I have been obsessed with chocolate cakes lately! I mean I love a gorgeous white wedding cake, but for our last wedding photoshoot I created the most gorgeous chocolate wedding cake ever. And I can FINALLY share it! Eeek! Here it is! You can get the tutorial for the ombre gumpaste ruffles now too.
I used this same technique on this Fall table centerpiece as well. And I plan on trying in on a traditional white cake as well as on colored cakes soon too! It has so many possibilities and I love how soft it looks.
It’s easy to create and the effect is lush, rich and gorgeous. I tried a few different effects to create this one.
Supplies
Satin Ice dark Chocolate fondant
white fondant
cocoa powder
steamer
blush brush (but one I only use for food)
The dark chocolate fondant is really dark, so I added some of the white with it to lighten it a bit. When your happy with the color cover your cake with it.
Steam the cake to get it tacky, if you don’t have a steamer you can paint it with water, but not too much, you just want it a little wet/tacky, barely damp.
Use the blush brush to dab cocoa powder all over the cake. Brush it around, brushing the excess off. You can have as much or as little as you want on the cake to get the desired effect! I layered some regular and some dark cocoa on to get some depth to the cake.
And Voila! Easy and lovely! Try different chocolate and white fondant mixtures for your base and try cocoa and dark cocoa mixtures as well. So many different looks. I used the different cocoas to create a deeper look, adding the dark over the regular for extra depth.
What do you think? Have you ever created colored powdered sugar? That’s my new quest. Maybe a red for over a red velvet cake? Ohhhh that could be luscious! What color would you try first? Of course the darker the color the hardest it will be achieve.
So it’s been awhile since I’ve done a cake tutorial, but I have plans to do a lot more in 2015! Any techniques you’ve seen lately that you’d like me to teach? Or do you want a full tutorial on any of the cakes I’ve already done? I’d love to hear what you guys are looking for!
Shini
January 3, 2015 at 6:30 pmThis is a great idea Ashlee, didn’t think to do this without an airbrush tool! So effective! Happy New Year xx
Ashlee
February 1, 2015 at 3:08 amhuh? how would you get this dull powdery look with an airbrush gun?
Diane Bush
January 15, 2015 at 8:40 pmBeautiful! I have used corn starch on the white fondant and I love the look!!! Had not thought of trying it on the chocolate. I love it!
Ashlee
February 1, 2015 at 4:03 amvery fun!
Margie
February 15, 2015 at 7:15 pmDiane Bush, was the effect similar to the cake Ashlee did, only in white?
Dee
January 16, 2015 at 8:58 pmI love this idea and I really like the idea of coloring powder sugar or corn starch just to see the effects and different colors ….just wow so go ahead and try it waiting to see the results hope you don’t mind but I will be trying this idea.
Ashlee
February 1, 2015 at 4:04 amme too! can’t wait to play with it for a bit
cakewhiz
January 17, 2015 at 2:28 pmThis is so pretty! I did something similar last christmas with powdered sugar. I just brushed it on with a blush brush. It had a subtle snowy effect and wasn’t as harsh as using shredded coconut.
Ashlee
February 1, 2015 at 4:17 amagreed, I’ve also used non perils over fondant for a soft look too, but this powdery look is luscious!
Satin Ice
February 11, 2015 at 1:52 pmWould love to see a tutorial on quilling…
Ashlee
April 7, 2015 at 8:57 pmohhh that would be really pretty! I’ll add that to my list of ideas!
Leia @ Eat It & Say Yum
February 15, 2015 at 8:02 pmWow, that cake looks so lovely! I’d love to try that technique myself. Beautiful. I’m enjoying perusing your blog, great work! I hope I get to meet you at BYB this week!! 🙂
Ashlee
April 7, 2015 at 9:20 pmThank you so much! you should totally try it!
Jasmine
March 4, 2015 at 4:46 pmCould this pass for a suede look too? It almost looks like it in the pictures. Very cool idea. I haven’t seen this before. Thanks!
Ashlee
April 7, 2015 at 10:46 pmtotally! it’s probaby more suede than velvet, where were you when I was trying to come up with a name??? 😉
Cynthia
March 29, 2015 at 8:31 amJust gorgeous…….love that softened look. Your work is absolutely flawless. I just joined and I know I’m going to learn so much from you and your artistic ability. These are things you don’t learn at a lot of the classes available. Thank you so much for sharing!
Ashlee
April 7, 2015 at 11:38 pmthank you so much! I’m looking to expand my classes so I’ll let you know when I do!
Toni
November 12, 2015 at 4:42 pmBeautiful, and now we know how to do the suede look, without using a spray. Fantastic and simple! XO
Ashlee
November 15, 2015 at 6:29 pmyou are so welcome! I’d never used a spray for this technique, I’ll have to search for it!
Toni
November 12, 2015 at 4:44 pmHi Ashlee, would you use XXX Sugar to make a white fondant cake look like suede?
Ashlee
November 15, 2015 at 6:30 pmI’m not sure what xxx sugar is, and i’m nervous to google it? I’d just use powdered sugar.
Sheila Sanchez
June 9, 2016 at 12:22 pmJust wow. I have seen several cakes in book shapes and wouldn’t that be beautiful as the jacket of a book, even using various colors. Cant wait to see what new tutorials you have. I throughly enjoy all you offer. Blessings to you and your family.
Ashlee
September 19, 2016 at 10:40 pmthank you so much!
Aisha
June 20, 2016 at 2:40 pmThis is great!! Just wondering…How do you move the cake tier without damaging the “suede” effect?
Ashlee
September 19, 2016 at 10:53 pmI just brought some extra cocoa and the brush with me so if I need to do some adjusting on site I can just brush over it. Once it sets, it’s actually not as sensitive.
Nikki
June 20, 2016 at 10:43 pmIt’s pretty and all, but how’s the taste? Cocoa Powder is down nasty stuff.
Ashlee
September 19, 2016 at 10:59 pm1. it’s such a thin layer it hasn’t been a problem for anyone and 2. most adults just peel off the fondant so only kids eat it and kids don’t care 😉
Andrea
September 23, 2016 at 12:58 amyou’re a genius. 😀
Ashley
March 17, 2017 at 4:55 pmThis is beautiful… i never thought of doing suede like this… I would maybe add a sift of powdered sugar over the top of each layer for a more romantic look or winter look even…. or add some rustic/ burlap roses to add a rustic feel… thank you for the awesome Idea!!!
Andrea
April 2, 2017 at 8:39 amDo you think you could do this with moulding chocolate instead of fondant?