Here is my dilemma...I'm a creature of habit, and have only recently began offering flowers made of royal icing, etc. Anyway, I have a cake going out this afternoon that the customer requested lilies on. So, I used my lily nail with foil lining, and my lilies looked superb. Sadly, when I let them harden up, and tried to remove them to my cake, they cracked all over the place. I didn't let them harden more than an hour. I thought about lightly spraying the foil with a vegetable spray, but that was an after thought. Suggestions?

Sounds to me like they were not dry under the surface. I always let my royal flowers dry at least overnight, sometimes longer if it's a rose or mum, something thick.

Theresa

Hi Amy,

I always use an artist's brush to apply a generous amount of vegetable oil on the foil before making each lily.

Hope this helps.

I dust the foil lightly with a combo of powdered sugar/cornstarch.

I am trying to learn as much as I can, so I have a question. I thought oil of any kind was a no no when using royal icing.

NanaD,

I thought so too, but my instructor insisted on it and I have not had a problem with the oil breaking down the royal icing.

Just give it a try and see how you like it.

Maybe you didn't let it harden long enough. I have made lillies and always let it set overnight and the foil always comes off with no problem.

I try to do all my flowers at least a week in advance so they have time to dry. I don't do royal anymore. Only gumpaste ones.

Thanks to each of you for the tips. I appreciate the help. Now, off to make more lilies for another cake. Thanks again!!!

I've had this same problem many times and someone suggested to me to get the Reynolds Release tin foil. I tried it and the cracking problem seems to be solved but then I have the problem that the darn flowers just won't dry no matter how long I let them sit out. ( days and days)

KimAZ

I have sprayed Pam lightly in the foil. I did not have a problem with them. HTH

My Wilton instructor swears by using the Wilton candy foils. She also suggests folding back the foil a little each day to keep them from sticking.

My instructer had us lightly grease with crisco and poke air hole in the bottom with a toothpick before we applied the icing. And let dry a looong time