Smith - The Contemporary Cake Decorating Bible: Flowers: A Sample Chapter from the Contemporary Cake Decorating Bible

Flowers

Flowers are probably the most popular choice of all cake decorations. There are many books written on the art of sugar flower making. This taster from The Contemporary Cake Decorating Bible touches on this subject here. The simplest representation of a flower is a cut-out shape. Other more interesting ways of representing flowers are to create fabric-effect flowers out of paste or try your hand at creating lifelike flowers.

Many craft ideas are interchangeable, many are adaptable and this is certainly true of fabric flowers. Here are three examples that are often made from fabric or leather but are highly effective when made from sugar and added to cakes. All you will need to create them is some thinly rolled modelling paste. The paste can be textured with a fabric-effect rolling pin or similar for more authenticity if you wish.

Rose

Blossom

Dahlia

The cake at the start of this chapter, Fuchsia Fashionista, features all of these flowers on a realistic handbag design. Try arrangements of different combinations of flowers to see what different effects can be achieved.

Tender Roses
Fabric-effect roses in warm shades set the tone for this romantic cupcake.

1. Thinly roll out your modelling paste. Make sure your paste is firm yet stretchy add a little white vegetable fat (shortening) and/or cooled boiled water if it is a little dry or doesnt have enough stretch. Fold over a section of paste and cut the fold to a width of 1.5cm (12in) for a small rose, 7cm (234in) for a large rose or somewhere in between.

2. Starting at one end of the folded paste, roll up the paste to form a spiral.

3. Press the cut edges together as you go and gather the paste slightly as you roll to create fullness and space in the flower.

4. Finally, neaten the back of the rose by cutting off the excess paste with scissors.

To create this flower you will also need an oval cutter the size of the cutter determines the size of the resulting flower.

Pretty Pastels
Arrange blossoms in groups of three to create this sweet and simple cupcake design.

1. Thinly roll out the modelling paste between narrow spacers and cut out six ovals per flower. Pick up one of the oval shapes, holding it between the thumb and forefinger of one hand, then with your other hand, lift up the centre of one side of the oval.

2. Remove your finger from the centre and bring your thumb and forefinger together. Press the paste firmly so the created petal sticks to itself. Repeat for the remaining petals.

3. Using a paintbrush and some sugar glue, stick the petals together to form a circle. Finally, roll a ball of paste and attach it to the centre of the flower using sugar glue.

All you need to create this flower is some modelling paste, a quilting tool and a circle cutter. The size of the cutter determines the size of the resulting flower try different sizes to see which you think are suitable.

Darling Dahlia
A fabric-effect dahlia made using a small circle cutter adorns this cupcake. Try using modelling paste to tone with the paper cases, or go for greater contrast, as here.

1. Thinly roll out modelling paste between narrow spacers and cut out eight circles per flower. Fold each circle in half and stack the folding circles together using a little sugar glue dont add too much though as you want the folded paste to stick, not slide.

2. Place the stuck circles on their folds, ease open the stack and bring the two ends together, then glue in place. Adjust the flower so that the petals are evenly spaced.

3. Take a quilting tool and run the wheel down the centre of each petal to add a stitching line. Allow the paste to firm up slightly before adding the flower to your cake.

These can be made very easily you just need some modelling paste or flower paste, a petal cutter, a ball tool and foam pad, and a former.

Floral Elegance
A simple cupped flower on top of a mini-cake transforms it into a thing of beauty.

1. Thinly roll out the modelling paste and cut out a number of petals, how many will depend on the petal cutter you are using and how full you want your flower to appear. In my example I have used six petals.

2. When you use cutters to cut out leaves and petals, there is always a sharp cut edge to remove. Place your petals onto a foam pad then take the ball tool and stroke around the edges of the paste by pressing the tool half on the paste and half on the pad to soften them. To frill the petal edges slightly, push a little more firmly so the paste thins and start to frill.