Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

Hi folks, I am doing a white and gold cake and I need to pipe a message. What’s the best way to get a gold royal icing effect? Thanks.

Hi Doodlecake

I went down the route of adding gold lustre into the icing, that really did not work too well and was jolly expensive too! Best way is to pipe your message in RI on some parchment paper good and thick, let it dry for at least a week until solid, then paint it with edible liquid gold paint. I think it’s either Sugarflair or Squires kitchen. I believe Americolor make a gold gel which might work. The Cake Decorating Company keep a lot of their products, might be worth having a look on their site. Failing all this, you could just paint with vodka & gold lustre which I find dries powdery,or use edible gold spray. Transferring the letters/message from parchment to cake would be a bit tricky but, if you’re careful, breakages can be kept to a minimum. If expense is no object you could use gold leaf, apply it with a very fine brush. Just a few ideas, hope they help. x

Thanks, my next question was going to be will I be able to transfer it! It’s certainly going to be a challenge as the message is ten words long (although part of it I’m doing white on a gold ribbon of sugarpaste)!!

There is no reason why you won’t successfully make the transfer. I used to pipe thin messages so of course they used to break, now if I pipe, I do them thick with overpiping,it makes lifting from the paper a lot easier and it looks really nice too. I also used to pipe on clear cellofane type stuff, can’t remember what it’s called, comes in sheets or in rolls, now that was good. So is this script or print? Make several, that way you’re covered if the message does break, always pays to have a contingency in place, but you know that already. All sounds lovely, would love to know how you get on.

It will be whatever I manage to do neatly as not very practised at piping! Off to have a go now…

Hi miwl, I piped the message using a number 3 tip on parchment and let it dry for a couple of days then I sprayed the letters with gold shimmer spray and stuck them under a lamp for a few hours. Then I transferred them individually to the cake and stuck them on with a tiny dab of icing. Amazingly only one broke but you couldn’t see it when it was stuck on the cake. Thanks for all your advice x (if you would like to see it, it’s the golden wedding cake on my fb page www.facebook.com/EleganzaDesignerCakes!)

Hi Doodle cake

I’m so pleased it all worked out for you. You’re very sweet to feed back, thank you. I don’t have facebook, if I look you up will I still be able to view? I knew you could do it even though you say you are not great at piping. See you did it! xx

Yes you can still view the page even if you’re not a member x

Hi Doodlecake

I had a look at your facebook, all your cakes are really lovely, you did a good job on the golden royal icing lettering. Thank you for letting me have a look! xx