How to Make Edible Cake Flowers

Create edible daisies on a cake from royal icing.

Delicate flowers for cake garnishes not only have to look good but have a pleasant taste as well. Making edible cake flowers requires varying levels of skill but even a novice can craft an edible daisy for topping a cake. You can use commercially prepared, medium-consistency royal icing found in a baking or craft store to save time or use the recipe below before piping it into flowers.

Things You'll Need

• 3 tbsp. meringue powder
• 1 lb. powdered (confectioner's) sugar
• Stand mixer with beaters
• 7 tbsp. water
• Icing color (optional)
• Damp towel
• 3-inch squares of parchment or wax paper -- 1 per flower
• Pencil
• 2-inch wide bottle cap (optional)
• Piping bag
• # 104 piping tip
• Orange or yellow mini candy-coated chocolates (such as mini M&Ms)

Instructions

1. Beat the meringue powder and powdered sugar on low speed in a stand mixer for 10 seconds to combine.

2. Add the water and increase the speed to medium low, beating for 8 minutes or until the royal icing begins to look dull and not shiny. If using icing color, mix it in a few drops at a time until the icing reaches the desired color. Cover the mixing bowl with a damp towel.

3. Draw a two-inch-wide circle with a pencil on each square of parchment or wax paper and mark a dot in the center of the circle. You can also use a two-inch-wide bottle cap as an outline for a circle on the wax paper.

4. Transfer the royal icing to an icing bag fitted with a #104 piping tip at the end.

5. Draw a cross with the icing bag through the center of the circle to make four petals. Imagine a clock on the circle with these drawn icing cross markings at 12, 3, 6 and 9.

6. Create lines with the icing where 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 11 o'clock would be on a clock dial to create 8 more petals for a daisy.

7. Press a single miniature candy coated chocolate into the center of the daisy.

8. Repeat the process for as many daisies as you wish. Lay the pieces of wax paper with the edible icing daisies in a cool, dry place to dry and stiffen overnight.

9. Peel the paper off the back of the flower and transfer the daisy to a cake.

Tips & Warnings

• Look for meringue powder, icing color, icing bags and tips at baking or craft stores.

• Leave the edible daisies to dry in a bowl to create a rounded shape to the petals, making them more realistic.

References

• Diary of a Cake Stylist: Royal Icing Daisy
• Diary of a Cake Stylist: Royal Icing Recipe
• Wilton: How to Color Icing