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!
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Shini
This is a great idea Ashlee, didn’t think to do this without an airbrush tool! So effective! Happy New Year xx
Ashlee
huh? how would you get this dull powdery look with an airbrush gun?
Diane Bush
Beautiful! 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
very fun!
Margie
Diane Bush, was the effect similar to the cake Ashlee did, only in white?
Donna
Why not powdered sugar instead of cornstarch? Must taste better with sugar
Ashlee Marie
powdered sugar will get sticky
Dee
I 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
me too! can’t wait to play with it for a bit
cakewhiz
This 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
agreed, I’ve also used non perils over fondant for a soft look too, but this powdery look is luscious!
Satin Ice
Would love to see a tutorial on quilling…
Ashlee
ohhh that would be really pretty! I’ll add that to my list of ideas!
Leia @ Eat It & Say Yum
Wow, 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
Thank you so much! you should totally try it!
Jasmine
Could 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
totally! it’s probaby more suede than velvet, where were you when I was trying to come up with a name??? 😉
Cynthia
Just 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
thank you so much! I’m looking to expand my classes so I’ll let you know when I do!
Toni
Beautiful, and now we know how to do the suede look, without using a spray. Fantastic and simple! XO
Ashlee
you are so welcome! I’d never used a spray for this technique, I’ll have to search for it!
Toni
Hi Ashlee, would you use XXX Sugar to make a white fondant cake look like suede?
Ashlee
I’m not sure what xxx sugar is, and i’m nervous to google it? I’d just use powdered sugar.
Sheila Sanchez
Just 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
thank you so much!
Aisha
This is great!! Just wondering…How do you move the cake tier without damaging the “suede” effect?
Ashlee
I 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
It’s pretty and all, but how’s the taste? Cocoa Powder is down nasty stuff.
Ashlee
1. 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
you’re a genius. 😀
Cream and Cocoa
Such a great idea!
Sue
I was wondering if I use coloured powdered sugar, finish decorating and store in fridge before transporting, do you think the changes in temperature from chilled to room temp will affect the design? I’m worried about condensation on the fondant.
Ashlee Marie
don’t refrigerate cakes – it will dry them out, fondant doesn’t need it
Ashley
This 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
Do you think you could do this with moulding chocolate instead of fondant?
Jackie
I love this idea. How would you do it in different colours?
Ashlee Marie
I’d use colored powdered sugar mixed with a little cornstarch https://ashleemarie.com/three-ways-color-powdered-sugar/