Edible prints have revolutionized cake decorating, offering a simple yet effective way to personalize your sweet creations. But what exactly are Edible Prints On Cake, and how can you use them to create stunning desserts? This guide will cover everything you need to know about edible prints, from understanding what they are to mastering the art of applying them, and even exploring creative alternatives when edible prints aren’t available.
Understanding Edible Prints for Cakes
Edible prints, also known as edible images or frosting sheets, are essentially images printed on consumable paper using edible ink. Think of them as edible stickers for your cakes and treats. These images are created using specialized edible printers that utilize edible ink cartridges and frosting sheets or edible paper. They provide a fantastic way to add photos, logos, characters, and custom designs to a variety of desserts, instantly elevating your baking projects.
Where to Source Your Edible Cake Images
For home bakers and hobbyists, investing in an edible printer system might not be practical. Fortunately, obtaining edible prints is quite easy. Many cake shops and bakeries offer edible image printing services. Simply provide them with your desired image, and they can print it onto an edible sheet for you. If you are in Riyadh, consider checking with bakeries like Sadeddin Bakery, as some branches provide this service. Online marketplaces and specialized edible print suppliers are also readily available, offering convenience and a wide array of options.
Best Practices for Storing Edible Printed Cake Toppers
Once you have your edible print, proper storage is crucial to maintain its quality and prevent it from drying out or becoming damaged. Edible sheets typically come on a backing sheet and are sealed in a plastic bag.
To store your edible print:
- Keep it in its sealed bag to prevent exposure to air and moisture.
- Store it at room temperature in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight.
- Avoid high humidity environments, as moisture can degrade the image quality and sheet integrity.
In warmer months or humid climates, it’s best to use your edible image soon after receiving it to ensure optimal results.
Edible Image Sheet Material: What Are They Made Of?
Edible sheets are primarily made from sugar paste, also known as frosting sheets or icing sheets. While they might resemble rice paper or wafer paper in appearance, they are different in composition and texture. Frosting sheets are thicker and more pliable than wafer paper, offering a smoother surface for printing and better adherence to frosting.
Choosing the Right Cakes and Frosting for Edible Prints
Edible prints are versatile and can be applied to various types of cakes as long as they are frosted. Buttercream and fondant are ideal frosting choices for edible images.
Key considerations for cake frosting:
- Buttercream: Ensure the buttercream frosting has developed a slight ‘skin’ and is not wet to the touch before applying the edible print. This prevents the moisture from the buttercream from damaging the edible image.
- Fondant: Fondant provides a smooth, dry surface that is perfect for edible prints.
While other frostings like whipped cream, non-dairy frostings, cream cheese frosting, or even ice cream cake can be used, exercise caution. These frostings often contain more moisture, which can potentially cause the edible print to wrinkle, bleed, or dissolve. If using these frostings, minimize moisture contact and apply the edible print shortly before serving.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply Edible Prints on Cakes
Applying an edible print to a cake is a straightforward process. Follow these steps for perfect application:
- Prepare your edible print: With clean, dry hands, use a sharp knife or precision knife to carefully cut the edible sheet into your desired shape and size. Do not remove the backing paper at this stage.
- Prepare the cake surface: Lightly dampen the frosted cake surface where you will place the edible print using a damp brush. Use minimal water; the surface should be just slightly sticky, not wet. For slightly dry edible sheets, you can lightly mist the cake surface with a fine spray of water.
- Apply the edible image: Gently hold the edible image from the sides, avoiding touching the printed surface to prevent fingerprints. Carefully peel the edible image off the backing paper. Center and place the image onto the prepared cake surface.
- Smooth out air bubbles: Gently smooth the edible print from the center outwards to remove any air bubbles and ensure it adheres smoothly to the frosting.
Creative Alternative: DIY Cake Toppers Without Edible Prints
What if you don’t have access to edible prints or need a last-minute cake decoration solution? There’s a clever technique you can use with readily available materials: creating paper-printed fondant plaques.
Here’s how to make DIY cake toppers using regular prints:
- Print your image: Using a standard home printer (inkjet or laser), print your desired image – cartoon characters, photos, logos – onto high-quality regular paper. Ensure you use the best print quality setting for a vibrant image.
- Prepare the fondant plaque: Roll out white fondant to approximately 2mm thickness. Place your printed image on the fondant and use a sharp knife or precision knife to cut around the image, creating a fondant plaque in the shape of your print.
- Adhere the print to fondant: Using edible glue (a mixture of gum-tex or tylose powder with a little water to form a thick paste), lightly brush the back of the paper print and the fondant plaque. Apply glue sparingly, focusing on edges and key areas.
- Attach and smooth: Carefully place the printed image onto the fondant plaque and gently smooth it out.
- Optional: Laminate for extra protection: For enhanced durability and moisture protection, especially if using a wetter frosting, you can laminate the printed image before attaching it to the fondant. Ensure the lamination is food-safe on the image-facing side.
This technique is a fantastic alternative to edible prints, allowing for creativity and customization using standard printing methods. For a visual guide, you can refer to this step-by-step video demonstrating this method in detail.
Here are examples of cakes decorated using this paper-print-on-fondant technique:
DIY cake topper made with a paper print on fondant, showcasing a creative alternative to edible prints for cake decoration
Conclusion
Edible prints offer a wonderful way to personalize cakes and treats with ease and professional flair. Whether you choose to use edible frosting sheets or explore the DIY paper-on-fondant method, you can achieve impressive results and bring your cake decorating visions to life. Experiment with these techniques and add a personal touch to your next baking masterpiece!
