Basic Tools and Ingredients for Making Sugar Flowers

Learn cake design techniques for making sugar flowers with basic tools and ingredients and meet inspiring cake artists

The world is full of beautiful flowers that grab our attention with their unique colors and petal shapes. Such flowers can also be found in the kitchens of cake designers, albeit, flowers that are made of sugar. Cake artists are masters in creating different types of leaves and petals to decorate cakes. These edible sculptures usually leave everyone onlookers salivating.

Nasima Alam (@sweetdropsofheaven) is a cake artist, owner of a specialist cake store, and the founder of the Sweet Drops of Heaven brand. These projects, along with her incredible talents, have led her to collaborate with many companies and her flowers have been featured in various industry magazines.

Nasima is fascinated by flowers and loves creating them with her hands. She sees each cake as a work of art. But, what method does she follow? What ingredients does she usually use to make a classic sugar rose or an open peony?

It doesn't matter what flower she is working on, this cake designer is full of enthusiasm whenever she is in her kitchen. Take note and discover how you can recreate the beauty and delicacy of flowers with these basic tools and ingredients for making sugar flowers:

Below, Nasima Alam explains everything you’ll need to get started in cake design. As you will see, some of the tools listed are not essential. It's all about adapting the method to what works best for you.

Flower paste or gum paste

There is a range of brands available, which can make it hard to know where to start. Which is the best? This artist is convinced that each person needs to make their own decisions. She encourages you to try out various options and see how you find working with them in humid conditions or different temperatures.

Nasima chooses to work with The Flower Paste brand because of its consistency. Also, it doesn't dry too quickly, allowing her to have plenty of time to work on her sugar flowers. That's why it's a good choice if you're still learning.

Firm board and foam mats

The firm board will be the surface that you work on while making your flowers. Nasima recommends an A3-sized board, however, you can also use a larger size.

Foam mats usually come in pairs: one with holes and one without, which Nasima uses the most when thinning out her leaves and petals. The one with holes is useful for making filler flowers. You can use it as a base to hold your sugar flower in place while you are gluing on the petals.

Rolling pin

This tool is essential for rolling out your flower paste before putting it through your pasta machine.

Pasta machine: do you actually need one?

Nasima says this tool is not essential. You can thin out the sugar paste enough using just a rolling pin. However, if you are planning to make lots of leaves or petals, this machine speeds up the process. It also ensures that all the pieces are the same thickness and more uniform.

Each brand designs its pasta machines differently and therefore they have different numerical systems that you will have to test and adjust to suit you.

Icing sugar or cornflour

When you make an edible paste, you can use sugar to change the color. This will also stop it from becoming sticky while you’re handling it.

Edible glue and brush

You can buy a ready-mixed glue or make one yourself by mixing a small amount of tylose powder and water. Shake it up and let it sit for a few hours and it will turn into glue.

As for the brush, if it's too big you won’t be able to reach all the corners.

Ball tools

As you can see in the photo below, Nasima has a set of metal ball tools. However, you can also use plastic ones too, which are less expensive, last longer, and don't need to be pressed as hard when thinning the edges of the petals or flowers.

Knife

You can use any type of knife as long as it is sharp enough to cut through your polystyrene balls (more on this later!).

Different-sized wires

In her course, Nasima uses 22, 24, and 26 gauge wires. To clarify, as the number increases, the wire becomes less thick.

Keep this in mind when choosing yours.

Tools for veining sugar flowers

Sugar rose veins: Nasima highly recommends a selection of tools that create a very delicate and realistic finish.

Tools for veining leaves: a range of brands sell different-sized tools that create different textures. Again, it is entirely up to you to which you choose.

Veining larger pieces: in this case, Nasima uses these XL veiners for different types of petals. As the grooves are dented, you get a coarse texture. However, if you press lightly, you will get the opposite result.

Veining tool: a very versatile (and affordable) tool that you can use for different cake design projects.

Sugarberry tool: you can create the same effect using a sharp tool, however, this specific tool will make your berries look more realistic.

Sugar flower cutters

There are a variety of cutters available, so you should try out different options and decide which best suits your way of working.

Circular cutters: these are very common in most homes and are great for getting started in the world of cake design.

Small cutters: ideal for very small filler flowers or, for example, the inside of a David Austin rose.

Petal cutters: this is a larger set of cutters that can also be used for making leaves.

Peony petal cutters: they come in different shapes and sizes.

Set of five petal cutters: the artist reminds you that this tool is not essential but it does speed up the process when creating the center of your rose.

Scissors or pliers are also recommended for cutting wires or creating wire hooks.

Calyx cutter: this is not essential. If you want, you can use scissors to create this particular shape.

Other cake design tools

Edible food coloring

All brands are edible and, again, it will be up to choose which you prefer to use. This artist likes to use a brand called Sugarflair because of its consistency.

Edible powder

Use this to color gum paste or sprinkle it on your sugar flowers once they have dried. Nasima advises buying dark colors and white. You can mix them to create different tones.

Plastic wallet

Store your petals and leaves in a plastic wallet to stop them from drying out. When you don't use the gum paste, you must keep it in a plastic bag.

Molds and trays

Nasima says that the silicone molds pictured below are perfect for making petals. They are easy to maintain and clean, and are also reusable.

You have many sizes to play and experiment with.

Polystyrene balls

These are used to create the center of your flowers. You can also make them out of gum paste but you will need a lot of time for them to dry before you can continue working.

They also weigh more.

Rack

If you can get a rack like the one pictured below, then great. However, you can also use an oven rack. This way you can put your sugar flowers upside down to dry.

Floral tape

You can find tape in different colors and use it to assemble petals or small bouquets like the ones shown below.

Sugar glaze

This will help you insert the flowers into the cake. It provides additional support and makes your pieces stick to the cake more securely.

Steamer

This is not essential. You can use it to dry cakes or sugar flowers. It helps the powder (if used) to stick. Another idea is to put a pan of boiling water close to where you are drying out your sugar flowers.

10 cake design accounts to follow on Instagram

Great cake designers create works of art that will make your mouth water. Even those with a sweet tooth who never turn down a slice of cake will hesitate before cutting into these spectacular creations. Their unique designs, amazing colors, textures, and intricate details deserve to be admired before being eaten.

Creative pastry has become very popular on visual platforms like Instagram. Search the hashtag #cakedesign, and you will discover authentic masterpieces in different styles from all around the world. Check out this article and meet some of the most incredible cake designers out there!

How much did you know already about the world of cake design? After learning more about Nasima’s creative process and the tools and ingredients you’ll need to get started, why not give it a go?

If you’re interested in the art of creating sugar flowers, sign up for Nasima Alam's course, Sugar Flowers for Cake Designs, and learn how to decorate cakes with realistic flowers made of gum paste. You don't need any previous experience, just love baking and cake design.

English version by @eloiseedgington.

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