Lena Savoie
Gold cakes are elegant and eye-catching, and there are many ways to decorate a cake with gold without using alcohol. Gold cakes are usually made using gold luster dust, an edible powder that can be used on its own or mixed with a liquid to make paint. While alcohol is often used to mix gold luster dust because it evaporates quickly, water can also be used as a substitute. However, water may not give as shiny of a finish as alcohol and can take longer to dry. Other alternatives to alcohol include lemon juice and imitation vanilla flavor, although these may also result in a duller finish. If you want to avoid liquids altogether, you can apply gold luster dust with a dry brush, but this method can be messy and smudge easily. Another option is to use edible gold paint, which comes pre-mixed with alcohol and can be applied directly to the cake without any additional mixing.
Characteristics and their values for putting gold powder on a cake without alcohol
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of gold powder | Edible gold powder, gold luster dust, gold pearl dust |
| Type of cake | Any cake with smooth or lightly textured frosting, fondant pieces, or icing sheet cake |
| Tools | Paintbrush, sponge, stencil, wide powder brush, Preval Sprayer, airbrush |
| Gold powder mixture | Gold powder mixed with lemon extract, water, or clear extract |
| Application technique | Painting freestyle, tracing around a shape, stencilling, spraying |
| Considerations | The mixture may clog traditional airbrushes. Water may not give the shiniest finish. |
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What You'll Learn
Using gold powder with a dry brush
Gold cakes are elegant and eye-catching. Using gold powder with a dry brush is a great method for covering large areas of the cake. However, it can be messy, so be careful as the powder will get all over everything! It also smudges and rubs off very easily.
To use this method, you will need a wide powder brush for even coverage. You can also use a paintbrush or a sponge. Make sure to use a stencil so that the pressure from the stencil doesn't damage the frosting. You can use a variety of edible gold powders, such as gold luster dust, gold pearl dust, or gold leaf.
Before applying the gold powder, it is important to prepare your cake. If you are using buttercream frosting, make sure it is well-chilled and firm to the touch. You can also use other types of frosting that set firm, such as ganache. If you are using a stencil, it is recommended to refrigerate your cake before stencilling so that the frosting is firm enough to handle the pressure.
Once your cake is prepared, you can begin applying the gold powder with a dry brush. Use light, quick strokes with your brush to avoid dissolving the icing. You can also dab the gold powder onto the cake with a sponge. If using a stencil, hold it firmly in place while you work.
After applying the gold powder, you may want to add additional details. You can create gold drips using white, milk, or semi-sweet chocolate ganache. If using white chocolate, adding a tiny amount of brown gel colour will reduce the amount of gold paint needed to achieve a golden colour. You can also pipe flowers or other decorations using Russian tips.
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Applying gold powder with a paintbrush or sponge
To apply gold powder to a cake using a paintbrush or sponge, you can follow these steps:
Firstly, it is important to note that gold powder is typically mixed with an alcohol solution to create a paint that can be easily applied to cakes. Common alcohols used for this purpose include vodka, lemon extract, and grain alcohol (Everclear). These solutions are mixed with the gold powder to create a paint-like consistency. However, if you wish to avoid using alcohol, there are alternative options, such as water or lemon juice, though these may not produce as shiny of a finish.
If you are using a stencil, it is recommended to refrigerate your cake beforehand to prevent the frosting from being damaged by the pressure of the stencil. You can then dab the gold paint or gold powder mixed with a non-alcoholic solution onto the stencil with a paintbrush or sponge. Using a wide powder brush can help achieve even coverage more quickly than a small paintbrush.
Another method is to apply the gold powder directly to the cake's surface using a dry brush. This technique is suitable for covering large areas, but it may create a mess and easily smudge or rub off.
Additionally, you can create gold drips by mixing ganache with white, milk, or semi-sweet chocolate. Adding a small amount of brown gel colour to the white chocolate can make the drip closer to gold. You can then apply the gold drip using a spoon, a condiment bottle, or a ziplock bag with a cut-off corner.
When using a paintbrush or sponge to apply gold powder, it is important to work with chilled buttercream or frosting that has been allowed to set, ensuring a firm surface to work on. This helps create smooth and precise gold designs on your cake.
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Creating gold chocolate spheres
Ingredients and Materials:
Firstly, gather your ingredients and materials. You will need:
- Edible gold luster dust or powder
- Chocolate of your choice (dark, milk, semi-sweet, or white)
- Cocoa butter (optional)
- Silicone or rubber sphere moulds
- Greaseproof paper or wax paper
- A bowl
- A spatula
- A thermometer (preferably a laser thermometer)
Melting the Chocolate:
Start by melting your chosen chocolate. You can do this in a double boiler or microwave, ensuring you melt it in batches to avoid burning. Alternatively, use a bain-marie or tempering machine to achieve the desired temperature. If using a thermometer, the temperature for dark chocolate should reach 34°C, then drop to 31°C. For white or milk chocolate, aim for 28°C.
Adding Cocoa Butter (Optional):
If you're using cocoa butter, sprinkle it over the melted chocolate when it reaches 34°C. Stop stirring momentarily to allow the butter to melt, then resume stirring. This step will add a professional touch to your chocolate spheres.
Preparing the Moulds:
Tap your moulds gently to remove any air bubbles. This step is crucial in ensuring your spheres have a smooth and even surface. You can use polycarbonate or silicone moulds, depending on what's available to you.
Coating the Moulds:
Using a pastry brush, brush the melted chocolate into the insides of your spherical moulds. Ensure you coat them evenly and thoroughly. Turn the moulds upside down and let the excess chocolate drip out onto a sheet of greaseproof or wax paper.
Hardening the Chocolate:
Allow the chocolate in the moulds to harden. Wipe off any excess chocolate that has seeped over the edges of the moulds, as this will make it easier to remove them later. The chocolate should come off smoothly without any white marks, indicating a successful tempering process.
Removing the Chocolate Spheres:
Once the chocolate has set, it's time to remove the spheres from the moulds. Gently tap the mould on your worktop, and give it a sharp rap if necessary. You may also need to apply pressure to the middle underside of the mould to help release the spheres.
Applying Gold Luster Dust:
Now, it's time to add the golden touch! Place your chocolate spheres in a ziplock bag with the gold luster dust or edible gold powder. Shake the bag to coat the spheres evenly with the gold dust. You can also use a wide powder brush to apply the dust to the spheres directly, ensuring even coverage.
Filling and Assembling:
Your gold chocolate spheres are now ready to be filled and assembled. You can fill them with chocolate mousse, ice cream, coconut cream, or any other creative filling. Place them on a piece of cake, a dollop of whipped cream, or surround them with berries to secure them in place.
And there you have it! Impressive gold chocolate spheres, ready to be the show-stopping centerpiece of your dessert creations. Enjoy the wow factor they bring to your culinary masterpieces!
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Using edible gold paint
Edible gold paint can be used to decorate cakes, cookies, fondant, macarons, and chocolate. It is easy to make and can be used in a variety of ways to create elegant and eye-catching designs.
To make edible gold paint, you will need edible gold luster dust and a liquid medium such as vodka, lemon extract, or water. You can also use clear vanilla extract, but it may not give as shiny of a finish. Mix a few drops of the liquid medium with the gold luster dust in a small stain-resistant bowl. The paint should be thick and concentrated, so add the liquid a little at a time until you achieve the desired consistency. Stir the mixture frequently, as it tends to separate.
When painting with edible gold paint, use a fine paintbrush and dab off any excess paint on the brush before applying it to your cake or dessert. You can paint freestyle or use stencils to create more intricate designs. If using stencils, it is recommended to refrigerate the cake beforehand to prevent the frosting from being damaged by the pressure of the stencil.
You can also create gold drips or splatters on your cake using edible gold paint. For drips, make a ganache using white, milk, or semi-sweet chocolate, and add a small amount of gold paint to achieve the desired colour. Apply the ganache with a spoon, condiment bottle, or a ziplock bag with a cut-off corner. For a splatter effect, simply splatter the gold paint onto your dessert using a paintbrush.
It is important to note that regular edible paint will not work on waxy chocolate surfaces. You will need to use special edible chocolate paint or mix the gold colouring directly into white chocolate candy melts. Additionally, if you are using gold paint on buttercream or textured surfaces, you may need to apply multiple coats to achieve a solid colour. Allow each coat to dry before applying the next one.
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Gold drips with chocolate ganache
Creating gold drips with chocolate ganache is an elegant and eye-catching way to decorate a cake. Here is a detailed guide on how to achieve this stunning effect without using alcohol:
Ingredients and Tools:
Firstly, gather your ingredients and tools. For the ganache, you will need chocolate (white, milk, or dark/semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped bars) and heavy cream. For the gold colour, you can use edible gold materials such as gold luster dust, gold powder, or gold paint. You may also need a paintbrush, spoon, condiment bottle, or ziplock bag for applying the gold.
Prepare the Ganache:
To make the chocolate ganache, start by heating the heavy cream. Pour in the desired chocolate and let it melt, giving it a quick stir. The ratio of chocolate to cream is crucial—using more chocolate will thicken the mixture as it cools, creating the perfect consistency for drips. If you're using white chocolate, you can add a tiny amount of brown gel food colouring to achieve a gold hue before adding gold decorations.
Create the Gold Effect:
There are a few ways to create gold drips without using alcohol:
- Gold Luster Dust and Lemon Extract: Mix gold luster dust with lemon extract to create a paint-like consistency. However, this method may result in slow drying times and thin consistency.
- Gold Paint: Chilling the cake beforehand will help set the ganache, making it easier to paint. Use edible gold paint or edible art paint, applying coats and letting each layer dry before adding the next for a bold colour.
- Gold Powder: If you wish to avoid liquids altogether, you can use edible gold powder. Apply it with a dry brush, being careful to avoid creating a mess. This method is excellent for covering large areas but may smudge easily.
- Stencils: If you want to create intricate gold designs, use stencils. Refrigerate the cake before stencilling to avoid damaging the frosting. Dab gold paint or gold powder onto the stencil with a brush for even coverage.
Apply the Drips:
Once your ganache has reached room temperature and is the ideal drip consistency, carefully add drips to the side of the cake. You can use a piping bag, spoon, condiment bottle, or ziplock bag with a cut-off corner. Start with a test drip to ensure the consistency is right, then continue adding drips around the side and filling in the top.
Remember to chill your cake after adding the drips to set them firmly before serving. Enjoy your beautiful and elegant gold drip chocolate ganache cake!
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Frequently asked questions
You can apply gold powder to a cake without using alcohol by using a dry brush. This method is great for covering large areas, but be careful as it will get all over everything and smudges and rubs off very easily.
Alternatives to using alcohol when applying gold powder to a cake include water, lemon juice, imitation vanilla, and lemon extract.
Alcohol is beneficial when applying gold powder to a cake because it evaporates quickly, leaving little time for the liquid to dissolve the icing. Alcohol also gives the shiniest finish with the least risk of dulling the icing.
Specific products that can be used to apply gold powder to a cake without using alcohol include Wilton Gold Pearl Dust, edible gold powder mixed with lemon extract, and edible gold paint.
