How to Use Edible Gold Leaf

How to use edible gold leaf - in a nutshell:

• chill your buttercream or ganache cake (fondant can be decorated at room temperature)
• do not touch the gold leaf with your bare hands - use a transfer sheet, brush or tweezers
• press against the cake and brush with a dense, food-safe brush

Looking to unlock the secret to your most glamorous bakes? Enter - edible gold leaf. This product can transform any cake, taking it from simple to stylish instantly. But, it is a product that needs to be applied very carefully in order for it to work. In this post, we’ll outline some simple steps, explaining how to use Edible Gold Leaf, including some expert tips from our friend Zara at @bubbas.bakes!

What You'll Need 

Before you begin, there are a few items it’s important to have organised. We’ve made it into a handy checklist to help you get started!

The Step-by-Step Guide to Applying Gold Leaf

Our guide, with a little help from our friend Zara from @bubbas.bakes!

Step 1: Gather your supplies

• To-Do: Collect the tools from your checklist and have everything together in one place.

• Why? Gold leaf is extremely delicate - discovering midway through that you don’t have an essential tool to hand could cause damage if you’ve already placed it against the cake!

• Our Top Tip: If you plan to use gold leaf regularly, why not create a little pro-kit that you can bring out every time you use it? Include your brushes, tweezers and a pair of food-safe gloves.

Step 2: Optimise your environment

• To-Do: Close all windows and doors to eliminate draughts, and switch off any fans or air conditioning.

• Why? As the gold leaf is so delicate, even the slightest breeze can cause damage! Make sure the room you are decorating in is as still as possible.

• Our Top Tip: Plan ahead and apply gold leaf at a time when no-one else is home, to avoid unexpected interruptions, doors opening, etc.

Step 3: Prepare your cake

• To-Do: Ensure your cake is at the right temperature, and set up securely on a cake board on a turntable. For a buttercream or ganache cake, this means chilled in the fridge but free from any condensation. A fondant cake is fine to start working on at room temperature.

• Why? Chilling the cake ensures it has a nice firm surface to work on. Using a turntable when applying gold leaf allows you to easily spin the cake around instead of having to walk around it. Gold leaf can be fiddly, so making this part as effortless as possible helps! 

• Our Top Tip: A turntable isn’t just handy for gold leaf; it’s an all-round cake decorating essential! Invest in a good quality turntable, like the Couture Luxury Aluminium Turntable, and it will last you for years!

Zara says: “If you’re adding gold leaf to a buttercream or ganache cake, you have to make sure the cake has been chilled first - and ensure there is no condensation! Working with a fondant cake is a little bit easier.”

Step 4: Position your gold leaf sheets

• To-Do: Take a moment to figure out exactly where you want to place the gold leaf before applying it.

• Why? Gold leaf is expensive! You don’t want to waste any. So whether you’re placing it randomly across a cake, or in a specific area, pause to plan before committing.

• Our Top Tip: Having a sketch of your intended design can be really helpful here - it’s what most pro cake artists work with!

Step 5a: Apply your gold leaf transfer sheet

• To-Do: Peel off the backing and lift the gold leaf transfer sheet up to your cake. Press it gently against the area of the cake you wish to decorate and push against it with a food safe brush.

• Why? The beauty of a transfer sheet is that you can pick it up and place it where you want it to go with your hands. The brush will help remove it from the transfer sheet and stick it to the cake.

• Our Top Tip: A good quality transfer sheet is worth its weight in gold (we couldn’t resist!). Shop top brands like Original Artisan Gold or Sugarflair for best results.

Zara says: “Carefully place your gold leaf against the area you want to decorate, and then dab with a firm, food-safe brush. This is especially useful when working on textured areas, it will apply really well with a firm brush!” 

Step 5b: Apply your loose gold leaf

• To-Do: Do not touch a sheet of loose gold leaf - use a small, sharp knife to cut pieces that can be lifted with a brush or tweezers, or simply touch it with your brush to collect the amount you wish to add to your cake. Then press gently against the surface of the cake and brush if necessary to reach the desired effect.

• Why? The heat and moisture in your hands will ruin the delicate gold leaf if it makes direct contact. This is why working with high quality tools is most important when it comes to gold leaf.

• Our Top Tip: Wearing lightweight, food safe gloves is a good option to minimise the risk!

And you’re done! But we’re lucky to have one final pro-tip from Zara, for hiding any straight edges!

“Your square transfer sheet of gold leaf foil has straight edges and corners, which you may not want to have showing on the cake! If you’re using a corner section, go over the top with a middle section of gold leaf. That will help to disguise any sharp lines.”

We love this tip so much, Zara, what an easy fix!

Gold Leaf Troubleshooting 

Gold leaf is so expensive - is there a cheaper alternative?

It is true, edible gold leaf is an investment. But in order to ensure that the product you are using is food safe, it is important to buy from reputable brands. Remember, it is real gold, hence the high price point! If you want a pretty gold effect but need to keep costs down, consider a metallic gold edible paint, gold lustre dust or even gold sprinkles.

Why is my gold leaf dissolving when I apply it to my cake?

Dissolving gold leaf is usually caused by too much moisture on the surface of the cake. Make sure your cakes (especially buttercream or ganache cakes) are chilled but totally free of condensation when applying gold leaf. 

How can I stop my gold leaf tearing?

Handling your gold leaf can lead to tearing - the oils and moisture from your hands are not a gold leaf sheet’s friend! Avoid making any contact with the sheet and instead use a brush or tweezers to apply.

Why is my gold leaf curling round the edges?

In humid climates, gold leaf sheets can begin to curl in on themselves. Therefore, it is advised that you avoid working with gold leaf on particularly humid days, especially as it’s crucial to have windows closed and air conditioning off to avoid damaging it.

How long will my gold leaf last if I make my cake in advance?

As long as you store your cake in a cool, completely still area, free from a breeze, it should be at least two days before you have to worry about any flaking. When stored correctly it has the potential to last up to five days.

Make Gold Leaf your new cake decorating best friend

Feeling inspired to add flashes of gold to all your upcoming celebration bakes? We thought so! We can’t wait to see you put the steps in this guide into action, turning gold leaf from your nemesis to your baking bestie.

Don’t forget to share your creations with us by tagging us on Instagram at @the_cake_decorating_co and using the hashtag #CakeDecFamous for a chance to be featured!

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