How to Make Fondant Daylilies

You can create daylilies out of fondant dough.

Unlike calla lilies, which are relatively simple to replicate in fondant or gum paste, daylilies provide the sculptor with something of a challenge. To make a realistic-looking daylily, create each petal separately, allow them to dry and then put them together. These flowers are commonly used to decorate more elaborate confections such as wedding or other celebratory cakes. Use these fondant techniques to create a "garden" full of daylilies to top your next confection. Does this Spark an idea?

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Vegetable shortening
Gum paste
Rolling pin
Lily petal cutter
Spatula or icing knife
Baking sheet
Plastic wrap
28-gauge floral wire
Wire cutters
Ruler
Lily-shaping mold
Shaping mat
Cornstarch
Ball tool
Lily-forming cup
Small paintbrush
Shimmer-white food coloring powder
Green food coloring powder
Liquid brown food coloring or edible ink pen
Floral tape
Tweezers or needle-nose pliers
Fake stamens
Pink, orange, purple or yellow powdered food coloring

Instructions

- 1
  
  Grease a flat work surface with vegetable shortening. Rub a small amount of shortening on your hands and on a rolling pin.
- 2
  
  Knead a golf-ball-sized piece of fondant dough on your work surface until it is soft. Mix the fondant with 1/2 of a golf-ball-sized piece of gum paste. Knead both of the pieces together until pliable.
- 3
  
  Roll the dough 1/16-inch thin with a rolling pin. You should be able to see through the dough. Use lily-petal cutters and cut out six petals. Use a spatula or icing knife to peel the petals off the work surface. Place them on a greased baking sheet and cover them with plastic wrap.
- 4
  
  Cut seven pieces of 28-gauge floral wire with wire cutters. Make each piece about six inches long.
- 5
  
  Working with one shape at a time, place one piece of wire into the base of one lily petal. Push the wire about halfway into the petal. Place the petal into a lily-shaping mold and press the mold firmly to create veins along the lily petals.
- 6
  
  Dust a shaping mat with a fine layer of cornstarch. Place the petal on the mat. Use a ball tool along the edges of the petal to thin the dough, creating a slightly wavy edge. Drape the petal in a lily flower former or over the edge of a rolling pin. Repeat with the remaining petals. Once all your petals are draped over the former or rolling pin, allow them to dry for six to eight hours.
- 7
  
  Dip a small paintbrush into a container of shimmer-white powdered food coloring. Shake off the excess and brush each petal with the powder. Dip the brush into a container of pale green food coloring and brush the base of each petal with the green. Use brown liquid food coloring or an edible food pen to create a cluster of small dots over the green area.
- 8
  
  Use floral tape to wrap a cluster of five or six fake stamens around a six-inch piece of wire. Twist the tape around the stamens and wire with a circular wrapping motion to help secure it around the stamens and wire.
- 9
  
  Bend each lily petal outwards at the base -- bending the wire where it emerges from the petal -- using a pair of tweezers or needle-nose pliers. Arrange six petals around the stamens. Attach the petals to the center stamens by wrapping the wire stems of the petals to the wire of the stamens using floral tape. Allow each wrap of tape to slightly overlap to keep it secured. Trim the end of the floral tape and press it into the side of the stem to finish.

Tips & Warnings

Paint your daylily with pink, orange, purple or yellow shimmer powder for a different look.
Dust your hands with cornstarch to prevent the petals from sticking to your hands.
Keep unused petals covered with plastic wrap until you are ready to work on them. Exposed petals will dry quickly, making it difficult to shape them.