL

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Derby Posted 1 Jan 2007 , 3:39am
post #29 of 36

oooooo....that's really pretty! I want to see yours when it's finished!

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shannan6607 Posted 1 Jan 2007 , 5:33pm
post #30 of 36

BeckySue,

Yours looks awesome! Did you use the silicone easy release paper? I think I will try that. My customer doesn't want me to do it in Fondant, I am going to try BC. Did you use Fondant or gumpaste for your curls? I have never used gumpaste before and am a little scared of it I guess. Which do y'all think would be easier?

Still nervous, I messed up my scheduling and also have a castle cake due on the same day! EEK! I now have a big calendar on my fridge so that I don't do that again. This week will be a marathon cake week. I will be glad when it's over!!!

Some of you suggested baking my snowflakes? What temp should I use? I have never tried that.

Shannan

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