Gumpaste flowers will enhance cakes for almost every occasion. The key to avoiding frustration is remembering that no two flowers in nature look alike. Therefore, your gumpaste flowers do not need to be identical, nor absolutely perfect. This wedding cake is an example of how to incorporate several different types of flowers into your design. It includes roses, poppies, cymbidium orchids and hydrangeas. Step-bystep instructions for creating the orchids and poppies are given. For additional photos of this orchid, visit www.bakery-net.com .
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| 1. To create a cymbidium orchid, use a gumpaste cutter to form the two individual petals. Press the petals in a mould to create the petal veins. | 2. Use a different gumpaste to create the three-blade petals, and press them in amould to create veins. |
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| 3. Use a ball tool to thin the petal edges. | 4. Use water or some type of adherent to glue the two individual petals onto the three-blade petal. |
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| 5. Place the petals in an apple tray to dry. Coat the tray with cornstarch to prevent sticking, and poke holes into the center of the indentions before placing the flowers in the trays. The apple tray will give the petals the perfect arch as they dry. | 6. For the throat of the orchid, roll a piece of gumpaste into a grape-size ball. |
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| 7.Then, press the gumpaste ball to elongate it to about 2 ins. | 8. Insert a wire about 3/4 of the way into the throat. Use a ball tool to indent the middle of the throat. |
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| 9. Press the sides of the throat together to create a seam. | 10. Use your fingers to slightly flatten the tip, and press a thin knife across the tip to lightly crease it. |
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| 11. Bend the wire inserted in the throat slightly to create an outward curve. | 12. Use a gumpaste cutter to create the throat petal of the orchid. |
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| 13. With a ball tool, apply pressure to ruffle the top, outer edge of the petal. | 14. Position the petal on the base of the throat using water or another type of adhesive. Turn the petal and throat upside down, and lightly press them together at the base to attach. The petal should curve away from the throat. |
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| 15. Orchids can be created with almost any color gumpaste. To finish them, brush the tips of the petals and the throat with a contrasting color of luster dust. And, use a paintbrush and airbrush color to paint additional details onto the throat petal. | |
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| 1. For poppies, use a gumpaste cutter to form four-blade orange petals, and press the petals into a mould to add veins. With a ball tool, thin the outer edges of the petal. Apply heavy pressure, almost tearing the gumpaste, to make the petals very rippled. | 2. Stack two petals together, with the blades of the top petal in between the blades of the bottom petal. Place them in an apple tray to dry. |
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| 3. Use a paintbrush and airbrush color to paint additional details onto the top petal. | 4. For the center of the flower, roll green gumpaste into a grape-size ball. Make a hook at the end of a wire, and insert the wire into the ball of gumpaste. Crimp the gumpaste ball, and dip it into poppy seeds. |
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| 5. Insert the poppyseed-covered gumpaste ball into the center of the petals with water or adhesive. Use pins to curve up the edges of the petals, and allow the flower to dry. |
Fourth-generation baker Buddy Valastro, along with his mother and siblings, owns Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken, N.J. Valastro has been decorating since the age of 11, when he learned the craft from his father.
His wedding cakes are regularly showcased in national bridal magazines and have been featured on several television shows, including The Sorpranos and The View. He specializes in rolled fondant cakes and gumpaste decorations.