Can you actually paint on buttercream?
You might be thinking that you can only paint on fondant covered cakes, but that’s just not true.
It’s absolutely possible to paint on buttercream. The key is to start with a cold cake! Cold buttercream is firm enough to paint on without messing up the surface. Chill your buttercream frosted cake for at least one hour to make sure the frosting is completely firm. If the buttercream starts to soften as you paint, take a break and put it back in the fridge until it hardens again.
Tools
I use a simple plastic artist’s palette to hold and mix my paints. I also have a set of regular paint brushes that I use only for food. You can buy these items at the craft store, but I would recommend avoiding the super cheap brushes, as they tend to shed bristles.
Paints
In the video below I talk specifically about using Edible Art Paints vs. making your own “paints” with gel food coloring and alcohol. There are pros and cons with each type of paint.
If you watch the video you can get a good idea of the consistency and coverage provided by each type of paint.
Painted Cake with Edible Art Paints
Edible Art Paints can be purchased online via https://sweetsticks.com.au/ , or if you’re lucky you may be able to find them at a cake supply store near you.
Painted Cake with DIY Gel Color “Paints”
You can make your own “paint” by mixing a drop of gel food coloring with a high-proof, flavorless alcohol. The alcohol helps thin the gel to a paintable consistency, but eventually evaporates from your cake.
I typically like to use Americolor brand gel coloring but any brand would work.
Pros and Cons of Each Type of Paint
Edible arts paints
Pros:
- Ready to use straight from the bottle.
- Excellent coverage, so you don’t need a lot of paint.
- Ability to layer colors.
- Colors appear true to what’s displayed on the bottle.
- Dries with a consistent finish.
Cons:
- Not a widely available as gel food coloring, depending on where you live.
- Can be more expensive.
DIY gel color paints
Pros:
- Easier to find ingredients.
- Generally less expensive.
Cons:
- Has to be mixed
- More translucent, gives less coverage
- Can’t layer lighter colors over darker colors
- Colors may appear different than the bottle.
- Dries with a tacky/ splotchy finish.
So overall, the DIY gel color paints are a good option if you are only painting small areas or don’t plan to do a lot of cake painting. However, if you want o paint something more complex or you plan to do a lot of cake painting, the Edible Art paints are a great investment because they are easier to use and create a better looking finish with less product.
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