Can I mix luster dust with vanilla extract instead of lemon? Has anyone done this? I'm taking luster dusts to India and my cousin won't be buying vodka or everclear, and lemon extract isn't widely available, so I was wondering if she could use vanilla extract. She paints on chocolate, so if you have any other suggestions, I'm open! TIA!
it will work but the alcohol content is low (35%). it may be clumpier than if using a higher alcohol. it will also tint the color a bit on the tan / brown side. you can also suggest almond or orange extract. anything with alcohol will be managable, but the higher the better.
india, how cool! i went there when i was a teenager, what an experience!!! now i have good friends from there and hope to go again someday. which area are you going to?
thanks JoAnn I just wanted to make sure because I thought reading somewhere that lemon extract had more alcohol and less water or something...
melysa...thanks for the information. I've pm'd you..
I just wanted to be prepared and not leave her without the proper things to use the luster dust. I've always only used vodka, or dry brushed it on chocolate, so I'm not sure how the vanilla will work out.
Lemon has the highest percentage of alcohol with the most tolerable taste--the mint generally makes things taste like toothpaste.
I've seen comments about using lemon juice, too, but it never made sense to me because the reason for the extract is to have the benefit of the OIL in it combined with the alcohol. The oil helps the luster dust flow smoothly and the alcohol makes it dry very quickly. Lemon juice would be no better than water--and water an luster dust don't really mix.
If you have room in your luggage, why not just throw in a small, unopened bottle of lemon extract in it? If you're not a minor, a small airline size bottle of vodka or gin will do the trick pretty well, too.
HTH
Rae
I have also wondered about using vanilla extract versus vodka. Will you be able to taste and smell the vodka or flavor extract when you use it with luster dust?
On the same note, if I wanted to paint on fondant with color, would I just mix vodka with food coloring? Or can I use clear vanilla extract or even water?
Thanks
just last night i mixed luster dust with clear vanilla and tried to paint it on some molded white chocolate and it did like mercuy, balled up and slid off. so yeah, it so didn't work for me.
The extracts leave some smell and no real taste.
As to painting on fondant, you can't mix things with water because the water will melt the fondant and ruin it. You can mix gel or paste colors with lemon extract, gin, vodka, or everclear. It may have some clumps in it--you can work around them.
Rae
I have also wondered about using vanilla extract versus vodka. Will you be able to taste and smell the vodka or flavor extract when you use it with ?
On the same note, if I wanted to paint on fondant with color, would I just mix vodka with food coloring? Or can I use clear vanilla extract or even water?
Thanks
vanilla will work, but you wont get the best results. when i use vodka, i do not notice a flavor or smell. it evaporates really well. when i use lemon extract, i definately smell it and i have had comments on it leaving a flavor (not a great combo with chocolate!)
if you use liquid food color, you can paint it right on, but dont stay in one spot too long, as it can cause the fondant to get gooey. you can use petal dusts (flat color) and powdered food color mixed with alcohol or extracts. if you do a large area you will likely need several coats. allow to dry in between. i have used a sponge for painting rather than a brush when i do a big surface and i liked it better (new disposable makeup sponges.) than a brush. small brushes are nice for detail.
definately dont use water with dusts. they are not water soluable. i dont drink, but i find that using alcohol gives a better result than flavored extracts.
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