The only thing better than a cake is a cake decorated with some amazing, eye-catching, and captivating images or logos. Having a cake for your guests at a birthday party is memorable, but a customized picture of you, your friends, and your family enhances the great memories tenfold.
What are edible sugar sheets/icing sheets?
To use an edible image for decorating a cake, you would need an edible sheet printed with your favorite image. There are several types of edible sheets available out there.
However, one of the best ones is the edible sugar sheets, also known as icing papers. These are easy to print with an edible printing-compatible printer, and the image quality is superior to other edible papers.
Also, edible sugar sheets are easy to use on most cake surfaces and dissolve easily in the frosting, leaving a vivid and vibrant image behind.
Where can you use the edible icing sheets?
Edible sugar sheets can be used on almost all kinds of desserts and confectionaries, including cakes, cookies, and cupcakes. These edible papers are easy to apply to fondant, frosting, or whipped cream.
Once the edible sheet is applied on a cake/cookie/cupcake surface, the edible image is popped off from the plastic backing and sticks to the surface.
A step-by-step guide to storing and using the edible sugar sheets
Here is a step-by-step guide to storing and using the edible sugar sheet in the best way possible to garner the best results.
1. Storing the edible sugar sheets
Edible sugar sheets are thick and sensitive to light, so they'll get discolored if they're exposed to sunlight for a prolonged time. These edible sheets are sticky on one side and usually are attached to acetate backing sheets, which can be peeled off just before you use a sheet.
Edible sugar sheets harden when exposed to air, so they must be stored in an airtight bag. To avoid discoloring, place the bag inside an envelope or in a dark place such as a kitchen cabinet.
2. Preparing your cake
Edible sugar sheets won't stick to buttercream applied to a cake for some time. It is recommended to apply the sugar sheet to a fresh frosting. Focus on getting straight sides because if the cake sides are wider at the top or bottom, the sugar sheet won't level correctly on the surface.
Since the edible sugar sheets are opaque, it won't be a problem if the frosting is a color other than white. Even though some parts of the sugar sheet design are white, you won't see the purple frosting beneath it.
3. Applying the edible sugar sheet
Edible images are best applied to light-colored icing as dark colors can make it hard for the image to be visible and might distort the color of the sugar sheet once applied.
However, if the cake surface is dark, it is recommended to apply the edible sheet to white fondant and then apply it to the cake.
First, remove the edible sugar sheet from the airtight bag and print the desired image with an edible-printing-compatible printer and edible inks.
If you have ordered a custom picture, you must cut your edible image using sharp scissors or a razor knife. Make sure your fingers are not moist when handling the edible picture.
To apply the edible image, put the printed sheet in a dry freezer for approx. 10-15 seconds. Once the icing freezes, it will pop off the plastic backing.
Gently apply the edible image to your cake immediately before it defrosts. Don't leave the edible image in the freezer for too long, as it can become too wet to come off the backing.
Lastly, to remove the sugar sheet from the backing paper, you can pull the sheet over the sharp edge of a tabletop.
When is the best time to apply an edible image?
If you are using buttercream or hard frosting, the image should ideally be placed within 48 hours before the occasion. If too much moisture is on the frosting, the image will begin fading fast. To avoid this, place the image on the cake within an hour of the occasion.
Tip: AVOID spilling water on the edible image before or after it is applied to the cake. It can melt and ruin the edible image print.
What if the plastic backing sheet doesn't peel off?
Sometimes, the plastic backing sheet does not peel off easily. It might be because of humidity and atmospheric temperature. To peel the icing sheet off the backing paper, remove the moisture/humidity from the icing.
One of the following tips might help you with it:
1. Put the printed sheet in the Ziploc bag and place the sheet in a DRY freezer for 10-15 seconds. It will help the icing to harden up quickly. You must ensure that it's a dry freezer. Take out the sheet, and remove the backing immediately.
2. Place the frosting sheet in an oven at a low temperature for approx. 1-2 minutes, or lay the sheet on a heated pan for a minute or two. To dry the icing sheet, you may use a Salton "TYPE" hot tray at low heat.
3. You can also use a hair dryer on the reverse side of the backing sheet for 30-40 seconds. After heating the backing sheet, let it cool before removing the icing. Once it is cooled, the icing sheet will stiffen.
4. More often than not, leaving the frosting sheet in an air-conditioned area helps too.
5. Pull the backing sheet over the sharp edge of a tabletop a couple of times. This technique will help to pop the image off the backing sheet
What can cause dryness or brittleness of the icing sheet?
Never use a dry or brittle frosting sheet for printing, as it may break off during printing and cause damage to the printhead or paper jams.
Some factors that can cause dryness or brittleness in the frosting sheet are:
1. Inappropriate handling of the frosting sheet. Like leaving the icing sheet out of the Ziploc bag for an extended period.
2. Not re-sealing the Ziploc bag properly.
3. Extreme dry weather and climatic conditions.
How to address the dryness or bitterness of the icing sheet?
To avoid any dryness or bitterness, you can follow these tips:
- Hold the frosting sheet over a pot of steaming water for a few seconds.
- Store frosting sheets sealed in a Ziploc bag at room temperature. Don't keep it in a freezer or refrigerator; it can make it drier.
- Spray the sheets with fine water mist using an airbrush or other water-misting device. Wait to print on the sheet. Allow the sheet to dry a bit first.
What if the color from the edible image bleeds on the food?
Color bleeding is caused when the edible image is placed on a high-moisture frosting, such as whipped cream. Here are a few tips to avoid this kind of colour bleeding:
- Use frosting sheets on a buttercream-type frosting.
- While applying whipped cake frosting, apply a thin buttercream coating before placing the icing sheet.
- Remove the image from the backing paper and coat the back of the image with a thin layer of buttercream before applying it on top of the whipped cream surface.
- Freeze the cake before applying the image, and keep it frozen until you need to serve it.
Note: Do not keep the printed edible sheets in plastic bags or containers as it can create moisture that will cause the formation of water droplets which may bleed the image colour. The ideal containers to store edible papers are cardboard boxes.
How NOT to store the edible icing sheet?
- Never refrigerate the icing sheet. It may dry out the icing sheets and cause them to crack. Keep the frosting sheets in a cardboard box sealed tightly within the Ziploc bag in a cool and dry place.
- Keep out of direct light. Exposure to heat and light might affect the quality of the paper. The icing sheets come with a shelf life of 12 months. Therefore, it would be advisable to store these edible papers accordingly.
Whether applying an edible image or design, decorating your cake with an edible sugar sheet is quite easy. You need to follow a few simple methods, and your cake will be the talk of any occasion, be it a birthday, anniversary, or any other kind of celebration.
It is of utmost importance that you only use edible sugar sheets that are the best in quality. That is why at Icinginks, we have only premium quality edible sugar sheets and other edible papers for you that are safe to consume and are also FDA-compliant.
More interesting blogs to read on Icinginks
How to Attach Edible Sugar Sheets to Fondant
Frosting Sheets or Wafer Sheets – What Works Best for Decorating Cakes
How Far in Advance can you Apply an Edible Image on a Cake?
What Are The Components, Qualities, and Uses of High-Quality Edible Papers?
