Gum Paste Gerber Daisies

I mentioned that I don't do "Ace of Cakes" type creations, but a friend asked if I could make some cupcakes for a bridal shower she was throwing with Gerber daisies on them. Since I love this friend SO much (and I know the bride, who is also cool), I decided I'd give them a try. I did some research online and used a coupon at Michaels (or was it Hobby Lobby...I forget) to purchase a gum paste flower kit. I used Wilton Gum Paste and colored it with gel colors. The colors didn't come out as vibrantly as I would have liked, but over all I was pretty happy with the outcome.

 



 

I found a tip online to make the centers of the flowers. You roll a little gum paste and then press it into a wire mesh sieve. It worked brilliantly! Another tip I found was to use paper towel/toilet paper tubes as flower formers. I cut the tubes in half and then sat the flowers inside to dry. This curves them a bit. It worked well, but some of them were a little too curved. I think that can be fixed by cutting down the sides of the tubes a bit. Fancy, "professional" forms of these items can be purchased of course, but if they can be done with household items...bonus!

 

 

I made my chocolate cake cupcakes and white cake cupcakes. I frosted them with whipped chocolate ganache and whipped cream cheese frostings.