Edible Pressed Flower Cake Tutorial

Hot off the press! Edible flowers are among the hottest trends in decorating, creating unique, one-of-a-kind designs. Choose naturally vibrant hues to add some pops of color or tone it down with romantic neutrals. It just takes a little time to research and plan before following a few easy steps to success. Learn how to make an edible pressed flower cake tutorial from Randi Smith.

Researching Edible Flowers

Before you begin, research flowers that are edible. A few of the more popular wedding flowers contain a certain level of toxicity and should be removed before eating. Below is a list of some popular edible flowers:

• Roses
• Hibiscus
• Violets
• Marigolds
• Carnations
• Lavender

Sourcing Edible Flowers

With the increased popularity of pressed-flower motifs in the creative world, it isn’t difficult to find pressed flowers on the internet or through floral wholesalers. I’ve had the greatest success finding a wide range of colors, flower types, and greenery with sellers on Etsy and Amazon.

Edibles:

• Cake
• Fondant
• Edible glue
• Pressed flowers

Equipment:

• Various sizes of paintbrushes
• Tweezers

Attaching Flowers

1. Create a sketch of your desired design. You want to have a good idea of the flower placement prior to starting. Pressed flowers are very fragile and will be difficult to remove whole once attached.
2. Cover your cake with fondant.
3. Gently brush edible glue over the back of the flower or leaf. This can be done on a clean flat surface or in your hand.
4. Using tweezers, carefully place the pressed flower on the cake. You may need to press it down for it to adhere to the cake properly.

Tips for Creating a Pressed Flower Cake:

• Once the design is complete, take care not to store the cake in a humid area. Keeping the cake in a cool, dry place will prevent the cake from sweating, which will cause the glue to dissolve.
• Remove the layer of fondant before serving if the pressed flowers are not edible.
• If your flowers are sticking to the surface of your workspace, dust the surface with cornstarch.

This tutorial originally appeared in the May/June 2021 issue of American Cake Decorating.

How to Decorate a Cake with Edible Pressed Flowers

1. Plan the Design

   Create a sketch of your desired design. You want to have a good idea of the flower placement prior to starting. Pressed flowers are very fragile and will be difficult to remove whole once attached.

2. Prep the Cake

   Cover your cake with fondant.

3. Apply Edible Glue

   

   Gently brush edible glue over the back of the flower or leaf. This can be done on a clean flat surface or in your hand.

4. Apply Edible Pressed Flowers

   

   Using tweezers, carefully place the pressed flower on the cake. You may need to press it down for it to adhere to the cake properly.

Randi Smith

Randi Smith is an island girl who is passionate about celebrating life’s big moments. She is the founder and lead designer at Sugar Euphoria, a boutique wedding-cake and confectionery studio in North Carolina. She is obsessed with her family, skin care, and white chocolate lattes. When she’s not working with her wonderful clients, you can catch her watching reruns of A Different World.