Hi Cakers!!

I have read many posts that talk about mixing dust's (Petal, Pearl Shimmer) and Vodka together and then paint on your decorations.

Is this safe for Children cakes? Does the alcohol evaporate? If not, what can I mix my dust with to paint on fondant decorations??

Thanks,

Michael

You can test this yourself. Put a little bit of vodka on a dish. let it sit on the counter uncovered. Come back in an hour or two, and see how much is left. Yes, alcohol evaporates quickly. If you wipe something with rubbing alcohol, you notice how quickly it evaporates?

some other threads to see:

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-691676-alcohol.html

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-688006-alcohol.html

----

and....

when I worked in a drug store during HS and college, the way we had to dry the glassware the pharmacist used to do compounding (yep, that old! and that old fashioned of a drug store) was to dip it in ethanol, aka Everclear for the simple reason is sucked off all the water and evaporated completely away leaving no residue to worry about (as well as leaving glassware spotless -- take that Cascade!).

so, yep vodka safe to use. Everclear even better -- tho' a bit fussier as it evaporates SO fast that you often have to stop add more to keep the paint thin.

You can also use clear extracts if you don't want to use alcohol. Extracts also evaporate quickly and leave no flavor behind (that I've ever noticed).

Everclear user here. LOVE it.

I believe most extracts are mostly alcohol. That's why some winos drink vanilla extract.

As far as the evaporation of alcohol, is that why my margarita glass is always empty after I fill it with drink???

when I am using vodka for painting etc, I have to constantly add more becasue it evaporates so fast....of course if you are using too much, the kids will sleep sound (just kidding lol).....

Lemon juice works too!

I've only ever used McCormick's pure orange extract which is 80% alcohol...works great!

I appreciate the feedback fellow Cakers!! I am going to the "package" store today!!!!

hehe =)

Michael

I know a LOT of people use Lemon Extract becuase it has a high alcohol content. THey don't sell Everclear in VA, so I generally use vodka instead. However, I have found that the Class 6 store seems to carry Everclear, so I have a source when I run out of vodka (as I would never drink the vodka I use for painting!)