Edible Images are a great way to add fun and personal elements to your cakes, cookies and cupcakes.  They are especially popular for graduations and birthdays as what grad wouldn’t be excited to see their own face on a graduation treat?!?

Types of Edible Papers

When using edible images, we think it is important to understand the different types of edible papers available. The two most common edible paper types are:

1. Frosting Sheets which are thin layers of icing that come with a plastic backing. Frosting Sheets are the most popular type of edible paper for edible images as they hold color well and they are relatively sturdy.  You can use frosting sheets on buttercream, fondant, chocolate and more.
2. Wafer Paper, which may also be called rice paper, is made from potato starch or rice flour. It is very thin and more delicate, making it suitable for small, intricate decorations like flowers, butterflies, and feathers. However, the print quality may not be as clear as frosting sheets and it can become over saturated with color causing it to wrinkle.

We always print our images on frosting sheets unless a customer specifically requests wafer paper for their print.

Applying Edible Images to Cakes

Edible images can be applied to buttercream, fondant, gum paste, royal icing, chocolate, fudge, whipped cream and even ice cream but we think buttercream, fondant and gum paste work best.  The moisture from the whipped/ice cream may cause your image to sink into your cake and the colors to bleed so you may may want to use a layer of buttercream or fondant between your cake and your image if you are applying your image to a whipped cream or ice cream cake.  Regardless of the surface you are applying your image to, you’ll want to make sure you have a smooth surface as your starting point.

• Applying to Buttercream:
• Your frosting should not be dry or crusted prior to placing the edible image. Remember to make sure the frosting is nice and smooth.
• If your frosting is dry, spray a very fine mist of water on your frosting before applying the image. Too much water will make the colors on your image bleed so make sure to use a very fine mist!
• Remove your edible image from the air-tight bag and gently remove the plastic backing beginning with a corner – do not pull hard on the sheet as the frosting sheet can rip.
• Gently place the image on your fresh, smooth buttercream. Using a fondant smoother or the plastic backing from the edible image, press gently to adhere the image to the icing.
• If the image creases or rips while placing, gently rub the area back together.
• If any of the edges of your image are not adhering to the buttercream, use a food safe brush to carefully apply some edible glue or piping gel to the back of the image.

• Applying to Fondant:
• Brush a very small amount of water on the fondant prior to placing the edible image to ensure it adheres properly. Alternatively, you can brush edible glue or piping gel on the back of the image rather than using water on the fondant.
• If the edible image creases or rips, gently rub it back together.
• If you are applying your images to fondant cupcake toppers, remember that cupcake toppers will need time to dry, so make them 2-3 days in advance. Place the cupcake toppers uncovered face up on wax paper to dry 24 hours in a dark location.  Then turn them over and place on a clean piece of wax paper to dry for another 24 hours.

• Applying to Chocolate:
• Brush a small amount of edible glue on the back of the image prior to placing it on the chocolate.

Storage and Handling Tips

Proper storage of your edible sheets is important to preserve their quality. To ensure your frosting sheets and wafer paper maintain their texture and appearance, follow these simple steps:

• Store the sheets at room-temperature in a dark, dry place, in an air-tight bag or container.  If left out, your sheets will become dry and brittle.
• Do NOT let water come in to contact with the image before or after it’s applied!
• Avoid exposing the sheets to light, as this can cause the colors to fade and the sheets to become brittle.  
• We usually don’t recommend putting your frosting sheets in your refrigerator.  As the condensation may cause the colors on the image to bleed. 
• Stored properly, frosting sheets will be good for several weeks. 

Edible images are a fun and easy way to decorate your treats.  You can use them to apply patterns to the sides of your cake, add custom banners to cupcakes and personalize chocolate covered oreos.   We've had customers decorate their treats with graduation pictures, images of their children's artwork, quotes, song lyrics, photo collages and more.  So use your imagination and start decorating!  

Don't forget to share your creations with us on Instagram!  Tag us @FransCakeSupplies and mention the items used from Fran's to create your edible masterpiece! We can't wait to see what you come up with!