This romantic pastel pink cake takes center stage with an elegant gum-paste floral arrangement featuring shades of pink and white with pops of yellow. Often overlooked as an important element, the accenting foliage provides dimension and realism. Enter: wafer paper leaves! Here, Emily Lopez of Tampa Bay Cake Company features a super-quick and easy method using wafer paper. This wafer paper leaf tutorial is her new favorite go-to foliage technique!
Edibles:
- Wafer paper
- Green petal dust
- Vodka or lemon extract
- Water
Equipment:
- Scissors
- Paintbrush
- Paper towel
- 22-gauge floral wire
Make the Wafer Paper Leaves
- Fold or cut your wafer paper so that you have 4 layers on top of each other. Cut a few different shapes and sizes of leaves. There is no right or wrong as long as they resemble a leaf shape!
- Mix a bit of petal dust with some vodka or lemon extract. Dip and then wipe your paintbrush on a paper towel so that it isn’t too wet. Wafer paper is a delicate medium, and if it gets too wet, it will become unusable.
- Brush the color onto both sides of the leaf and let it dry completely. Continue this process until you have your desired number of leaves.
Tip: You’ll know your leaves are dry once they become rigid and stiff. You should be able to pick them up without them folding over.
Make Wafer Paper Glue
- Add some scraps of wafer paper to a little bit of water. Warm it up in the microwave using 20-second intervals, until the wafer paper is almost completely dissolved.
Assemble the Wafer Paper Leaves
- Bend the floral wire so that it is at a slight curve. Add a touch of wafer-paper glue to the very edge of your top leaf, then pinch it against the wire with your thumb and forefinger for a few seconds.
- Continue adding leaves to alternating sides of the wire until you have as many as you want on your wire.
- Lay it down on a flat surface to dry for a minute or so. Now you’re ready to add it to your edible floral arrangement!
This tutorial originally appeared in the May/June 2021 issue of American Cake Decorating.
Emily Lopez
The owner of Tampa Bay Cake Company in Tampa, FL, Emily Lopez is known for clean, contemporary designs, beautiful sugar flowers, and her ability to transform a simple wedding cake into a beautiful work of art! Emily has also been featured in American Cake Decorating, offering expert advice on running a cake business.
