When you see the picture above, what do you see? Hopefully you’ll respond by telling me, “I see leaves” (lie if you have to). Because if you don’t see what I’m seeing I’m screwed. You see, I just finished baking and decorating a cake for The Daring Kitchen’s Cake Decorating Challenge for a chance to win a trip to the New York Cake Convention in NYC sponsored by the lovely people at the U.S. Confection Connection. {Entries can be found here} The challenge was to decorate a 9-inch cake in an Autumn inspired theme. For my entry, I decided to decorate my cake with chocolate fondant and gum paste leaves painted to look like Fall in Seattle. As I was making the leaves, it occurred to me others may want to know how to make these leaves as well. So grab a cup of coffee and lets get started. First of all you need to buy gum paste. I know there are recipes floating around the internet on how to make it yourself, but if you ask me it is far more trouble than its worth. Instead, you can buy a quick-dry powdered mix such as the one pictured above where you just add water, or you can buy pre-made gum paste. Now depending on what you’re trying to make, you’ll want to tint your gum paste with gel paste coloring available at cake supply stores such as Michaels. I poured several drops of “gold” gel paste and kneaded it into the dough. For the powdered gum paste mix, after you mix and knead your dough, you are suppose to let it rest for 24 hours before working with it in a sealed container or bag. *Sidenote: gum-paste typically starts to dry very quickly, you will want to keep any unused dough in a sealed zip lock back. Next: Roll your gum paste out as thin as you would like using powered sugar or cornstarch to help the dough not stick to your rolling pin or counter. Using a leaf shaped cookie cutter, cut out gum paste leaves a couple at a time. Using the back of a non-toxic/poisonous leaf, place a piece of plastic wrap in between the leaf and the gum paste cut out. The picture above doesn’t show a piece of plastic wrap because frankly, at 11:30pm in the evening – I forgot. Using a rolling pin, gently roll over the gum paste dough to set an impression on it. Doesn’t it look real? After making an impression in each leaf, set them on a crinkled piece of foil to dry. Make sure to press each one down gently for random looking pieces (as pictured). After the leaves have all dried they are ready to be painted. – In addition to pedal/luster dusk (as shown above), you will need a clean paint brush and some vodka. For those of you who are wondering why vodka is needed, alcohol allows you to paint on your colors but evaporates very quickly. What I like to do is pour different colors of dust on one plate with a small dipping bowl next to it partially filled with a couple tablespoons of vodka. From there I dab my paint brush into the vodka first, then mix it into the pedal dusk on the plate to whatever consistency I am desiring. It is very similar to painting a craft project. The thicker the consistency the thicker the coverage is. The thinner the consistency, the clearer the color will be. What I like to do is paint very randomly. I don’t have a guide I use but I like to use various colors of paint for each leaf. Sometimes I will start by painting the veins of each leaf one color, and finishing the leaf off in a different one. Be creative and paint each leaf how you like! Do not forget to paint the backside of each leaf as well if the backsides will be visible when displayed. Allow gum paste leaves to completely dry before using. Voila! You have just made gum paste leaves ready to decorate your Fall cake! – –
– By no means am I an expert in gum paste but I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Here is a post on how to frost a layered cake and recreate the Fall cake I have pictured. Hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial.
Cake Decorating Supplies related to this post:
Wilton Ready To Use Gum Paste
AMERICOLOR SOFT GEL PASTE FOOD COLOR SET OF 12
Fox Run 3-Piece Leaf Cookie Cutter Set
Laura says
I made gum paste leaves this afternoon! They turned out great! I used Wiltons gold spray mist and they look marvelous! Thank you so much for the great pictures and details! Especially the leaf tip! I was bummed I couldn’t get a veiner in this area and hah! I didnt even need one!
corrie says
I was wondering how long these leaves will stay good. I have a wedding to do and will be traveling with the cake was hoping to make them ahead of time. Also what is the best way to store these once made up Your cake is amazing kudos to you. Beautiful.
Amber says
What cutters did you use for the leaves? I love them but want to make sure I get the correct size so I can make them like yours. They will be perfect for the wedding cake I am making this fall. THANKS!
alice says
Angelika – Congrats on your pending wedding. I can also tell you will have a spectacular cake!
Angelika says
You are the best – thank you, thank you, thank you! I was looking for exactly this kind of description – getting married in October this year and want to do an autumn themed wedding cake. You’re my hero, thanks!!!
alice says
Hi Tahira,
The vodka evaporates and is only used to transfer color. You coud try using water but it won’t evaporate as fast and could make your gum paste sticky.
Tahira says
Hi, I like your cake.It’s amazing.I want to try that cake but i am little confuse about vodka. Can you give me some non alcoholic alternative for vodka.
Raphaelina says
Hi! I would like to buy the pedal/luster dusk, but I can’t find it anywhere. Where did you get it? I live in New Jersey and very close to NYC, maybe you know of some place I can get them. Thank you 🙂
Nancy L says
WOW! That cake looks AH- MAZ-ING! I’ve been wanting to try gum paste, but I’ve been so afraid my things will look like doo-doo, but with great ideas like this one I may have to give it a try.
Leigh says
Is gum paste similar to fondant? Can you use fondant instead? or does gumpaste dry out more than fondant? My daughter is having a candy table at her wedding, and wants to use the leaves as a filler on the table. Thanks for your help.
Leigh
MrsCake says
Thank you for this very nice tutorial! I´m making an autumn cake für my sisters birthday next week and already had an idea on how to do it. But your pictures definitly made it all much clearer 🙂
Nora says
I spent all day yesterday making these leaves. I pinched the design for my wedding cake and am SO excited! They are beautiful and were easy and fun to make 🙂
Brandi says
This was a great how-to article! I am getting married in October and we’re making cupcakes instead of having a cake. I knew I wanted to decorate them with gumpaste leaves, but wasn’t exactly sure how to do so. Thanks to you, now I do!
Bakinglady says
Hi, Im just wondering, what is the best way to clean the brush thoroughly after. Mine usually still have a little bit of the color stuck in between the brushes and the next time I would use it, it would mix with the new color. Should I soak them with hot water?
Rachel Wilkerson says
These are GORGEOUS! I want to try my hand at making them although I know my cake won’t look nearly as gorgeous. But what a great tutorial — thanks!!
Adeline says
Hello,
You say you’re not an expert……..but that cake is nothing short of amazingly beautiful !! I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it.
I’m so glad I found this site……..I’ll be back. There’s just so much here and it’s fun and informative.
Keep up the great work……………….
Stephanie says
This was extremely helpful. Thank You!!!
crystal says
This post is great and I think it will be most helpful to me when I create my fall cupcakes for the company party. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge, and the pictures make it so much easier to understand and follow along.
Cara says
Thank you for this! I have been looking all evening on the internet for the best way to do these. This is great!
alice says
Hi Marge,
Congrats on your sons upcoming wedding. Gumpaste leaves are edible HOWEVER, most people do not eat them. They are non-toxic but typically are used for decorative purposes. Gumpaste is slightly different from fondant or marzipan where people are more likely to eat those. Hope this helps.
Alice
Marge says
Just the info I need to decorate my son’s fall wedding cake. How will these gum paste leaves taste? (or will guests take them off?)
Beautiful work.
Melanie says
This website has everything.
Ryan says
That looks amazing, i can’t wait to give it a try. Where did you get the powder to do the coloring? All i’ve been able to find are jells.
siir says
Hi, is the leaves edible?
jenn_bunnie says
That is a great tutorial. The leaves turned out just fantastic. I recently joined the daring bakers (yesterday). I am a little nervous.