Misc. Tips
Gum Paste Tips
• If your gum paste is too dry knead a little
white vegetable shortening into it before
using to soften the gum paste and make
it easier to use.
• Use luster dust to make the pollen on
the flower centers of lilies. Load a paint
brush heavily with yellow lustre dust
and apply liberally to the flower.
• Always make extra wired petals or leaves
when creating gum paste flowers in case
of breakage or color mishaps.
Buttercream and Royal Icing Tips
• Buttercream covered cakes that have
been refrigerated will on occasion sweat
when removed from the fridge. Do not try
to blot or otherwise fix this unfortunate
circumstance. Simply leave the cake
sitting at room temperature until the
moisture is reabsorbed.
• Most of the decorations you usually pipe
in buttercream can also be piped using
royal icing.
• Royal icing will break down when
exposed to any type of fat or grease so
it is important to not use any utensils
or piping bags that have been used
for buttercream. Plastic piping bags in
particular cannot be cleaned thoroughly
enough to remove residual grease even in
very hot water.
• Never pipe royal icing on a buttercream
iced cake.
• Cakes decorating entirely in vivid
bright colors can sometimes be less
successful than a pastel hued cake
with bright accents. Obviously some
designs, especially topsy turvy cakes, are
gorgeous in bold colors so use your best
judgement.
• If you are using paper cones to decorate
try securing the edge of the cone with
masking tape or scotch tape to lessen
the chances of it falling apart mid
squeeze.
• When creating icing colors add the paste
or gel color in small amounts using a
clean tooth pick. Stir to incorporate
the color completely and then continue
adding color until the icing is exactly
the right shade. It is much easier to ad