Learn how to make your own 100% food-safe silicone mold with this simple, step-by-step tutorial from Adela Calvo of Delicut Cakes. Adela notes, “This tutorial is perfect for those looking to make their own custom cake molds. You can create molds for any cake project, and once you know the steps, you can create any mold you need.”
Food Safe – custom silicone mold tutorial
components
- large straight-sided/deep food storage container (tupperware)
- 1lb fondant thin cake board (if needed) confectioners glaze.
- parchment or wax paper
- pair of scissors
- pencil
- marker
- food grade silicone
- model for casting
- food releasing spray
1) prepare your food safe container by cleaning it well, and then lightly spray it with the releasing spray. If you don’t have a container with perfectly straight sides, you can adapt it to create your mold.
2) Take the object you want to cast and using the marker, draw a line around the midway point, dissecting the object evenly through the width. (Here I used a lion figurine)
3) Apply a 1 inch layer of fondant to the prepared container, packing the fondant in firmly, you need about a ½ inch of clearance from the outer edge of your object, so If you are casting a wide model, you may need to apply a thicker layer of fondant and place your object in the center. Push it firmly into the smoothed fondant, until you reach the midway point that you marked previously.
4) If your container is not perfectly square, you can cut up a cardboard cake board and embed it into the fondant to square off your container, secure the board with sticky tape and spray with releasing spray.
5) Take a pencil and using the smooth end, make small indentations ¼ inch from the perimeter of your object (to about a ½ cm depth) these marks will act as your alignment keys and make sure both sides of the mold line up with each other. Paint the fondant with confectioners glaze and allow to dry, once dry apply a second coat of glaze, this will protect the fondant from melting when you pour on the silicone.
6) Take the marker and mark a line ½ inch above the top of the mold, this is where you will need to pour your silicone too, then prepare your food safe silicone according to the instructions and pour over your object to the line you marked. To avoid bubbles, which could destroy your cast, pour from one corner and allow it to slowly flood.
7) Once cured, (ideally overnight) removed from the container, it should pop out easily (due to preparing the container earlier). Remove the fondant from the object, clean away any fondant from the cavities. Place the first side of your silicone mold back into the container, and replace the object, you are now able to cast the other side of your mold.
8) Prepare your mold by greasing it lightly with vegetable shortening, push in fondant or gum paste and freeze to set before releasing. I used black fondant because I want to create a bronze statue.
9) Release your figure from the mold and clean up the edges with a sharp knife, place the figure in the position you want it to dry and support it with rolled pieces of kitchen paper and allow to dry.
10) Once dry, paint the figure with gold paint and rub with a piece of kitchen paper to create a bronze effect
