Gold/Silver guilding

[Jean]

I have seen many examples of gold and silver guilding on sugar flowers and run-out decorating on cakes.
Could you please tell me which products I need to purchase to carry out this operation.

[LChow]

Dear Jean,

If you are covering a flat area on a cake in gold or silver leaf, using scissors cut out the required shape from the leaf using tweezers and avoid excessive finger contact (leave the backing paper on for now). Brush the area you are covering very thinly with edible glue, position the transfer accurately over the area and gently press down. Leave for one minute before peeling the backing paper off with tweezers using a slow upward movement and allow 24 hours to dry. Remember that the gold leaf cannot be re-positioned after contact.

If you are covering a shaped icing decoration such as an angel or flower with gold leaf, cover the area thinly in edible glue. Using tweezers lift the gold leaf from the backing paper and position over the decoration. With a soft brush, press down and brush the leaf over the decoration until completely covered. Allow 24 hours to dry hard.

24 carat gold leaf is completely edible but I would advise that it's bought from reputable cake supplier and that it's made especially for cakes.

Lin Chow

[Jean]

Thank you for the advice re: Gold Leaf. What I would like to do is paint run-outs with some kind of gold paint? which is edible. I have purchased gold and silver "petal dust" type stuff in tubes but this gives a flat colour or dust. What can I use to make the lettering or run out details look as though it was painted with gold or silver?

[caccy]

Dear Jean, The colour you would achieve will depend on the product you purchase but I have found that by using a large soft brush and gentle brush strokes you can burnish a shine on most of the metallic colours. I use 'gildesol' to adhear the mettalic powder to the icing, or dust when the icing is still wet. Good luck.

[Jean]

Could you please recommend a gold and silver product from the range on this site as I have never done anything like this before and I find all the different products very confusing.

[LChow]

Hi Jean,
The gildesol is product code CUL59509 and Sugarflaire lustre powder colours are product code SGFE100. There's quite a selection of gold and silvers but I think satin silver and gold sparkle work really well. Applying a really thin layer of gildesol first does bring out a much richer colour.
Lin

[caccy]

Having further thought about your question I have also thought that you can buy a clear liquid called Paint Mate, from cake decorating suppliers, which can be added to powder colours like the ones from Ed Able Art and then painted on with a brush. The powder colours come in such a variety of colours including mettalic ones. This is fine enough to colour writing. I use it quite a lot for fine work.