Attaching Flowers To Cakes

Decorating By CakeChemistry Updated 21 Aug 2015 , 3:38am by bubs1stbirthday

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CakeChemistry Posted 12 Oct 2013 , 9:38pm
post #1 of 26

AHi all

Flowers are fairly new to me. I have made quite a few of the basics (roses, carnations, daisies, sunflowers, blossom) but I don't think they are as delicate and lovely as the many I aspire to on here. Up until now, I have made flowers without wires so I can attach with royal or tylo glue. I want to make much higher quality flowers so I have bought all the bits and bobs and wires etc and learnt all the techniques. However, I am confused about attaching them. When I watch the cake shows on tv they stick the wires in the cake, but from what I can see from here etc this is a total no no. Do I therefore find a way of attaching lump of fondant to stick the wires in? And then disguising the fondant? I have seen those plastic holders but surely if it was a big spray that these would then be something that would make massive holes all over the cake? Hmm. Confused.com!

No rush, this is an ongoing learning curve for me but I would be really grateful for any advice/insight/tips

Claire x :D

25 replies
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granbea Posted 12 Oct 2013 , 10:18pm
post #2 of 26

The easiet way that I have found is to make your flower on a wire, check to see the correct length,

then dip the wire in white cholcolate.  The wire is sealed - chocolate is food safe.

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JWinslow Posted 12 Oct 2013 , 10:29pm
post #3 of 26

You can also put your wired flowers in straws ( have have several sizes),  and then put into your cake. 

 

For a topper, I use a small piece of styrofoam covered in the same color fondant as the cake and stick the wires into that.   I often will create the topper on the same size cake pan (the fondant covered styro will stick nicely).  That way, if you want to change it up, you haven't put holes in your cake.

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CakeChemistry Posted 12 Oct 2013 , 11:00pm
post #4 of 26

ASo I stick the straws in the cake and thread the wires in? I assume you tell the customer there are straws in to hold the flower wires? And dipping them in choc, I take this to mean that then sticking them in the cake is ok?

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CakeChemistry Posted 12 Oct 2013 , 11:01pm
post #5 of 26

APs thanks x x x

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kakeladi Posted 13 Oct 2013 , 1:53am
post #6 of 26

Using choco on the wire takes the place of using a  straw.

Personally I much prefere making flowers without wires.

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CakeChemistry Posted 15 Oct 2013 , 9:55pm
post #7 of 26

AYes kakeladi, to me without wires does seem more practical but I thought I may have not been doing things right/properly without the wires as all the tutorials I see include wires!

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Amylou Posted 16 Oct 2013 , 2:42am
post #8 of 26

AJennifer Dontz has a great DVD on flower arranging on cakes...real and gumpaste. I found it very helpful!

(Ps...Im an OT!)

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Cakepro Posted 16 Oct 2013 , 3:35am
post #9 of 26
Quote:
Originally Posted by kakeladi 
 

Using choco on the wire takes the place of using a  straw.

Personally I much prefere making flowers without wires.

 

No, actually, it doesn't.  The cake needs to be protected from wires that are not food-grade or medical-grade.  Chocolate is brittle and could break off quite easily.  

 

 

OP, be professional and use straws. I like the tiny little coffee stir-straws.  If you are making flowers that have centers (roses, calla lilies, peonies, etc), you can use toothpicks or cocktail sticks.

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CakeChemistry Posted 16 Oct 2013 , 6:21am
post #10 of 26

AHi fellow therapist!!! I'll check the DVD out!

Might be being a bit dumb here, but cocktail sticks on the flowers? If this was a large spray would it not ruin the integrity of the cake? I'm thinking holey cake?

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sweetobsesions Posted 16 Oct 2013 , 7:10am
post #11 of 26

AI just started making Gumpaste flowers this week but I have heard that using floral tape like paper tape around the wire with no wire being exposed works( that's what Tim going to do), also the chocolate or straws/coffee stirrers

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JWinslow Posted 16 Oct 2013 , 1:53pm
post #12 of 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by CakeChemistry 

Hi fellow therapist!!! I'll check the DVD out!

Might be being a bit dumb here, but cocktail sticks on the flowers? If this was a large spray would it not ruin the integrity of the cake? I'm thinking holey cake?


The method I stated above (styro covered on fondant) is from Jennifer Dontz.but the DVD has much more info in it.

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Cakespirations Posted 16 Oct 2013 , 2:16pm
post #13 of 26

I use a food grade floral tape. :)

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Cakepro Posted 16 Oct 2013 , 4:30pm
post #14 of 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by CakeChemistry 

Hi fellow therapist!!! I'll check the DVD out!

Might be being a bit dumb here, but cocktail sticks on the flowers? If this was a large spray would it not ruin the integrity of the cake? I'm thinking holey cake?

 

If you are doing an arrangement, it must be wired.  If you are doing a few single roses or calla lillies, a toothpick or cocktail stick (which is a little longer but still as slender as a toothpick) is perfectly fine.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetobsesions 

I just started making Gumpaste flowers this week but I have heard that using floral tape like paper tape around the wire with no wire being exposed works( that's what Tim going to do), also the chocolate or straws/coffee stirrers

Floral tape is just as bad as exposed wire. If it is not a food-grade or medical-grade object, it does NOT go directly into cake.  

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cakespirations 
 

I use a food grade floral tape. :)

Please share your source.  I have never heard of food-grade floral tape, but if it truly exists, I will become its biggest advocate and user. 

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Cakespirations Posted 16 Oct 2013 , 6:33pm
post #15 of 26
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cakepro 
 

 

If you are doing an arrangement, it must be wired.  If you are doing a few single roses or calla lillies, a toothpick or cocktail stick (which is a little longer but still as slender as a toothpick) is perfectly fine.

 

Floral tape is just as bad as exposed wire. If it is not a food-grade or medical-grade object, it does NOT go directly into cake.  

 

Please share your source.  I have never heard of food-grade floral tape, but if it truly exists, I will become its biggest advocate and user. 

 

Food safe floral tape

 

in addition if you want to spend the money, all Wilton floral tape is food safe per there site.

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Cakepro Posted 16 Oct 2013 , 10:07pm
post #16 of 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cakespirations 
 

 

Food safe floral tape

 

in addition if you want to spend the money, all Wilton floral tape is food safe per there site.

Can you show me where on the Wilton site that is claims their floral tape is food safe?  I went here: http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=6BFB621E-1E0B-C910-EAC1494C15C26981  and it mentions nothing about it.

 

I was afraid you were going to show me TBK's claim that they sell food-safe floral tape.  I'll be getting back to you on that.

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Cakespirations Posted 16 Oct 2013 , 10:25pm
post #17 of 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cakepro 
 

Can you show me where on the Wilton site that is claims their floral tape is food safe?  I went here: http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=6BFB621E-1E0B-C910-EAC1494C15C26981  and it mentions nothing about it.

 

I was afraid you were going to show me TBK's claim that they sell food-safe floral tape.  I'll be getting back to you on that.

 

"Is it alright to use the green tape and packaged 12" wire from the floral department for Course 4 flowers?

The entire product line that Wilton sells is food-safe. We cannot guarantee that the floral tape and florist wire from other companies is food safe."

 

the above is a link to the wilton site.

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Cakespirations Posted 16 Oct 2013 , 10:35pm
post #18 of 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cakepro 
 

Can you show me where on the Wilton site that is claims their floral tape is food safe?  I went here: http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=6BFB621E-1E0B-C910-EAC1494C15C26981  and it mentions nothing about it.

 

I was afraid you were going to show me TBK's claim that they sell food-safe floral tape.  I'll be getting back to you on that.

 

Do you know something about TBK, are they falsely advertising that the tape is food safe?! I tried to call them but they didn't answer the phone.

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CakeChemistry Posted 16 Oct 2013 , 10:38pm
post #19 of 26

AHi everyone, thanks for replies, this is really interesting, obviously a lot of different techniques, tips and queries out there! I think I am going to go with the suggestions of straws and styrofoam and try and source the DVDs mentioned in the thread. I'm a bit of an anxious Annie where food safe issues are concerned, I core all my figurines with rkt for stability and if I haven't had time to fully dry out heads they get skewered on using spaghetti tylo'd together so that no cocktail sticks or wire are involved. I used to always assume people removed decoration (to me eating a lump of manipulated bright coloured fondant is not appealing) but after watching my friends munch on fondant roses and children grab peppa pig figurines and swallow them in two bites at the very beginning of my cake endeavours, I have always been super careful. I wear food gloves for all prep too which is prob a bit over the top! I always write out any advice, I.e there are spaghetti sticks in X and nuts in tier 1 and E-numbers EVERYWHERE etc!

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Cakepro Posted 17 Oct 2013 , 12:15am
post #20 of 26

Quote:

 

That is awesome.  I understand it is quite an expensive venture to get the FDA to declare something food safe.  Now if only Wilton sold these wires wholesale and per gauge!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cakespirations 
 

 

Do you know something about TBK, are they falsely advertising that the tape is food safe?! I tried to call them but they didn't answer the phone.

Oh no, not at all...I was just aware that they claim the floral tape they sell is food safe, and I was going to call them and ask them for their source of this food safe floral tape.  I'm skeptical but I hope they can actually show me that the manufacturer of the floral tape they resell has it labeled as food safe.

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Cakespirations Posted 17 Oct 2013 , 12:32am
post #21 of 26

I am going to follow up with them tomorrow. I figured I was safe with a company around over 25 years, and specializing in cake and bakery items. :( now I am worried after reading so many posts and forums in regards to the floral wire and tape. You would think it would have been discussed when I went through university. This is how we are taught how to handle flowers on cakes and that the flower tubes are meant for real flowers.

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pintsizecakes Posted 20 Aug 2015 , 2:48am
post #22 of 26

Hi Everyone, I'm new to the culinary world of baking so please forgive this question if it's a stupid one. I was just reading through this thread and it occurred to me, could we just wrap the wires that have been taped with floral tape in plastic food wrap? Then push the wires into the cake to place our flowers on the cake? Just a thought... Please let me know if I'm way off base here. ☺️

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Shockolata Posted 20 Aug 2015 , 8:07pm
post #23 of 26

I don't think the floral tape is food safe, guys. How is the tape sticky and elastic? I think it contains latex. Many people are allergic to latex... It may be safe to sit on top of a dry cake but once inserted into a wet cake... I don't even want to think of the consequences. Besides, lots of companies have made claims and then when food agencies made a check they had to recall and withdraw stock... I am curious to see what some probing by @Cakepro  produces.

When I took a course in flower making, and I asked if we could eat the flowers later, the lady said they were not safe to eat so we discussed putting them into cakes and she insisted on using flower picks. She is a lady with many years of experience and many awards in sugar flower making.

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pintsizecakes Posted 20 Aug 2015 , 11:49pm
post #24 of 26

I found flower picks earlier today! :) Thanks!

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Dzrt-Bkr Posted 21 Aug 2015 , 3:02am
post #25 of 26

The only metals food safe are gold, silver, copper and stainless steel. Regrettably I learned there is an element of compromise with stainless steel now. Copper is pure when it is used for electrical wiring. If you go to Lowes or HomeD, go to the electrical dept.....they have spools of every gauge of wire your little heart desires. They will cut any length for you. I used a scissor to cut the sheath for a while but it takes care not to cut through and get the wire too,  a stripper is faster.  Buy a wire stripping tool for about $10. You can strip the sheath off just as clean as can be and as many as your heart desires!

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bubs1stbirthday Posted 21 Aug 2015 , 3:38am
post #26 of 26

I use a thin straw. I insert the straw then fill it with chocolate and then insert the wires - the straw gives the wires somewhere to go and the chocolate holds the wires in place so the flowers don't slip around.

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