Monday 1 October 2012

Vintage Lace and Pearls Step-by-step

This cake is relatively easy to decorate, it will just take quite a bit of time and patience.

What you will need:
1x 20cm 2 layer cake
Decorative cake board
Cellulose gum powder (tylose, CMC, Dyocell)
800g base coloured plastic icing (Dark brown)
200g of coloured plastic icing for decoration (or just plain white)
Medium circle cutter
No. 6 piping nozzle for holes
Toothpicks/ frilling tool
Daisy cutters
Edible sugar pearl beads/ dragees
A sharp knife
Paint brushes for gluing and cleaning

Firstly, you need to start out by choosing your colour and underlaying design.
This is the design that I used, and I just layed it out in a word document, as many times as I could, and then I had it printed on edible icing sheets, with edible ink. This can usually be done at any local baking supplies shop.



Get it printed out before you cover your cake with your base colour.
Here is another example of what you could use, for more of a sea themed effect:

 Use the printout as a guide to make your base colour. You want the background of your design to match as closely to your base colour as possible.
Preferably, use edible glue (1tsp cellulose gum powder to 100ml  water, left overnight.) to stick the design onto the bottom edge of your cake. Water can also be used.


Be sure to match edges together as close as possible.
Should your cake need a boarder at this point, some simple rolled balls all in one size will be perfect.
Now you can start with your icing decor.  I drew simple inspiration from pieces of Broderie Anglaise lace.

Picture from: http://www.mapetitemercerie.com/

You will need to cut strips of rolled out fondant to the desired thickness. you will then frill these with a toothpick or skewer (or a fondant frilling tool if you have one!). This will take a bit of practise, but once you get the hang of it, it's actually quite fun!

It is best to cut the holes after you've done the frilling, it will look better. Use the tip of a piping nozzle for this. I used a number 6 piping nozzle. At this stage, you can try any pattern, including the more traditional flower design that you find on most Broderie Anglaise.

You will then need to brush some edible glue just above the line of your printout on the cake.
TIP: DO NOT USE GLUE ON YOUR CAKE WHERE IT WILL NOT BE COVERED WITH A DECORATION OF SORTS. DROPS OF GLUE/WATER WILL CREATE AN INDENT ON YOUR CAKE, AS THE SUGAR IN THE ICING WILL BE DISSOLVED. THIS HAPPENS PRETTY QUICKLY.
Place your laced ribbon of icing onto your cake, frill overlapping the edge of the printout.
 Roll out some fondant in the same colour as your lace ribbon and cut out some daisies. Stick these around the edge of the ribbon, at equal intervals.
Press the end of a paint brush into the centre of the flower to allow the petals to lift slightly. Brush a touch of glue in the centre hole and place an edible pearl bead.
Brush a thin line of glue along the edge of your lace ribbon and place a line of pearl beads in between the flowers.
Continue this around the whole cake.
Place flowers along the top edge of the cake, directly in between the flowers in the line below.
Now place flowers in intervals between this line on the top of your cake.


Link these lines of flowers with a line of pearl beads.
Cut a medium sized round of icing for the centre of your cake. Create a similar effect on this as on your lace ribbon, by frilling the edge and then cutting holes with the piping nozzle.

Cut out some different sized daisies, to place in the centre of your round and stick them together, ending off with a pearl bead in the middle.

You can create your own version of this cake with different colours and shapes. Please feel free to post pictures of your version on my facebook page!
If you would like to match your cake up to some cupcakes, a nice idea would be to use these lovely cupcake wrappers from The Cake Decorating Company (UK). This would really support your lacey theme!
For a local version of these lace wrappers (SA), please contact:

I hope you enjoyed this little cake tutorial, and I wish you all happy baking!!



1 comment:

  1. Such a dainty cake. I accidentally did one a little bit like this, made necessary corrections, & called it 'Daisies at Night'. Was my first time using chocolate fondant. This cake really reminds me of mine. Though yours is quite a bit fancier.:) Bonnie

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