Hello...trying to plan a mardi gras cake for my grandfathers 80th. I am looking for something with metallic gold accents. I have checked the gallery and have seen some gold accents that look very rich looking. Can you paint MMF with some type of gold to acheive that effect? Is it edible? I noticed the luster dusts state "for decorative use only"?

I mix gold luster dust with super peral luster dust and thin with some type of alcohol for painting, I use Everclear but it's not available in all states. You can use vodka or lemon extract, although I don't care for the extract very much because it takes longer to dry, it has lemon oil in it. And I think it makes the luster dust a bit gummy for painting. I use maybe 1 part super pearl to 2 parts gold luster dust, enough alcohol to make a consistency similar to unwhipped cream. Adding the pearl is what makes the gold really shiny. The tassles and tiara on this cake were painted with this mixture.

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&meta=allby&uname=ShirleyW&cat=0&pos=133

I use real 24 karat ground gold. It's absolutely gorgeous and not much more expensive than luster dust. Plus, gold really *is* actually edible.

Here's a pic: http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&meta=allby&uname=Cakepro&cat=0&pos=15

Cakepro- Where do you buy your gold powder? I can't seem to find it. Beautiful cake!

Thanks.

I'm fortunate enough to have several specialty cake shops here in Houston, where I can buy it locally.

The place where I buy it does ship, though. http://www.makeacakehouston.com/id17.htm

The product number is C409 and the label says, "Non-Toxic 24 Karat Gold Dust (for Hi-Lite Only), Mix with gin or vodka and paint on." It's $6.99 and it comes in a screw-top jar like the pearl dusts, except there seems to be a lot more gold in the bottle. It doesn't have the weight, unfortunately, but I bought 3 jars at once and even though I use them ALOT, I still have 1.5 jars left. I also use lemon extract rather than alcohol.

Hope that helps! The Make-A-Cake people are great so they'd be happy to ship to you.

~ Sherri

Cakepro: That cake is gorgeous! It's very impressive! How do you paint the scrolls without getting the paint on the cake? Are they RI scrolls that you paint, then place on the cake? Thanks for the info!

Thanks.

Nope I just piped them in buttercream, let them crust, and then painted them with a small artists brush. It's very easy, not runny or messy. You just need a steady hand.

You certainly could do them in RI, though. I love to paint color-flow pieces with this gold, like I did on this cake: http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&meta=allby&uname=Cakepro&cat=0&pos=8

Thanks for the info, Cakepro. Your cakes are just beautiful! I'm enjoying them!

:blushing: Thank you, you're sweet.

Where are your pictures?

"My pictures" are somewhere in broken camera number 1, or broken camera number 2. We just purchased a 3rd one (Nikon D-200, totally cool!) I keep saying that "one day" I'll see what I can salvage, but it hasn't happened yet! You're not missing much though; this is strictly a hobby and I don't get nearly enough practice. (I've been working 3 jobs this year!)

Cakepro- WOW! What I would give to have that store nearby, I wish! Thanks for the link!

I usually apply the gold luster loose if I am doing a large area.
But paint with small areas. I also use Gold Leaf sheets 24K Gold edible).. they come in a small "booklet" size that costs $27.00 per book.

Okay, I've got to update my post.

I called Make-A-Cake myself to find out why you couldn't find this product, peasacake, and the woman was initially pretty clueless. After she went on about other dusts and powders they have, I read the entire label to her (I had the jar in my hand) and told her I wasn't looking for regular luster dusts, I was looking for the product that I bought FROM HER directly 2 years ago from a little stand on the counter next to the register, and the label says, "Non-Toxic 24 Karat Gold Dust" and she replied very condescendingly, "Do you really think you could buy 24 karat gold dust for $6.99? Think about it."

Well, there is NOTHING on the label AT ALL to suggest that the product name is simply a description of the color...it only states, "24 Karat Gold Dust" so I understood it to be 24 karat gold dust!!!!!

At least she told me the name of the company where she ordered them from, and I found the exact product here: http://www.creativecutters.com/LISTPRODUCTS.CFM?mcat=19&subcat=23&who=3

Tell me, is there anything that would make you believe it's NOT actually 24 karat ground gold? Besides (stupid me) the price?

Edit: I have an email in to the company. We shall see.

This is about 24K edible Gold Leaf..... check this out..
www.goldleafcompany.com/goldleaf.html#ediblegold

This is where I got my edlble Gold leafs I hardly use them since they are expensive..

Ohhhh......ladies.....your cakes are gorgeous!!! I'm so jealous! Some day..............

Just for future reference, highlighter dusts (gold, silver, and copper), although non-toxic, are classified as NON-EDIBLE.

This link, http://www.candylandcrafts.com/sparklepearldustpowders.htm

has the highlighter dusts at the bottom of the page with this statement:

Highlighting Dusts (these are Non-Edible)
~ ~ Highlighters give a very high sheen finish ~ ~

Gold Highlighter (3 gms.) Yes:Qty:
Silver Highlighter (2 gms.) Yes:Qty:


I've never seen an explanation of why this is the case, but perhaps the highlighter dusts have a much higher concentration of some ingredient. I guess it's just one more thing to add to the confusion over dusts....sorry.

Rae

Thank you all for your help, I really appreciate it. I am definately going to try the painting gold dust thing. THANKS AGAIN!

Well, according to Nikki Scott (Randlesome) (presumably the owner's daughter, as the owner's name is Geraldine Randlesome), the product #C409 is ACTUALLY 24 karat gold dust.

I will be ordering directly from Creative Cutters as I love this product.

ShirleyW, Cakepro and oolala - all I can say about your cakes is, WOW!!!

And thanks for sharing your techniques and product sources

BlakesCakes, thanks for the heads up!