To make edible wafer paper tropical leaves like Monsteras and Elephant Ears, you need to get a solid dark green color, which can be difficult.
I came up with a multi-layered coloring process that’s messy, but gives a good result.
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Here’s the video of the process, then read on for my tips:
Shop for materials to make wafer paper flowers on Amazon:
- Wafer paper, white or colored
- Silicone flower center molds
- Petal veiners
- Petal dust
- Floral wire
- Tylose glue
- Fluffy paintbrushes
- Flower former
- Craft scissors
- Liquid Food Coloring
- Food-grade glycerin to make wafer paper conditioner
- Corn starch
- Flower paper punches
- Steamer to shape wafer paper
Tips for making edible tropical leaves for cake decorating:
- This is a messy process, be prepared.
- Using a tinted conditioner will give you a little color to start with.
- Using wafer card is a good idea because it will hold up better than regular wafer paper.
- A dark green candy color food coloring that’s oil-based will give you a good deep base color that won’t melt the paper.
- Let each color dry out a little before applying the next layer, unless you’re using a wet color then alternating with a dry color. That will allow the wafer paper to dry out faster.
- Don’t try to cut the paper if it’s really soft, let it set up a little to keep the leaf from melting!
- Dusting with a deep forest green petal dust on top of the oil-based color sets the liquid color and fills in any gaps in the color, but it gives the leaf a matte finish. For a shinier surface, stop after the oil-based color.
- You can also try applying some corn syrup to the surface of the leaf to give it a little gloss, but wait until it’s dry to do that. It will make the leaf stiff when it dries.
- Use these as a filler in arrangements on jungle-themed cakes, or make some large unwired leaves as a focal point for a tropical luau cake.
