Homemade Edible Fabric Recipe aka Edible Silk Recipe for Cake Decorating Projects
The latest trend in cake decorating has been these edible fabric sheets also called edible silk. Surprisingly this homemade edible fabric recipe is easier than you can imagine. It takes no more than 10 minutes to make one sheet of homemade edible silk.
Homemade Edible Fabric Recipe aka Edible Silk
A few months ago I had a customer who was very fascinated with having edible drapes for her wedding cake. Unfortunately, after taking into consideration the cost of the cake and shipment, plus the time it would take for shipping, she decided it was not worth it. Of course, I was disappointed.
Recently, I came across this amazing video on YouTube by Elena Wilkinson. She made edible fabric at home. It was very simple, easy and inexpensive. The video was in Russian so I could not understand a word, and yet I loved what I saw and I had to try it. Lucky for me, my friend Gulnaz knows Russian and she was kind enough to help me translate the video and get the recipe.
Homemade Edible Fabric Recipe aka Edible Silk Recipe
So, I did my first experiment and was almost jumping. It was so easy! I loved the effect. Of course, you know me, I wanted to share it with you. And so I decided to do the rest of my testing/experiments on camera so I can share with you.
Now I will be honest, I have yet to place it on a cake. But I love how the whole fabric effect looks. It’s so amazing to have something so soft, squishy and satiny in your hands. Best of all it’s EDIBLE!!
Tools to use
- Brush – Now it is very important to use a good brush. It does not have to be expensive but it does need to be able to brush in one stroke. So an old brush works fine. Just make sure the bristles are not falling off and that it gives a smooth brush stroke. Not one that causes lumps. Do not use the kitchen silicon brushes. They make dripping strokes.
- Bowls – Use a microwave safe bowl. Find two bowls that fit one over the over like a bain-marie. So you can place hot water in the bottom bowl.
- Silicon mat – For the chocolate fabric, you need a clean silicon mat so you can peel the fabric easily.
- Long offset spatula – Use a long offset spatula for the chocolate fabric so it will spread easily and evenly.
Homemade Edible Fabric Recipe aka Edible Silk Recipe
How does it taste
Well, the recipe is just gelatin, glycerin, and water – no sugar or anything else. So needless to say, it does not taste like much! In fact, at least the homemade edible sugar lace recipe has some sugar. So while it does not take much it’s still OK. And yet, this one is not something you would enjoy eating. It’s mostly for getting the fabric effect on the cake. So don’t expect it to taste good.
Homemade Edible Fabric Recipe aka Edible Satin Recipe
My Tips & Recommendations
If you notice below in the recipe I have given you the option to brush the mixture on one side of the rice paper only. As well as to brush the mixture on two sides of the rice paper. Why?
Well, I notice that when brush only on one side the fabric tends to become stiff after a while. That’s because one side of the rice paper is still exposed to air and you know what happens to rice paper when you keep it out, right? But if you brush on both sides it stays softer for a longer time. In fact, my silver edible fabric has been done a few days ago and it’s still soft.
So, I highly recommend brushing on both sides to get the full fabric effect.
Homemade Edible Fabric Recipe aka Edible Silk Recipe
Recipe – Homemade Edible Fabric Recipe aka Edible Silk
Ingredients
For the transparent mixer
- Gelatin – 20 grams
- Glycerin – 1 tsp
- Water – 40 ml
- Rice paper sheet – 2 large
For the chocolate mixer
- Gelatin – 20 grams
- Glycerin – 1 tsp
- Water – 40 ml
- Chocolate – 20 grams
Method
For the transparent mixture
- Soak the gelatin in water for a few seconds.
- Dissolve the gelatin in the microwave for 20 sec or more until completely dissolved.
- Add the glycerin and stir well.
- Place gelatin bowl over a bowl or hot water so it does not solidify.
Brushed one side (see video)
- Brush mixture over the rice paper’s shiny side trying to keep single strokes.
- Dry on one side completely for 7 to 10 minutes (it will be dry but tacky).
- Brush with pearl luster dust, metallic gold or silver.
- Dust the second side with cornstarch so it won’t be tacky anymore.
Brushed on two sides (see video)
- Brush mixture over the rice paper dull side trying to keep single strokes.
- Dry on one side completely for 5 to 7 minutes (it will be dry but tacky).
- Flip the sheet carefully and brush the other (now shiny side) with the mixture.
- Let dry for 5 to 7 minutes until dry but still tacky.
- Brush with pearl luster dust, metallic gold or silver.
- Dust the second side with cornstarch.
Edible Chocolate Fabric
- Soak the gelatin in water for a few seconds.
- Dissolve the gelatin in the microwave for 20 sec or more until completely dissolved.
- Add the glycerin and stir well.
- Mix in the chocolate pieces and stir till well dissolved.
- If necessary place in the microwave for 10 seconds.
- Once all the pieces are dissolved pour mixture over a clean silicon mat.
- Spread out with a long spatula or bench scraper trying to keep to single strokes.
- Let dry for 10 minutes until set (it will be sticky but dry).
- When a dry brush with metallic gold, silver or cornstarch.
- Dust off any excess cornstarch.
Don’t forget to save this recipe on Pinterest for later.
You can find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest.
Homemade Edible Fabric Recipe aka Homemade Edible Silk
Homemade Edible Fabric Recipe aka Edible Silk Recipe
Ingredients
For the transparent mixer
- 20 grams Gelatin
- 1 tsp Glycerin
- 40 ml Water
- 2 Rice paper sheet
For the chocolate mixer
- 20 grams Gelatin
- 1 tsp Glycerin
- 40 ml Water
- 20 grams Chocolate
Instructions
For the transparent mixture
- Soak the gelatin in water for a few seconds.
- Dissolve the gelatin in the microwave for 20 sec or more until completely dissolved.
- Add the glycerin and stir well.
- Place gelatin bowl over a bowl or hot water so it does not solidify.
Brushed one side (see video)
- Brush mixture over the rice paper shiny side trying to keep single strokes.
- Dry on one side completely for 7 to 10 minutes (it will be dry but tacky).
- Brush with Pearl luster dust, metallic gold or silver.
- Dust the second side with cornstarch so it won't be tacky anymore.
Brushed on two sides (see video)
- Brush mixture over the rice paper dull side trying to keep single strokes.
- Dry on one side completely for 5 to 7 minutes (it will be dry but tacky).
- Flip the sheet carefully and brush the other (now shiny side) with the mixture.
- Let dry for 5 to 7 minutes until dry but still tacky.
- Brush with pearl luster dust, metallic gold or silver.
- Dust the second side with cornstarch.
Edible Chocolate Fabric
- Soak the gelatin in water for a few seconds.
- Dissolve the gelatin in the microwave for 20 sec or more until completely dissolved.
- Add the glycerin and stir well.
- Mix in the chocolate pieces and stir till well dissolved.
- If necessary place in the microwave for 10 seconds.
- Once all the pieces are dissolved pour mixture over a clean silicon mat.
- Spread out with a long spatula or bench scraper trying to keep to single strokes.
- Let dry for 10 minutes until set (it will be sticky but dry).
- When a dry brush with metallic gold, silver or cornstarch.
- Dust off any excess cornstarch.
Detailed Video on YouTube - Subscribe for more videos
Nutrition Information
Tools used in this recipe
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I can not find the right rice paper!! Help!
Ah. they are now easily available Tracey – Try Amazon here . or try Ebay here
I want to do this but want to print a pattern on the wafer paper do I print before or after it has dried?
Joy I think you will have to do it before because otherwise, the fabric is too soft and thick to got thru the printer. You have to be careful of color bleed so do the back side first then gently do the front side with minimum strokes. Best of luck.
I can across your recipe and tutorial purely by accident and now I’ll be making edible fabric. I’m very excited to try this recipe. Have you tried this using white chocolate? I’m wondering if colouring the mixture while it’s still liquid would work. Thank you in advance!
Hey Sandra. Sorry for the delay in replying. Not sure why it went to spam comments. Sorry.
I have still not tried white chocolate.. I think it would work but not sure yet. You must try and let me know if you do. Make sure to use candy colors when adding colors to the melted chocolate – Thanks
I am having difficulty attaching this to fondant. What is the best adhesive for the edible fabric?
Nneka.. melted gelatin is the only thing that worked when I tried. I hope this helps. If you find something else let me know.
thank you
Welcome Nneka
Hi Veena, chocolate won’t adhere it – it comes right off. Best bet is to make another batch and use it immediately as “glue”. HTH! And thanks for the recipes! 😀
Hi Debs. The best way to stick gelatin to gelatin is gelatin! So I think the best glue will be plain melted gelatin. Glad this worked for you. Thanks for coming back to leave this feedback. Thanks
Hello Veena, I was wondering if I could dust with a petal dust rather than the metallics. I need to make a red fabric for a football jersey that will drape off of a cake. Is the metallic dust used for a specific reason. This is a great tutorial. Thanks so much for sharing it with us all.
Hey Shirley. I think you can try other colors as well. Try red petal dust if you need red. I highly recommend trying to dust a corner and see what effect you get. There is still a lot to explore with this recipes. Thanks
My goodness….. Looks so easy. Big thanks to you for sharing it all without holding back. You are really inspiring me. Please where can I get rice paper and wafer paper.
You are very welcome Ak. Happy you find this post useful. You can find rice paper or wafer paper in any cake decorating shop new you or look for some online source. Thanks
Can this be done with agar agar for vegetarians? If not is there any other way to make vegetarian edible fabric?
Lisa. I have not tried agar-agar with this recipe. Not sure if it will work. Gelatin has that stretchy texture so works perfectly.
Looks so good can’t wait to try. Just one question. Can I use agar agar as I’m vegetarian. If Yes, please state the quantity. Thanks
I have not tried the agar agar so I cannot tell you if it will work or not. If you do try let me know the out come.
Hi Veena…I’m a follower from Germany and have a question….I want to prepare edible silk and I don’t know: is rice paper the same like wafer paper and can I use Fondant paper too?
Doreen not sure what is fondant paper? Is that fondant sheets you use for printing – No those won’t work. Not tried them at least.
I think rice paper and wafer paper are same but not sure.
As long as you can use it to make wafer paper flowers for cake decorating it should work
Thanks…I’ll do my best
Have fun.
Hi Veena, thanks for the wonderful tutorial.
I wanted to know if I want to use it to make a saree pallu…. can I paint the gold designs later? How do i stick 2 layers… can you please highlight on colouring them.
Thanks Poorinima. I think you can use it for anything that calls for a fabric effect. I have not experimented with it much so honestly cant’ tell you if it will or will not work. I think you can stick two pieces of gelatin with gelatin or chocolate.
can we make flowers out of it?
Flowers? well, it’s too soft. Like fabric so perhaps you can make fabric flowers.
Hi Veena I admire you for being so kind for always sharing what you know. Thank you
Have you tried gel colors on the clear mixture?
Thank you so much Emy. Appreciate the kind words. NO I have not tried gel colors but go ahead – worth a try.
How does one store this edible fabric or do you have to use it immediately. Thank you.
You store it just the way I show in the video, in a foil wrap. I have mine stored for over 3 months and it’s still soft and pliable.
Hi Veena,
thank you thank you thank you- what an awesome. Product, thanks for sharing.
I’ve made Superman’s cape out of the chocolate fabric, what is the best wY to attach it, can I use melted chocolate?
Hi Cynthia. So happy to hear the you had great success with this recipe. Thank you for your feedback. Yes, I think melted chocolate will definitely do the trick of attaching it. Thanks
Oh my word. this is simply amazing, Thanks for sharing
You are very welcome Natasha.