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Crystallizing & Sugar Coating Fresh Flowers for Cake Decorating

© Roberta Hovermale

Using crystallized( or also referred to as "Candied" or Sugared") flowers can make for a beautiful finish on a cake and also be a wonderful addition to your cake decorating repertoire. This type of garnish can add interest and either heighten the elegance or whimsical design of the cake. It is available to use either pre -made or to learn the simple technique and make your own.

A wonderful pictorial display explaining the step by step procedure for candying edible flowers can be found at "Sudden Elegance" http://www.herbnet.com/suddenelegance/he... . "Sudden Elegance" offers kits for purchase and has a listing of links that deal with horticultural interests and is definitely worth a look see. "Martha Stewart By Mail" also has kits to crystallize edible flowers that you may want to have a look at: http://www.marthabymail.com/mbm/product....

Although there are many varieties of flowers that are edible, finding ones that haven't been treated with pesticides can be a challenge. If you can't find edible flowers locally then here are some good sources to go to : "Earthy Delights" http://www.earthy.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.e... At "Earthy Delights" they also have an edible flowers poster that depicts a wonderful overview of what flowers are edible.

"Martha Stewart" http://www.marthabymail.com/mbm/product....

"MeadowSweets"a company that grows and processes flowers year round. Http://www2.telenet/commercial/meadowswe...

At "Martha Stewart" and "MeadowSweets" they also offer pre-made candied edible flowers.

You can also learn how to "sugar frost" flowers with Martha Stewart at http://www.marthastewart.com/weddings/ca... Or look at directions on how to hand paint crystallized flowers at B.Smith's site http://www.bsmithwithstyle.com/bsws/food... The techniques used at these two sites can be used for flowers that are "non-edible". For example they speak of using daisies,irises,daffodils, and hydrangeas - these flowers can be beautifully decorative but are "not edible". When using flowers such as these make sure that they are non-toxic and explain to whoever wants these decorative flowers that they are not for human consumption but only for decorative purposes and should be removed before serving to further insure this. If you do not feel comfortable using these type flowers then stick to edible ones.

Be innovative and try using crystallized or sugared flowers and let it open a new area of interest to discover.

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