EXPERT ADVICE
&
EDIBLE METALLICS 101 BY JULIA FEDEROVA
Modern bakers have a lot of
possibilities to impress clients. One of the most popular ways to create that “wow” moment is to work with metallics like gold, silver, and copper. First, whether you plan to decorate dummies or real cakes, all materials should be 100 percent edible. Fortunately, we have a lot of suppliers who can offer edible dust, sprays, and leaves. “Nontoxic” means the product is more or less safe to eat, but it may not be digested properly. “Edible” means that the body can process it as regular
food and this product won’t cause any harm. The following is a primer on using edible metallic leaves to really bring a shine to your art. Do not hesitate to challenge and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Remember, new skills not only bring satisfaction to you as a professional, but they also bring money and more clients. 1. COVERING A DUMMY CAKE Cover a dummy in fondant, making sure it is covered evenly without scars, dents, or elephant skin. I suggest
Self-taught cake artist Julia Fedorova is owner of Julia Fedorova Cakes, located in New York. Julia’s cakes and sugar-flower bouquets have won many admirers, awards, medals, and diplomas, including placing first at the ICES Convention, first place at the National Capital Area Cake Show, and winning gold awards at the New York Cake Show, SoFlo, and OSSAS. Julia has developed her own gum paste, veiners, cutters, and molds for making botanically correct flowers and she teaches how to create gorgeous sugar flowers and bouquets. juliafedorovacakes.com instagram.com/juliafedorovacakes instagram.com/sweetartmaster 22 americancakedecorating.com November | December 2021
covering the dummy with fondant three to four days prior to working with metallic leaves. Always wear cotton gloves when you work with edible leaves. Before attaching a leaf to the dummy, use a steamer to slightly wet the surface. The leaf will attach to the sticky surface right away. If you do not have enough experience in this field, use a very soft, flat, and wide brush to place the leaf on the
