Edible icing images not just for cake tops

 

Here in NZ my daughters birthday fell during level 4 lockdown. Luckily a few gifts had been purchased earlier in the year, so we still had something of a celebration. Although turning 17, I decided to turn it in to a treasure hunt (as she'd loved this as a child. And lets face it, I had to do something to fill those long lockdown days)

There were 4 of us at home, so I decided to make a small cake. I'd taken home some supplies on our last day of work prior to lock down.

I'd printed an edible image of our wee dog Kenzie. then trimmed the background so it was the exact height of the cake.

Whilst we are used to seeing edible icing images used on cake tops, I really enjoyed the different look of this one on the side of the cake

If you'd like us to print an edible image for you check that out here

Print your own alcohol label for your cake

Our graphic designer has come up with some new options for you for edible image printing. Choose the birthday persons favourite tipple Rum/Whisky/Bubbly/Whiskey or vodka. And have their birthday year/name added to the bottle. Them make them an awesome cake to put it on. Which is your favourite?. I am a bubbly girl, so that'd be my choice

Details on how to order are here

 

Bendable Flexible icing that behaves just like fabric

I am so excited with the new flexible bendable icing we've just received here at Kiwicakes. It doesn't rip or tear, despite being all srunched up.We can custom print your own design  or you can purchase our paua design. Check out the video, it really shows you everything you need to know - much better than I could type in words.

Tinkerbell-inspired Florabunda Cake - from Kiwicakes test kitchen

A simple idea to jazz up the edges of your next edible image cake is to make a border of bright fondant flowers. This cake was inspired by Tinkerbell's surrounds in Fairy Hollow. A pinch of tylose in each colour will give strength for the flowers to hold their shape. Borrow all the cutters and silicone moulds you can from friends so you have a varied selection of flowers and leaves. Using veiners can give a realistic look. It doesn't matter if they are not botanically correct, the aim here is a random mixture of colours and sizes. These can be made in advance, just remember to keep pinky/purpley decorations covered from UV light (so they don't fade). A clean shoe box in the hot water cupboard works well. 

Once your cake is on its board you cover it in buttercream. Grape flavoured oil works nicely in this Tinkerbell icing. Applying it with a spatula gives it character and a rustic look. Alternatively you could use a buttercream smoother for a more precise finish. Peel your edible image and place directly onto the fresh buttercream so it adheres well. As well as selling hundreds of edible images for cakes, Kiwicakes can now print your own custom edible images in various sizes and styles to make a unique cake.

Simply arrange the flowers and leaves evenly around the edge of the edible image, placing the biggest ones in position first. The cut edge of the image should not be visible under the floral border. Cachous used in the centre of smaller flowers creates interest and gives them a lift. I find sugar tweezers easiest for applying these pearly type decorations.

Any additional flowers and leaves (even butterflies) can be enjoyed atop cupcakes. These are presented in straight-sided Tinkerbell cupcake papers that come with picks which add lovely height. A few drops of Apple flavoured oil is a fitting taste in green frosting.

Kiwicakes new custom edible image printing as film strips

This cake I made last week for my gorgeous friend Vanessa who celebrated her 40th birthday on Saturday night. On top is a kettle bell (weight) for those who don't know what it is. This cake was paired with red colorflame candles that burn red when lit. I used our newedible image film strip service to create this cake. The cake is covered with Satin Ice fondant and has gumpaste roses added

ICES Cake celebrities & the vendor hall

Over 1300 cake decorators attended ICES like me. However there's a huge amount of others that attend as demonstrators, vendors and helpers.

Before I left NZ, I had mentioned to Kerry Vincent I was coming, she said "Make sure you come and see me" We spent a long time chatting one evening and Kerry introduced me to some wonderful people. (for those of you that don't know Kerry is Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show director Kerry Vincent nee Flynn is a Hall of Fame Sugar Artist, Food Network Challenge Judge, designer, international presenter, author of the best selling Romantic Wedding Cakes, and a freelance writer)

Susan Carberry was doing some wonderful things with airbrushing in the vendor hall and her cookie critters were amazing. You'll often see wonderful online videos from Susan with all sorts of great cakes.

I asked Norm Davis if I could take his photo. He said "Oh No! you've got to be in it too". I've enjoyed watching Norm in the past on the "Ultimate Cake Off" Tv Show. He always seems so happy

Carrie Middlemiss and I have been friends for years now. here at Kiwicakes we sell her Bella Cupcake Couture cupcake wrappers. We managed to catch breakfast together on Sunday morning at ICES - and she made me pose for photos with her on multiple occasions. Carries cupcake wrappers are gorgeous. She has even done custom wrappers for Martha Stewart, I remember how excited we both were all those years ago when she got the call (see here for her Martha Wrappers)

This is on Sunday afternoon, I had to wait a few days to get some shots of the vendor hall, it was packed out the first few days.

Yummy chocolate by Guittard

I also Met Edna De La Cruz. If you've never seen Edna's youtube videos, go look them up right now. They are super useful and wonderfully presented (she also has a super dreamy voice you'll love)

So many cake stands the likes of which we don't often see in NZ

Rita Aust and Michelle Hester from Sugarveil

Nicholas Lodge - a superb sugar flower sculptor from the UK

Stephen Bennison from the UK. Very well know for his intricate cutters, for Art Deco cakes and flourishes, flowers & much more

From Stephen Bennison

Satin Ice

This is the gorgeous Autumn Carpenter. Autumn and I have corresponded by email for years. Here at Kiwicakes we sell her cookie cutters with impression mats, impression mats, cupcake impression mats, books & more. Autumn and I met up the second night I was there, and had a long chat. She also did a presentation to the "shop owners breakfast", which I throughly enjoyed. I already love her products, but after her demo I am more in love with her cupcake impression mats, than ever before.

In front cookies & cupcakes using the cupcake impression mat tops. At rear cookies using the sports ball cookie set

Cookies using her butterfly cookie cutter set with impression mat

Cookie using her dress, wedding cake & heart cookie cutter sets

The bags are made using the fabric impression mat set

Flower fun impression mat & moulds

Paisley impression mat & moulds

There were several companies for edible imaging

Wilton USA

I really liked this dummy cake on Wilton's stand

Quilling from Wilton

The cupcake cake, uses one of Wilton's new release silicone moulds

Elegant beauty - I wonder how hard this is to do?

The topper is made using white chocolate in the Wilton enchanted castle cake pan

I met a lovely lady named Reva Alexander-Hawk (above) at the shop owners breakfast one morning. What I didn't know is Reva is the star of "Amazing wedding cakes" TV show, as we don't get the show here in NZ yet. Reva became my instant best friend, because, as we were standing in line at the buffet I pointed to a pastry absolutely covered in pecans telling her I was going to have one. I went on to explain how pricey pecans are in NZ ($70KG last time I bought them) and how you'd never see that on a breakfast buffet here. "Look!" Reva said "there's a huge pile of pecans that's fallen off a pastry you grab that - no one will notice". So you know what I DID! - there was no pastry missing any nuts, so that big ole pile of caramelly pecans must have been sitting waiting for me. Seems no one else was as impressed as I was. Spot the odd New Zealander out. Reva told me she'd just bought a case of pecans for her bakery and she'd thought it expensive the price she'd had to pay, but it was nothing like what we have to pay. And I must say there quality of nut is better than what we often get.

Reva was demonstrating this Day of the Dead cake at ICES. When I booked my ICES demo's and classes, this particular class clashed with something else I was doing. I really wish I had gone to it. However late Sunday night, during the "night of sharing" I was able to see the cake and Reva chatted informally to those milling around about how she did it.

I really did meet Reva I've got the badge to prove it.

These gelatine flowers were stunning up close. These were made by the lovely lady behind sugar dippers gelatine & isomalt veinging sheets, which I sell at Kiwicakes. Watching her work in the vendor hall was amazing.

A trend that has not really reached NZ yet, that I picked up on, with some vendors, was using edible image sheets to make flowers & decorations

Here Chef  Zane on the Lucks stand is making a floral decorative motif, using an edible image attached to blue fondant.

I think the finished product looks pretty snazzy and is reminiscent of fabric flowers.

Yet more cakes from Lucks

The vendors hall at ICES was a real highlight for me - the options for new products were endless, some products have been ordered and I've yet more planned, so you'll see many things arriving over the coming months, all as a result of my trip to ICES.