Silver Leaf On Buttercream

Decorating By kmcgee404 Updated 20 Jan 2015 , 10:24pm by BearKat0205

kmcgee404 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
kmcgee404 Posted 29 Dec 2013 , 10:57pm
post #1 of 27

AI was going to cover a cake in edible silver leaf using buttercream (sugarshacks's recipe) as a base. My client doesn't like fondant, yet all of the tutorials and info I see regarding silver leaf are on fondant. Has anyone ever done this effect on buttercream? I did a small test and it seems ok, just nervous...help! Thanks in advance!

26 replies
-K8memphis Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
-K8memphis Posted 29 Dec 2013 , 11:20pm
post #2 of 27

i've used it once on a cake--i'm no expert--i used both gold & silver on swiss meringue buttercream and the gold was awesome--the cakes were rough iced and the foil was just around the top edges--the silver unfortunately looked like aluminum foil to me so i only used the gold--

 

but for covering a smooth cake completely i'm sure it would be a different story--and it seemed like if i touched it after it had been applied--it marred the surface and it wasn't as pretty--finicky stuff--

 

when you did your test was the icing already crusted? and it held on ok--cool--i tell yah this is one cake to box securely for delivery--a good gust of wind might do you in--yikes--

 

what kind do you have--the completely loose leaves or the kind that are mounted to a paper base?

kmcgee404 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
kmcgee404 Posted 30 Dec 2013 , 12:06am
post #3 of 27

AThanks for your response k8memphis! I have the 3 X 3 sheets separated by tissue paper. I found a few great tutorials, so the "how to" I feel pretty good with. It's just the fondant vs. Buttercream that is making me nervous. My icing was crusted and super smooth, it does look kind of like tin foil now that you mention it! I tested to see if the fridge would do anything also.

-K8memphis Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
-K8memphis Posted 30 Dec 2013 , 1:59pm
post #4 of 27

the gold was prettiest when it was first applied--the fridge changed it a bit but man the impact was not lost at all--super impressive--

 

good for you for doing your testing--

 

yes 3x3--my silver was loose leaf-- the gold was stuck to backing and i wished i had gotten it all loose leaf--it all worked out great though--

 

i still need to get pictures of that cake...

 

i need to find a good project for the silver i have left...i'll think of something any minute now...

Stitches Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Stitches Posted 30 Dec 2013 , 10:54pm
post #5 of 27

I guess I'm a bit of a party pooper because I won't put either on large surfaces/cakes that people will eat. I suggest making the cake with the solid silver leaf as a fake dummy cake and use fondant and apply just as you've read.....just another option.

-K8memphis Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
-K8memphis Posted 30 Dec 2013 , 11:43pm
post #6 of 27

it's supposed to be edible---you disagree with the edible-ness of it, w?

 

i mean even if it does cover the entire surface--each portion only get s a teeny bit once it's served--and it's so thin and fragile ain't nobody getting much even if they ate the whole overpriced book of it--

 

why are you a party pooper, w?

kmcgee404 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
kmcgee404 Posted 31 Dec 2013 , 2:59am
post #7 of 27

AI agree with k8memphis, it claims to be "edible". I've done my research and feel safe using it. Thanks for the input though, it is definitely appriciated. My test cake still looks good, so I am pretty confident it will be ok on the buttercream.

Stitches Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Stitches Posted 31 Dec 2013 , 3:12am
post #8 of 27

I don't want to eat it, even if you can with-out any harm. You can eat bugs too, but I don't want to eat that either. Just a matter of taste.........sometimes things just go too far (IMO).

 

There's a lot of decorative things I think are attractive but I want it taken off before it's eaten by me or others. I don't look at gum paste figures and go "yum"...... or encourage my clients to eat them either.

 

see......party pooper.......I'm more into yummy food.......

-K8memphis Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
-K8memphis Posted 31 Dec 2013 , 2:24pm
post #9 of 27

i definitely side with the more yummy too although on the other side of the spectrum i can't resist an accurate edible sculpture here and there--

 

more importantly i sure got an everlasting  kick out of plastering more than fifty bucks worth of edible 23 karat gold on my kids wedding cake--whoo hooo

myKzooKid Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
myKzooKid Posted 4 Jan 2014 , 9:39pm
post #10 of 27

I'm so glad I found this post. I'm starting to research using edible silver leaf on a cake. Can I ask you kmcgee404 where you did do your research to verify the safety of using the edible silver leaf? I haven't found a whole lot on the issue and want to make sure it is perfectly safe before I proceed. I will only be using it on one tier and that will be a half size tier so really only a small number of people would even have a chance of ingesting it. I just want to be able to confidently tell the bride and the guests that all is perfectly okay. Thanks!! 

kmcgee404 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
kmcgee404 Posted 5 Jan 2014 , 4:55pm
post #11 of 27

AHi mykzookid, you can look up the brand you will be using and they should have any info you need to ease your mind. On my cake it will only be on the side of one tier, so each slice will get a minimal amount of silver. Also, while my cake will feed 45 people, there are only about 15 going to the party. So my client doesn't have to eat that layer, or they can just scrape it off of the icing. If you are still nervous I would give your client all of the info and have them decide. The brand I have and researched is GoldGourmet, I hope that helps :)

AZCouture Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
AZCouture Posted 5 Jan 2014 , 5:07pm
post #12 of 27

ADo it on fondant for the best results, less stress for you, less chance for the bride to complain, and they can peel it off. There is still butter cream underneath,so tthere's no sacrficing anything! Seriously, tell them to peel it off because for that look, it's best on fondant, period. The aversion to fondant cracks me up, when it's so easily removed, and it's like it was never there.

myKzooKid Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
myKzooKid Posted 5 Jan 2014 , 6:49pm
post #13 of 27

Thanks kmcgee404 for the reply!! I will definitely do what you suggest. AZCouture, I planned on fondant anyway so no problems there; thanks for your input. I can easily tell the few people who get a slice from this tier that they can peel off the fondant without any problem. Thanks again!!!

kmcgee404 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
kmcgee404 Posted 11 Jan 2014 , 10:33pm
post #14 of 27

AJust thought I'd post a pic of the finished product. Thanks for all of your input! The buttercream made a cool crackeled look. I was happy with it and my client was as well :)[IMG]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3165635/width/200/height/400[/IMG]

-K8memphis Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
-K8memphis Posted 11 Jan 2014 , 10:43pm
post #15 of 27

stunnerific--i'd say you're pleased with it!

 

luxuriously gorgeous--

MBalaska Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
MBalaska Posted 12 Jan 2014 , 12:26am
post #16 of 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZCouture 

Do it on fondant for the best results, less stress for you, less chance for the bride to complain, and they can peel it off. There is still butter cream underneath,so tthere's no sacrficing anything! Seriously, tell them to peel it off because for that look, it's best on fondant, period. The aversion to fondant cracks me up, when it's so easily removed, and it's like it was never there.

 

AZCouture: makes perfect sense. (as per usual)

 

I can't stand the thought of putting  metal leaf   in my mouth.........Haven't you guys ever bit into a piece of foil coated hamburger wrapper and had that screaming shock of foil between your teeth. 

 

kmcgee404:     The cake is definitely Stunning looking 

-K8memphis Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
-K8memphis Posted 12 Jan 2014 , 1:17am
post #17 of 27

this made me go wanna put some foil on something (i have that silver leftover) and try a bite--but i can't find it--it has no substance to it like hamburger wrapping paper though--it's like nothing srsly--now i'm wondering what i did with that stuff...

-K8memphis Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
-K8memphis Posted 12 Jan 2014 , 1:49am
post #18 of 27

found it

 

 

the cookie

 

 

the cookie with the leaf on it and a shot of the book with the 

silver's that's left after applying to cookie

 

 

so there's less than zero mouth/tooth/tongue feel

it's just like eating the plain cookie--even if i put the

leaf directly on my tongue--nothing

-K8memphis Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
-K8memphis Posted 12 Jan 2014 , 1:55am
post #19 of 27

but even so--i'm not eating the rest of it :lol: no thanks 

FromScratchSF Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
FromScratchSF Posted 12 Jan 2014 , 6:32am
post #20 of 27

Looks great!  Can't wait to try it, don't know why I never thought of putting it straight on SMBC.

JWinslow Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
JWinslow Posted 12 Jan 2014 , 8:31am
post #21 of 27

I like the effect that you got with the silver leaf.  Nice job!  Time to go experiment :smile:

MBalaska Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
MBalaska Posted 12 Jan 2014 , 9:25am
post #22 of 27

I started thinking about how incredible the silver leaf would look on tool boxes, belt buckles, tool handles, you know guy stuff, cars, wheels.    outdoorsy things.

-K8memphis Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
-K8memphis Posted 12 Jan 2014 , 3:50pm
post #23 of 27

good thinking--i have a perfect supply that will last a loooong time 

 

plus jewelry and purse trim and mirrors and appliances and all that stuff --

 

door knobs, coke cans, golf clubs--ooh i'll do a golf bag for hubby!

kmcgee404 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
kmcgee404 Posted 12 Jan 2014 , 6:15pm
post #24 of 27

AMy son wants a star wars cake next month, gold leaf C3PO and silver R2D2 perhaps??? Lol, I think I like this stuff a little too much!

JWinslow Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
JWinslow Posted 12 Jan 2014 , 6:28pm
post #25 of 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmcgee404 

My son wants a star wars cake next month, gold leaf C3PO and silver R2D2 perhaps??? Lol, I think I like this stuff a little too much!


It can get real expensive very quickly but it is pretty.

-K8memphis Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
-K8memphis Posted 12 Jan 2014 , 7:08pm
post #26 of 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmcgee404 

My son wants a star wars cake next month, gold leaf C3PO and silver R2D2 perhaps??? Lol, I think I like this stuff a little too much!

 

a worthy purpose -- and wow what a picture for the ages

BearKat0205 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
BearKat0205 Posted 20 Jan 2015 , 10:24pm
post #27 of 27

AI have a cake coming up for a metal worker I am going to try it on. The fondant needs to be textured to look like sheet metal. Hope it works! I've only used it once before. On my bday cake.[IMG]http://www.cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3323311/width/200/height/400[/IMG]

Quote by @%username% on %date%

%body%