Butterfly Chocolate Transfers..how To Make Wings Stand Up?
Decorating By springlakecake Updated 23 May 2007 , 11:45pm by bobwonderbuns
do you guys know what i mean? I want it to look like the wings are raised up a bit, so it isnt flat. I really want to do this as a chocolate transfer. I would like to do it like this cake:
http://www.frostingwithflair.com/html/cakes/html/multi/html/spring_in_bloom.html
but I cant quite figure out how it was done. It looks like the body might have been added after?
Not sure how they did it--Beautiful cake by the way- I think I would do the wings first and let them set up, then prop them up on cotton balls and pipe the body to hold the two wings together.
So you think maybe each wing separately then add the body? It almost looks in some of her photos as if they are curved. I was thinking maybe they were set in a flower former or something. I just didnt think I could pipe it out that fast with out it setting up before I could get it in there. It was just a guess though, I could be TOTALLY way off.
Hi! I haven't done butterflies THAT elaberate, but I did have to make 200 filigree ones for the wedding cupcakes in my pics (I don't think you can see the butterflies though).
I tried numerous ways- all ways I did have to make each wing seperate. One way I tired putting a piece of parchment in a "tin foil" cup, piping the chocolate, setting the wings in. Thei was a bit tiring and as I had so many to make I came up with this method: I piped the wongs seperatley, then on a large piece of parchment I piped several bodies, I let my chocolate set for a second then stuck the wings in. The chocolate had set enough where I could set the wings in and they did not droop. After that dried I then piped on my final body.
Like I said, mine were nothing like this picture, but they were 3-D and they looked great when they were all together... to bad the cupcakes looked so bad... (sigh) Hope that helps!
Merissa! I am SO excited that someone else is interested in this!!! Check out my 3-d chocolate transfer! It was my first transfer of any kind and I really wanted a 3-d chocolate butterfly.
I made each wing seperately.
I used a tootsie roll for the body, but then went over the body and edges of the wings because the tootsie roll was too soft. I think I might have used toothpicks for extra support, but I can't remember now.
I used an open book that was set in a tray to set the butterfly on while it set up to the body.
Oh and here is the real kicker, I made a chocolate ramp to set the butterfly on so it would "perch" on the cake.
HTH! PLEASE let me know if I can tell you more!
Oh, I sould say that I think I used like 2 tootsie rolls and formed them so they weren't just chunks of candy.
And I covered the ramp with flowers.
The person who made the dragonfly cake you saw at frostingwithflair is a friend of mine. I quasi copied her cake (below). She made the wings and body separately. You outline first, then fill in. Then take a bead of chocolate, pipe it along the wing, attach it to the body by propping it up. (I used a flower form when I did mine.)
Hope my description makes sense.
Oh dear Lord, they have some of the most beautiful cakes I have ever seen!!!!!
Wow, the cakes at frostingwithflair are so beautiful!!!
I've always done mine wings first, then attach to the body and prop up until it dries like you do.
I did see in one of the cake books that I got from the library where they made a cardboard form in a "V", cut a piece of waxed paper and made a center fold and then laid it flat to pipe the wings and body and then put it into the cardboard form to dry.
I don't remember the title of the book and I haven't tried it yet, so I can't say which works better.
Thanks everyone for the WONDERFUL ideas! I cant wait to try it out. I know I love frosting with flair's cakes. I mean I LOVE them.
( 
Fairytale: I almost pm'd you about them because I knew you were friends and I have your cake saved in my photos too! Beautiful! That is the sort of thing I am going for )
I will try out the different ideas to prop it up. Thanks everyone, a lot of great ideas I hadnt thought of!
Chocolate does not always stick to Tootsie Rolls, as sometimes TRs can get slimy from the heat of your hand.
Depending upon the size, here is what I would do. Use a Wilton flower former that is smaller than the wingspan will be when assembled. Line the flower former on the inside with parchment paper or waxed paper, and tape down securely. Pipe the body and antennae onto the bottom of the flower former. When set, attach the already-made wings in the correct position with melted chocolate. The side walls of the flower former should keep the wings in place until the chocolate "glue" has set.
Then it is easy to remove the entire paper and peel the butterfly off.
You should be able to pipe a few at a time, if needed.
Theresa 
Ok Ladies these cakes are awesome!!!! I have a couple of questions, what are the wings made out of on the butterfly and dragonfly? I would love to give this a shot!! Thanks for your help !
Ok, you have my attention. But how do you do chocolate transfers?
Do you use candy melts or chips and color with oils or gels?
Do you outline a picture first, let it set up, then fill in with color, kinda like a FBCT?
Where do you find your template of your butterflies?
I love doing these. They are so much fun. Little edible paintings.
So everything flat then pipe the body and angle them by placing them up against something that will give you the angle you desire. It does not take so long you can even hold them and in a min. or so it will be solid enough to let go.
Have Fun Claire
http://www.geocities.com/heathers_cakes2000/chocolatedemo.html?1109787013625
http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-35817-love.html+chocolate+transfers
Here are a couple of links to describe CT's better. I think there is another good thread called "chocolate transfers for newbies" or something started by squirrellycakes. Those shoud get you started. The whimsical bakehouse book teaches them also. There are butterflies in there.
I decided to use the tootsie roll as a base and when I was attaching the wings to the body, I totally covered the TR with chocolate. I thought it was eaiser than building up the shape needed for the body.
I guys! I just made them and they turned out awesome! I cant wait to use them on my cake. I cant believe how easy it was. I did make the wings each separate. Then i lined the med. flower former with waxed paper as suggested. I piped a little chocolate in the bottom and put the wings against it. It kind of smooshed up the chocolate and made a great looking body. I was going to attach a separate body on top, but it looked better without it. Thanks again! I will post my pic this weekend!
Here is how my cake turned out! Thanks for the help everyone!
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&meta=allby&uname=merissa&cat=0&pos=0
WOW I am speechless! When you set out to do something you do it right! I love your cake!
I'm glad I found this thread -- I love butterflies!! Can't wait to try all these cool techniques!! 
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