Burlap On Wedding Cakes

Decorating By ttaunt Updated 17 Jul 2013 , 8:41pm by ttaunt

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ttaunt Posted 11 Jul 2013 , 6:10pm
post #1 of 29

MY grandson's girlfriend wants burlap on her wedding cake-rustic cake design. Just touching it lightly fibers fall off and will be embedded in icing. The only thing I can think of to do is to cover back of it with white surgical tape. Any better suggestions? I told her I could make a trim with icing that would come close to it. She insists on burlap.

28 replies
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sweetgarcia Posted 11 Jul 2013 , 7:13pm
post #2 of 29

I usually glue the burlap to some ribbon so it doesn't touch the cake.

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liz at sugar Posted 11 Jul 2013 , 7:28pm
post #3 of 29

No. Real. Burlap.

 

They make plastic or craft burlap for just this purpose (think flower arrangements) or you can make it with a mold and fondant.

 

All you need is a breeze blowing all those fibers up into the icing.  Yikes.

 

Liz
 

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AZCouture Posted 11 Jul 2013 , 8:01pm
post #4 of 29

Why can't people leave burlap on the table? Table runners? Bows for bouquets maybe? WHY do they want to add it to the CAKE? Yuch. Yuch yuch yuch.

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ttaunt Posted 11 Jul 2013 , 8:18pm
post #5 of 29

I agree yuck yuck.

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ttaunt Posted 11 Jul 2013 , 8:19pm
post #6 of 29

That sounds good ,but I wish I could seal the fibers on the burlap with something so they wouldn't fall on the tiers below.

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ttaunt Posted 11 Jul 2013 , 8:20pm
post #7 of 29

I have not run across plastic burlap. Where would I get that?

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as you wish Posted 11 Jul 2013 , 8:23pm
post #8 of 29

AMy lesson of the week: Just say "no". Sometimes that's all there is to it. Your name is going to be associated with this cake. You don't want people thinking of burlap fibres when they think of your cake! Is there any way to tactfully point out to the bride that she might want to think about what is pleasant for her guests as apposed to just what she thinks she wants to see?

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Elcee Posted 11 Jul 2013 , 8:23pm
post #9 of 29

Yuck.

 

There's a mold that comes really close. I think if you get the color right and fray the edges of the fondant it would work really well. I used it on this bow although I wasn't going for a burlap look:

http://cakecentral.com/g/i/2974931/a/3332523/silver-and-white-wedding/

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AZCouture Posted 11 Jul 2013 , 8:28pm
post #10 of 29

Sugarveil has a burlap mat that looks pretty cool. 

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keepingitreal21 Posted 11 Jul 2013 , 8:50pm
post #11 of 29

Ditto on learning to say NO. You're the baker, you know what is or isn't safe, what will and will not work. I personally wouldn't want my name attached to a cake with burlap fibers in it. I'm looking for the tutorial/blog I came across a while ago. They created a burlap bow by rolling fondant or gumpaste with non-slip drawer liner, creating a burlap pattern. Then you just need to cut the shapes you need, fray the edges and color it correctly and you'll have an edible and safe burlap.

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ttaunt Posted 12 Jul 2013 , 5:09am
post #12 of 29

I will try very hard to change her mind,but its my grandson's wedding I cant say no. I had an interesting response to this dilemma- I was told to mae a sugar and water glaze and soak it,let it dry and sew or glue a wide satin ribbon to the back.

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ttaunt Posted 12 Jul 2013 , 5:10am
post #13 of 29

I've never worked with fondant before,it might be a good time to try.

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ttaunt Posted 12 Jul 2013 , 5:13am
post #14 of 29

Is sugarveil hard to work with,is it like fondan? I've never done either.

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JWinslow Posted 12 Jul 2013 , 7:41am
post #15 of 29
Quote:
Originally Posted by ttaunt 

I will try very hard to change her mind,but its my grandson's wedding I cant say no. I had an interesting response to this dilemma- I was told to mae a sugar and water glaze and soak it,let it dry and sew or glue a wide satin ribbon to the back.


I've been reading this thread and I agree with the yuck factor,  It would be a shame if guests see pieces of burlap in their cake.  Some might even think it's hair-  eek! 

I hope you can change her mind. 

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as you wish Posted 12 Jul 2013 , 12:06pm
post #16 of 29

A

Original message sent by ttaunt

I will try very hard to change her mind,but its my grandson's wedding I cant say no. I had an interesting response to this dilemma- I was told to mae a sugar and water glaze and soak it,let it dry and sew or glue a wide satin ribbon to the back.

You can say no to the burlap without saying no to the whole cake. I question whether burlap is even food safe. In fact, I think I would just tell her it isn't and done with it! ;)

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BatterUpCake Posted 12 Jul 2013 , 12:46pm
post #17 of 29

Ask her how she feels about eating copper sulfate, pesticides and fungicides...how 'bout some super yummy Flame Stop™ (pyrolytic formula)? Surfactants, water softeners and oxidants can really enhance the flavor too! Lol...these are some of the chemicals found in burlap. You can get 100% organic burlap but it is most likely produced in a factory in India so no telling what is REALLY on it.  Just say that you love her and want to please her but you can't risk making the guests sick (although most likely that won't happen)

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ShamsD Posted 12 Jul 2013 , 1:08pm
post #18 of 29
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ttaunt Posted 13 Jul 2013 , 5:58pm
post #19 of 29

VERY HAPPY TO SAY I TALKED MY BRIDE OUT OF USING BURLAP ON HER CAKE. WHE WILL GO WITH BURLAP COLORED SATIN RIBBON INSTEAD.

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as you wish Posted 13 Jul 2013 , 5:59pm
post #20 of 29

AYay! Congratulations!

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keepingitreal21 Posted 13 Jul 2013 , 6:17pm
post #21 of 29

Way to go!

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BatterUpCake Posted 13 Jul 2013 , 6:42pm
post #22 of 29

So how did you convince her?

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ttaunt Posted 14 Jul 2013 , 2:37am
post #23 of 29

I told her a lot of people on cake central did not think it was a good idea because of all the fibers being embedded in the icing. I also told her that we would have to announce to the guest to check their piece of cake well before they ate it due to the burlap. I then showed her on my dummy cake a very pretty satin ribbon that was the same color as the burlap with the lace on top,and she decided she liked that better. HALLELUIA!

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BatterUpCake Posted 14 Jul 2013 , 1:47pm
post #24 of 29

Yeah...I could not imagine announcing to my guests "Attention ladies and gentlemen, the bride and groom will now be cutting the cake. When you get your slice please be sure to check for fibers embedded in the icing." At the end of the reception she would have had almost a whole cake to take home or throw away.

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aakrt02 Posted 17 Jul 2013 , 8:22pm
post #25 of 29

what color was the ribbon.. i have a customer who wants burlap on their cake also and i really want to stray away from it.. maybe if i give her an alternate she'll say no too! 

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aakrt02 Posted 17 Jul 2013 , 8:22pm
post #26 of 29

what if i used fondant.. do you think the fondant would still have the fibers from it also??

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AZCouture Posted 17 Jul 2013 , 8:25pm
post #27 of 29

AIt's just gross, period. Fondant or not.

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aakrt02 Posted 17 Jul 2013 , 8:40pm
post #28 of 29

i found a faux burlap ribbon on etsy, that i want to try out. ill purchase a ribbon like you did too.. just in case.. lol.. back up.. so happy to have read this before the date of the wedding.. 

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ttaunt Posted 17 Jul 2013 , 8:41pm
post #29 of 29

The ribbon is about 2 inches wide,light brown satin. Tell her how much the burlap shreds,with danger of embedding in icing.

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