Floral arrangements are not just for house decor, they are adored by the baking and cake decorating world as they are perfect for embellishing an abundance of baked goods. We delve into what each one is, why you would use them, how to maintain and take care of them properly, and more!
Dried flowers are actual flowers that have been dried so their beauty is preserved, allowing you to have them around a lot longer than fresh flowers. They are a great alternative to fresh flowers as you can keep them long after the cake has been enjoyed.
Dried flowers are long-lasting, retaining their shape and arrangement much longer than fresh flowers. They can also be used several times over on your cakes making them amazing value for money. You can use them as a beautiful decoration for your home after their cake decorating life has come to an end too! Dried flowers are also easy to maintain and they require minimal effort. They easily add that "wow factor" to cakes like acrylic cake toppers and chocolate covered styrofoam balls, which is attractive to many bakers and cake decorators alike.
Another highlight with using dried flower arrangements is that they are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Once you're done with them, you can bury them in your garden and they will break down completely and return back to nature. You can't do that with an acrylic topper!
We have nine dried flower arrangements to choose from including (pictured below): Natural Nude, Bridgerton Blue, Starburst Pink, Mardi Gras, Palma Violet, Under The Sea, Dusty Rose, Barbie Girl, and Monochrome Black & White.
These are fantastic for decorating your cakes as they are bold, vibrant and easy-to-use, taking your cake from ordinary to extraordinary.
If stored and cared for correctly, your dried flower arrangement can last between 1-3 years. It is recommended that your dried flower arrangement be kept in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, rain, wind, and any other temperamental weather conditions. The colours will fade in the sun, and when exposed to wet or humid conditions, they'll develop mould on their exterior. Naturally, the colours will fade over time but when they are cared for correctly, you'll be able to use them time and time again.
It goes without saying, but handle your dried flowers with care as they are delicate and elements may break off when mishandled.
The easiest way is to use Cake Pins. You simply choose the sized hole that snugly fits the stems of your arrangement, peel the protective film off the Cake Pin, insert the stems through the hole and then poke the pin into the cake where you want the flowers to go. Bob's your uncle, job done!
You can use fresh flowers if you're after a fresh, vibrant look. They are also soft and delicate which adds to the appeal. Fresh flowers are very popular with naked cakes that feature predominantly in romantic weddings and elegant birthday celebrations. They have the ability to elevate the overall aesthetic of your cake, taking it to the next level. They also smell great (depending on the flowers you decide to go with!) which is an aspect that a dried flower arrangement does not have.
There are a few ways that you can attach flowers to your cakes, and it depends on where you'd like the flowers to be. It is important that the stems of flowers are not inserted directly into the cake without having a food safe covering over them in some way. A lot of people use flower tape to cover the stems, which is great as a first step, but as flower tape isn't considered food safe, you need something else over the stems too.
Cake picks - These will enable you to put the flowers directly into the cake by inserting the stem of the flower into the pick, and then the pick into the cake. These are only really suitable for one or two stems at a time.
Dipping stems in chocolate - If you have a lot of flowers to arrange onto your cake, then this way might be the easiest! Simply melt some compound chocolate and then dip each stem into it and wait for it to harden. Dip at least twice for a good barrier. Once the chocolate has hardened thorough, you can insert them into the cake where you wish!
You can also wire your flowers with Flower Wire for extra stability. The best way to use flower wire is to poke one end into the solid centre of the flower, and wind the wire around the stem going down from there. Doing this allows you to be able to bend and manipulate your flowers for the ability to place them any which way you desire. Once they have been wired, you can wrap in flower tape and dip in chocolate as you would any un-wired flowers.
If you want your flowers more on the side of a cake (much like the dried flower arrangement above!) Cake Pins and Cake Hooks are what you need. These ingenious things are easy to use, food safe and help give a modern look to your cakes.
If you refrigerate your cake with the fresh flowers added onto it then you'll be looking at between 6 to 8 hours. Otherwise, they will last 2 to 3 hours roughly once they've been inserted into your cake as they require water to prevent them from wilting. It is always recommended to place your flowers onto your cake right before you intend to serve it or have it on display to retain the quality and shape of your fresh flower arrangement.
Having said all of that, a variety of different factors play a part in the preservation of your fresh flowers including the temperature, how long they've been without water, and how well you've cared for them. You should take these into account.
For storage of fresh flowers prior to decoration, treat them as you would any other flowers. Keep them in fresh, clean water and in an area with good air flow, as they require oxygen to thrive. If you are buying closed or partially closed flower buds and require them to open up more before decorating, place them somewhere where they will get a good deal of sunlight.
Once you have used the flowers on a cake, they will not last long, and most people opt to dispose of them. If you would like to keep them, ensure they are cleaned off thoroughly, (and stripped of tape/chocolate and any flower wire) and place them in a vase with fresh, clean water. Depending on how fresh the flowers still are, you may get a few more days out of them.
No, not all. We have collated a list of flowers you can use and what not to use below:
Edible flowers: sunflower, hibiscus, lilac, calendula (marigold), begonia, fuchsia, elderflower, primrose, carnations, viola, pansies, dahlia, borage, carnations, english daisy, gladiolus, lavender
Non-edible flowers safe for decoration: chrysanthemum, hibiscus, chamomile, rose, cornflower, marigold, gerbera daisy, freesia, day lily, peony, gardenia
Flowers to avoid: hydrangea, aquilegia, foxglove, bluebell, daffodil, lily-of-the-valley, azalea, buttercups, poppies, rhododendron, oleander, adonis, anthurium, blood root, frangipani, wisteria, iris
Please note that the petals of the edible flowers are what are safe to eat. Some flowers listed may be safe to eat as a whole and so we recommend researching your choice of flower or talking with a florist who is qualified to provide advice. Or use your fresh flowers purely for decorative purposes only.
Be wary of using flowers where you do not know if they're 100% organic. Many flowers contain pesticides which make them toxic and unfit for human consumption. If in doubt, consult a person/s who specialise in fresh flower arrangements for cakes and baked goods. Or opt for a dried flower arrangement.