Add a touch of whimsy to a cake design with edible butterflies. These delicate, realistic confections are made from rice paper and icing, and are completely edible.
Materials Needed:
- rice paper
- food coloring markers
- luster dust or petal dust in various colors
- scissors
- a selection of small, dry paintbrushes
- royal icing
Step One: The Basic Shape
Use special food coloring markers to draw butterfly shapes on the rice paper. Both food coloring markers and rice paper can be found at cake decorating stores and online. It's better to use food coloring markers rather than painting on the rice paper with gel food coloring, because the rice paper is very sensitive to moisture and will start to curl. Drawing the outlines with food coloring markers works, but even coloring in the butterfly with the markers will warp and wrinkle the rice paper.
Turn the rice paper over and trace the shapes on the backside. Rice paper is somewhat translucent, and it is fairly easy to see through well enough to duplicate the outlines of the butterflies on the opposite side.
Use scissors to cut out the butterfly shapes.
Step Two: Add the Color
Use dry paintbrushes to brush luster dust and petal dust onto the butterflies. Luster dust and petal dust are dry, powdered food-safe colors that can be bought from online retailers and cake decorating stores. They are not available in the cake decorating section at large craft stores like Michaels; the sparkle dust products sold there will not adhere to the rice paper and will not work.
The color of the butterflies will be delicate and soft using this method. If a more intense, realistic butterfly is desired, use the procedure outlined in the "Alternate Method" section below.
Step Three: Bring it to Life
Use scissors to cut the butterfly shape in half, separating the two wings. Pipe a line of brown or black royal icing where the butterfly will be placed on the cake or cupcake, and insert the wings at an angle, so the butterfly looks lifelike, as though it just landed.
The royal icing can be piped over floral wire set on waxed paper if the desired effect is one of butterflies in flight around the cake. Let dry for at least 24 hours, and be extremely careful when moving the butterflies, as the rice paper wings are delicate. Make extras in case of breakage.
Alternate Method
It is possible to use a printer to make edible butterflies. A dedicated color inkjet printer is needed—one that has never been used with regular ink. If the printer has ever been used with regular ink, even if it has been refurbished, it will not be food-safe.
Purchase special ink cartridges filled with food coloring for use in the dedicated printer. These are available from some cake decorating supply shops and online from manufacturers like Kopykake.
Find copyright-free images of butterflies online and print on rice paper or wafer paper. Cut out and follow the instructions, as above.
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