How To Paint A Pattern On A Wedding Cake?

by Bryce
(CA, USA)

Hi, I'm making my friend's wedding cake in less than a month. She and her fiancee are both musicians and want a round cake with music all along the side.

I'm not a professional by any means and have considered painting or frosting the music on. What would the easiest method for a beginner like me be?

Also, would I need a special type of frosting in order to paint the notes on? I'd really prefer not to use fondant or gum paste. Thank you so much!

How to apply wedding cake icing and marzipan

Simple wedding cake decorations

Ask the expert

Answer:

That’s so nice of you to make your friend’s wedding cake.

I love the idea of putting music notes on the cake since they are both musicians.

I would recommend covering the cake in fondant because it will give you a better surface to work with. If you simply frost the cake in butter cream, the music notes won’t have a clean finish.

Before covering the cake in fondant, apply a thin layer of icing over the entire cake so that it is smooth. Allow the frosting to dry for 20 minutes before applying the fondant.

Roll the fondant so that it covers the entire cake. Carefully cover the cake and smooth the fondant so there are no bubbles or lumps. Cut away any remaining fondant.

Draw the music notes on paper and then very gently outline the drawing on the cake’s surface using a toothpick or wooden skewer. If you can find a cookie cutter of a music note, you can simply press the cookie cutter onto the fondant to leave a light impression rather than using the paper method.

 

Now onto the painting; using the food colouring of your choice, carefully paint over the music note design on the fondant. Be sure to test it on a spare scrap of fondant first to get a feel for the colour and paint brush. The colour may come out too dark so you can carefully wipe away any excess to lighten it. To give the music notes more depth, you can tint some icing and outline them using a pastry bag with a fine tip.

An alternative to painting the music notes on the cake would be getting ribbon with music notes instead.

Best of luck to you, it sounds like your cake will be a hit! Send us a picture when you're done!