Edible fabric is used in cake decorating for things such as wings for dragons, mermaid tails or draping on cakes. It is a lot lighter to work with than fondant and is more flexible as well. Today we are making bows as this trend has really picked up the last year. The idea is to have a large bow and drape the fabric over the sides covering the cake. It gives a very luxurious fabric effect.
This is usually dusted with pearl dust and a yellow tinged to the bow. That is what I went with to give an 80’s vibe but colour powders would work as well.
Edible Fabric Step-by-Step
Bloom the gelatine. It is important that the gelatine is well hydrated because there will be less bubbles when you heat it up.
Heat gelatine on stove top or microwave. Scrap off bubbles as this will effect the smoothness of the fabric. Then add glycerine and stir. You can use glucose or vegetable oil instead.
Pour in melted chocolate and stir. If it is starting to thicken to much place back on the stove to heat again. The mixture should have a runny consistency.
Pour onto a silicone mat that has been tapped down. Spread as thin as you want the fabric to be. The thinner it is the more it will drape onto the cake. Once dry dust both sides with the food colour powder of your choice.
To Make the Fabric Bow
Cut two even strips. Roll acetate into a cylinder shape and fill with paper towel. Then lay the cylinder in the middle of the fabric.
Wet the edges and bring both side together.
Scrunch the pressed edges together and pin with some toothpicks and let it dry over night. Wrap other fabric and keep in fridge over night.
Take out skewers and cut a small rectangle as well as two large even pieces.
Lay the small rectangle down and place both the scrunched rolls on top. Fold the small rectangle cover to cover.
Add the tassels of the bow to the cake scrunching the top and placing toothpicks in to hold in place while it dries. Now place the bow on top you either have it standing up or place it laying flat.
What can I use instead of glycerine?
You can use glucose syrup or vegetable oil. This will change the taste of the fabric and maybe the flexibility.
Edible fabric how to store it?
Edible fabric can be stored in a plastic bag or container. Do not leave stored out side as the moisture in the fabric will create mould. You can make the fabric one week in advance. Once you have placed the fabric on the cake you can put it back in the fridge to dry. I have noticed that my cake that had fondant underneath sweated a little but eventually dried.
What does it taste
It taste like chocolate. Although this is meant as more for visual decoration than for taste.
Cake Trends
If you are looking for other Pinterest worthy cake trends than try my Unconventional Wedding Cake tutorial.
Edible Fabric
Equipment
- 2 Silicone Baking at or acetate
- sticky tape
- Lustre Dust
- Fluffy Brush
Ingredients
- 120 ml water
- 120 g chocolate
- 60 g powder gelatine
- 2 tsp glycerine
Instructions
- Bloom the gelatine in the water.
- Melt the gelatine in the microwave or the stove top.
- A glycerine and stir through.
- Add the melted chocolate and stir. If the mixture is thickening place back on stove top and melt it again.
- Poor the gelatine mixture on to silicon mats that have been tapped down. Using a spatula and spread as thin as you want the fabric to be. Spread mixture fast as it starts to set quickly.
- Once dry using lustre dusts dust the fabric on both sides.
