Learn how to make a sugar rose out of gum paste with this rose tutorial. I use one or two sizes of petal cutters when making sugar roses. The sizes of cutters generally depends on the size of the “rose” cones that I am making. The more petals you add, the more fuller it will get. It looks really pretty when big roses and rose buds is mixed together on a cake.
This is what I use:
Flower paste/gum paste
Gel paste colors
Corn starch
Styrofoam or cake dummie
Flower foam pad (Orchard products)
Dogbone tool or ball tool
Small spatula
Tylo glue
Small brushes
Toothpicks
Rolling pin
Non-stick board
7 tablespoons
Rose petal cutters in various sizes
Rose leaf cutters in various sizes
Leaf veiner (optional)
Calyx cutters in various sizes
A small plastic bag
White vegetable fat
Edible petal dust
Small rose and rose buds
Step 1:
You will need to make a cone (no. 1 in the picture) for each sugar rose you are making. It is a good idea to start making the cones a day or two ahead. Remember that the cones should be a little bit smaller than the size of the petal cutter you will be using. Stick a tooth pick in the bottom af the cone and set aside on the styrofoam/cake dummie to dry completely.
Next step is to roll out your flower paste/gum paste thinly and cut out three rose petals. Use your dogbone tool on the flower foam pad and carefully thin the edge of the rose petals so it get slightly frilly. Put two of the rose petals in a plastic bag to prevent them from drying out. Brush the cone with tylo glue and wrap one rose petal thight around it, so that the pointed end of the rose cone is covered (no. 2 in the picture).
TIP! Use this as a closed rose bud
Brush with tylo glue once again and take the two last petals from the plastic bag. Wrap them around the cone so they slightly overlap each other (no. 3 in the picture). Arrange the rose petals and make “movements” with your fingers and leave them to dry for about 30 minutes or more before you add more rose petals.
TIP! Use this as a open rose bud
Cut out three more rose petals, just like the ones you made to begin with. Brush the rose petals lightly with tylo glue and arrange the next three rose petals, again overlaping the petals (no. 4 in the picture) Again make “movements” with your fingers and leave your small sugar rose to dry comepletely.
TIP! Use this as a small rose
Step 2:
If you want a larger sugar rose, do as follows: Roll out your flower paste/gum paste thinly, this time cut out five rose petals with the next size of cutter. Use your dogbone tool on all five petals, as in step 1. Take five tabelspoons and dust them with a little corn starch (this will prevent the rose petals from sticking to the tbsp).
Put the rose petals on the teaspoons and let the petals go over the top of the edge of the spoons (as shown in the picture). Let the rose petals dry in the spoons for around 15-20 minutes. Then brush the lower half of the petals with tylo glue and arrange the petals arround the rose, so that they overlap each other. Set the rose aside to dry completely.
If you want an even bigger sugar rose, cut out seven more rose petals and put them on the tablespoons. Since the rose is getting rather big now you need to carefully turn the rose upside down for the last rose petals. Attach the rose petals with tylo glue like previous. Let the big sugar rose dry completely.
TIP! Use a piece of foam to place the rose on, to prevent it from breaking
Step 3:
When your rose is dry, roll out some green flower paste/gum paste and cut out a calyx that fit the rose. Brush the calyx with tylo glue and attach it to the bottom of the rose. When making small sugar rose buds, put a small ball of green flower paste/gum paste on the rose buds after the calyx as well.
TIP! Apply dry edible petal powders with a soft brush on your roses, for great looking effects.
Note: Remember to remove any toothpicks when placing the roses on the cake.
Want to learn more? Find some of the best sugar flower books in my bookstores: UK and US
Happy Caking!
Louise
100 comments
cecilia ferrer says:
Jan 31, 2012
sugar roses are the best. i love to make them with my parents
Anonymous says:
Nov 13, 2011
You can find a fabulous tutorial here: http://www.cakejournal.com/archives/gum-paste-rose-tutorial-on-youtube
Fra: Disqus [mailto:]
Sendt: 23. september 2011 00:22
Til: louise@cakejournal.com
Emne: [cakejournal] Re: How to make a sugar rose
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Luckeytraders says:
Nov 10, 2011
Thank you so much for sending me these sugar flowers. I would like to make a humble request from you, if possible will you please teach me how to make a horse out of gum paste, through cake journal.
Y.P.
Louise says:
Nov 10, 2011
Sorry, my to do list is very long at the moment.
Phmonk says:
Sep 27, 2011
Thank You beautiful. Do you know how to make sugar sheets, that you can use to cut out decorations out of?
Anonymous says:
Nov 13, 2011
No sorry
Fra: Disqus [mailto:]
Sendt: 27. september 2011 03:40
Til: louise@cakejournal.com
Emne: [cakejournal] Re: How to make a sugar rose
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nk says:
Sep 13, 2011
What is a good substitute for tylo glue? can I use water or eggwhite?
Anonymous says:
Nov 8, 2011
Water, egg white both works ok. But I think that you get a more sticky glue with the egg white.
Fra: Disqus [mailto:]
Sendt: 13. september 2011 16:37
Til: louise@cakejournal.com
Emne: [cakejournal] Re: How to make a sugar rose
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Maxxell_snow says:
Sep 4, 2011
where can you get that rose leaf veiner, luv it
Cheri ==maxxell_snow@hotmail.com
Anonymous says:
Nov 3, 2011
It’s Diamond Paste Veiners/ Garden rose leaf.
Dr Ray says:
Apr 17, 2011
I can do a lot of flowers, but I have never mastered the rose. Hopefully this will work.
aru says:
Feb 18, 2011
tanks for the training,am going to get my tools and start learning right now
azie qaseh ismail says:
Feb 5, 2011
pls let me know what the ingredian for sugar paste(sugar craft)
azie KL
Anonymous says:
Feb 5, 2011
I don’t have a recipe for sugar paste, sorry.
nina.♥(: says:
Jan 18, 2011
ohhhmy.
louise, your website is just lovely.♥
i’ve been wanting to learn and try to make things like this for a loong time.
thanks so much!
Sarah says:
Dec 28, 2010
Hi there, I am making a wedding cake in a few weeks for my brother who has decided that he now wants his cake royal iced. The only problem I have is I have no idea how to now attatch the fondant wired flowers to the top (hygrangeas and roses) as with a fondant covered cake you just stick a flower pcik in it?
Any ideas?
Thanks
Jemma says:
Dec 5, 2010
Hiya Louise,
Can you please advise me- i am trying to make gumpaste from fondant- can you please advise me how to do this using tylo powder ?
Many Thanks
Nadia says:
Nov 10, 2010
Hi I am from South Africa and was wondering where I could get this baking kit from.Anyway love your website.
Jenny says:
Oct 6, 2010
Hi Louise, just stumbled across your site, it’s amazing. I am trying to make a sugar Christmas decoration. Every year instead of gifts my husband and I make each other a Christmas decoration out of the material for the corresponding wedding anniversary, paper, leather, cotton etc. This year it is sugar. I was just wondering how long they would last. We don’t ever want to eat them but really don’t want them to go mouldy as we want to hang them on the tree every year. Any ideas for a sugar receipe that will last? Really appreciate your help x x
Diana Viera says:
Sep 30, 2010
Hi Louise ~ I’m so glad you referenced this tutorial again. It truly is a beautiful rose:D
Louise says:
Sep 29, 2010
Ayla: If you use gumpaste when making the rose. The petals will hold up the shape.
Debs: I would place them in flower picks or in drinking straws that have been filled with RI. If the cake is a firm cake it will hold the roses better if they are big and cascading down the side of the cake.
Annie: It depends on what type of cutters you are looking for. But a set of rose petals, rose leaf and a mix of small 5 petal cutters is good to start out with.
Rosie: If they are on wires you can put them into drinking straws that are filled with royal icing.
Rosie says:
Aug 13, 2010
Hello, great tutorial. Just wondering if anyone has any tips on attaching the roses to a three tiered weding cake? I’ve made nice big blooms for my best friends wedding cake, but am worried they might fall off the cake. I was going to use royal icing to “glue” them on, but is this a fool proof method?
Annie says:
Aug 4, 2010
Hi!
I love your website and I am hoping to start making gum paste decorations soon. I was wondering if you’d have recommendations for a good cutter starter kit?
mahalakshmi says:
Jul 27, 2010
ur works r superb dear
Debs says:
Jul 25, 2010
Hi, this is a fab site. One question though – how do you attach these to the cake and can you put them in a cascade down the sides or will they be too heavy? Thanks.
Ayla says:
Jul 9, 2010
Hi, how do you stop the fondant / gum paste from getting warm & drooping when putting on the petals?
Ayla says:
Jul 3, 2010
You are an amazing artist. Thanks for sharing your talents
Cindy says:
Jun 26, 2010
Great tutorial. Love the photos- they really help alot!
Kay says:
May 30, 2010
Hi Louise, I absolutely love that rose! I have just start sugar craft as a hobby and found your rose tutorial the easiest to follow! I hope my roses can get as good as yours one day, thank you for the tutorial!
Louise says:
May 24, 2010
Nancy: To make them bigger you need to use both a larger cone and petals.
Nancy says:
May 19, 2010
Hi Louise!!! Thanks so much for your tips!!! I need to make a Wedding cake for a friend and she wants me to make really big fondant roses… any advice you could give me would be wonderful. Thanks again!!!
colleen says:
May 15, 2010
love this site, easy to follow.
reka says:
Apr 23, 2010
wow cool cake making….do you sell them if yes how do we buy it??
Cathy says:
Apr 20, 2010
What’s this technique called?
mina says:
Mar 15, 2010
This is lovely, thanks for the great tips
gengen says:
Feb 14, 2010
Luvin it!! wish there was a fave’s button so we could save our favorites here hehe.. beautiful roses, love the spoon method
Louise says:
Feb 13, 2010
Cathy & Somara: The leaf veiner that you can see on the photo I cant remember the name of. If you want a really great leaf veiner then I can recomend this one: http://www.globalsugarart.com/product.php?id=19025&name=Classic%20D/S%20Multi%20Purpose%20Veiner%20(SV-001)%20by%20Sunflower%20Sugar%20Art
You can see it used here:http://www.cakejournal.com/archives/how-to-make-gum-paste-strawberries
somara says:
Feb 11, 2010
I was wondering about the brand of leaf veiner as well.
Cathy says:
Feb 8, 2010
Hi Louise,
i was just wondering what brand is your leaf veiner?
thanks!
Louise says:
Sep 6, 2009
mette: just store your sugar flowers in a box out of sunlight. Dont store in the fridge.
suzanne: Well you could start with the tutorials that I have on my site. Look for cake decorating classes in your area and buy 1-2 books about cake decorating. You can also find many great sources online.
suzanne says:
Sep 5, 2009
I like you site.I would love to learn how to make sugar roses.Also I want to take a course in cake decorating.where and how do I get started to learn to make roses and other flowers.I love baking and would like to learn how to decorate.
mette says:
Sep 4, 2009
Hey Louise
Do you keep the air tight box with the flowers in the fridge? ( i use fondant with tylo powder, but i dont know how to store them..)
Maggie says:
Aug 24, 2009
brill got a idea,i could not find a book but this is good
MAUREEN says:
Jul 24, 2009
I just started playing around with gumpaste and by watching several videos a few times I made my first 12 roses. thank you for your tutorial because I now see the problem I was having with the calex.
your tutorial is extremely helpful
Louise says:
Jul 19, 2009
sarah: Do you mean my Easter ebook? That can be purchased here on the site. Please look here http://www.cakejournal.com/ebook-store
sarah says:
Jul 3, 2009
hi louise,
really easy to follow tutorial, would like to get your book i live in the uk and would like to know where to purchase it from, please could you help? i am making my own wedding cake and have been looking for a website that gives you step by step intsructions and couldn’t find any till now, thank you again!
Leah says:
Jun 23, 2009
baha: if you steam the fondant when you are finished with like a hand held steamer, it’ll make the fondant shiny.
Louise says:
Jun 22, 2009
baha: no I dont use any oil but now and then if the fondant is a bit dry I knead in a little bit of crisco
quinn says:
Jun 16, 2009
hi there u are an awesome cook
hope to make this soon
baha says:
Jun 15, 2009
Louise do You oil the flowers? What can i do to make fondat more shiny?
Louise says:
Jun 11, 2009
Clarissa: Well im just working on a flower kit together with one of my sponsors…..
Clarissa says:
Jun 10, 2009
Louise, I love those flowers. I really want to learn how to make them. I am a beginner though. Is there a starter kit that you can buy with all of these items in it?
Louise says:
Jun 4, 2009
baha: Well you can buy tylo powder from the UK to ok prices though. But I remember that once on wrote to me about using a “dental fix powder” (for fake teeth) because it have a gum agent in the powder. Try and look for it at your drugstore/pharmacy? If you are not going to eat the flowers anyway their should not be any problems.
baha says:
May 31, 2009
Louise thank You very much:) unfortunatelly I can’t find the tylo powder here
Can I use something else instead???
Louise says:
May 30, 2009
baha: well when using gum paste or tylo powder with your fondant it harden up the flowers so it is not nice to eat. But it will hold the shape of the flowers so nicely.
If you only add a little amount of tylo powder or mix a little gum paste with your normal fondant you can make flowers there dont get as hard as the ones with a lot of tylo or gum paste. note that when making roses you want to make sure that the petals holds their shape. this will be more difficult if not using gum paste/tylo powder.
Pls write if you still have more questions. Thank you!
Louise says:
May 30, 2009
Anonymous: I like to use tylo cmc powder to make gum paste. There are many good gum paste recipes on Google.
Traci: you have to go to the other post: How to make gum paste roses to find the video tutorial by Fran.
baha says:
May 30, 2009
Hi, I just love Your website. I’m from Poland and we havent got such things as tylo powder for example. So i have a question, Is this gumpaste eatable?
i will be very very happy if You answer me, because i have read a lot about it but i can’t find the answer for my question. Sorry for my english
Jo
Traci says:
May 23, 2009
Can you please tell me where i can find your video of how to make the roses, saw it but dont know where it went. Thank you
Anonymous says:
May 22, 2009
Hi louise, your website is fantastic and i’m inspired to learn about baking (i’m a beginner!!) I had no idea you could do so much with sugar!! I would like to ask what the best ingrediants are for gum paste, and other ways suitable for making sugar flowers. Unfortunately i’m having no luck in making flowers and roses that look nice. Thanks
Louise says:
May 18, 2009
jean: To tell you the truth, it has always been a little confusing with all the different pastes that you can get. I have never tried mexican paste or maybe I have not sure really. But when searching for mexican paste is says that its a modelling paste that dries up hard so thats why its great for larger items.
jean says:
May 16, 2009
Hi Louise Take it my email to long winded can you tell me what Maxican paste is & used for thanks brill web site
jean says:
May 16, 2009
hi Louise, your web site is Great, and very informative. Was just searching the web to find out, how much tylo powder is needed to be added to sugar paste to make a larger rose & found your web page & you answered my question from the information you had there, brilliant. So you maybe the person to tell me what is & what do you use Mexican Paste for. Many thanks jean ( From England )
Louise says:
May 14, 2009
Kat: You can get the equipments from http://www.confectionerswares.com or http://www.globalsugarart.com
kat says:
May 11, 2009
hi there, thank you for that.
i do know where i can buy the kit from please tell me where i can buy it from.
thank you.
ayang19 says:
Apr 15, 2009
thks louise…u r such a great help…really apprieciate it.. i lov ur bunny marshmallow too..
Louise says:
Apr 12, 2009
ayang19: Its because you need to add either Gumtex or tylo powder to the rolled fondant. Otherwise it will be sticky and it will not dry properly or harden.
When it says ready to use it is meant for covering cakes with. If you dont have gumtex or tylo powder you should be looking for ready made gumpaste this is to make flowers out of.
ayang19 says:
Apr 10, 2009
hi Louise…i try making rose frm rolled fondant which i bought ready made..i found out tat my fondant tend to become sticky while drying up the rose…where did i go wrong? cos the packaging state ready to use n didnt state any other instruction.. can u pls help me…?
Louise says:
Mar 2, 2009
Kosiette: Look for “rose petal cutter sets” from either: FMM or Tinkertech two.
http://www.globalsugarart.com/search.php?search=rose+petal+cutters
Kosiette says:
Mar 1, 2009
hi Louise. im trying to buy the petal cutters that you have and used here. can u tell me what sizes you bought. thank you
Louise says:
Feb 3, 2009
Lana: Try this one http://www.nicholaslodge.com/gumpaste.htm its from one of the sugarcraft masters.
Carleen: I have a flower that has been made ages agoe ang it still looks fine. But yes most people have difficulties throwing out the decorations.
holly: this is a dogbone tool:http://www.globalsugarart.com/product.php?id=17237
sian: Thank you
sian says:
Feb 1, 2009
i love your site, i’m learning to make flowers, very helpful thankyou. from england
holly says:
Jan 31, 2009
may you please tell me what a dogbone tool is. im new at the cake bisness and i just cant figure it out.
Carleen says:
Jan 28, 2009
Louise, I agree it does go very hard, but if it went on a wedding cake the bride could keep it for a long time, obviously the colour will fade but it will last for years. Customers always say, its too pretty to eat!
Lana says:
Jan 25, 2009
please could you tell me the easiest and most efficent way of making flower paste. Many thanks Lana (from england)
Louise says:
Jan 21, 2009
Mirasol:
Miasol says:
Jan 20, 2009
love all of the great tips!!!!a million thanks from California!
Louise says:
Dec 26, 2008
Laypeng: you can get tools from sugarcraft supply stores online.
laypeng says:
Dec 22, 2008
where do i get those ingredients/tool for making a sugar flower? Thank you!
Homemade cakes says:
Dec 15, 2008
Nice post i like it, Keep it up
Find more about handmade cakes at http://www.morefood.co.uk/cake-details.html
hanny says:
Dec 10, 2008
thank you……….
Louise says:
Oct 19, 2008
Cute_Lily:
) glad to hear that….
Cute_Lily says:
Oct 18, 2008
lou…u’re really helping us a lot…
thank u verrryyyyy muuccchhhh….
Louise says:
Sep 16, 2008
anita bradley: Great to hear that Anita.
anita bradley says:
Sep 10, 2008
If i need help i know where to come, and step by step instructions really help.
thanks
anita
Louise says:
Jul 12, 2008
Emma Doll: It may look harder than it is… But it is not very difficult to make the smaller roses:-)
Emma Doll says:
Jul 9, 2008
WOW! that looks hard! well i was just looking on the internet and i looked it up it looks beautiful and tasty. i bet they leave a good touch on the cake. well hope you have fun time making them every one! !i love cooking!
Louise says:
Jun 30, 2008
Thersa: Try this recipe for gumpaste/flower paste from Nicholas Lodge:
http://www.nicholaslodge.com/gumpaste.htm
Thanks.
Bonnie says:
Jun 30, 2008
hi i love the sugar roses…………..they do a really great finish on a cake
Theresa says:
Jun 29, 2008
Hi Louise.. great tutorial.. I was wondering how do you make the flower paste / sugar paste ? do you have a recipe or know where I can find one.. this would be such a great help.. your gallery is awesome.. I love your work .. you are very talented.. you fairy is adorable as well as the turtles.. Love it just Love it.. Thank you again for everything..
Louise says:
May 3, 2008
Geraldine. No I am sorry I have not made that yet. But I found this one from Wilton http://www.wilton.com/decorating/basic/callalilly.cfm
Geraldine says:
May 2, 2008
hi, cant wait to try out the rose,, do you have a tutorial on making a calla lilly?
Louise says:
Apr 25, 2008
efe: I am glad that you like it.
efe says:
Apr 22, 2008
am really grateful for the tutorial,am crazy about sugar petals,thanks alot
Louise says:
Dec 15, 2007
It depend on how many you are going to use. I make mine 1-2 weeks before. They dry up and can be a bit hard to chew on. I would not keep them longer than 6 month if they are going on cakes ect.
Meredith says:
Dec 15, 2007
How long prior to an event (e.g. wedding) should the sugar paste roses be made? How long do they “last”?
Louise says:
Sep 11, 2007
Thank you handmaiden.
handmaiden says:
Sep 9, 2007
I really like the spoon method. Thank you!I really enjoy your tutorials.
Anonymous says:
Jul 17, 2007
FANTASTIC tutorial, thankyou very much.
Louise says:
Jul 11, 2007
I am glad that you are learning
Anonymous says:
Jul 10, 2007
lovely, im learning this