You see a lot of gold leaf on high end desserts and cakes, but did you know it's actually quite simple to use and anyone can purchase it? Let us guide you through the types of edible gold leaf available and how to use them!
Gold leaf is made using 100% food safe pure gold that has been hammered down into super-duper thin sheets. This is broken down enough that the gold leaf is "biologically inert" meaning it will pass through your system the same way it goes in... kind of like non toxic glitters do.
From us!! Our range of edible gold leaf is sourced in Australia and is food grade! We stock a large range of gold leaves perfect for all types of decorating. We have transfer sheets, loose leaf sheets and pots-o-gold/flakes. We have a range of 24K (Antique Gold), 23K (Modern Gold), 21K (Champagne Gold) and also Silver Leaf. Unfortunately, rose gold leaf is not available as it is made using copper which is unsafe for consumption. Be careful when shopping for your gold leaf as there are impersonating golds on the market (we will explain more about this soon)
Shop gold leaf here: https://www.lollipopcakesupplies.com.au/products/gold-leaf-silver-leaf
Transfer sheets come with the gold attached to a white backing sheet, which makes it a lot easier to move the gold around without it blowing away. You can easily manoeuvre and use transfer sheets to cover your fondant cakes or cookies. Simply add a small amount of water to your fondant cake/cookie and place the transfer sheet on making sure it's covering the whole thing. You can use the transfer sheets to completely cover a cake or just add elements to your cakes - some people prefer to use loose leaf for details.
Loose leaf is exactly that - it's loose. You do have to be very careful when opening and using these gold loose leaf sheets are they are very delicate and sensitive to the wind/elements. So if you're using this in the aircon or with the ceiling fan on - then you may want to turn it off ;) This stuff is not cheap so you don't want it to be blowing away! Loose leaf is best for adding small elements to your cakes, cookies and desserts. It is very featherlike so you will need to be extra careful handling the loose leaf, we recommend using tweezers or a fluffy paint brush.
Pots-o-gold/flakes are two sheets of loose leaf crumpled into a pot. These can be used to tear off little bits to add to your desserts and cakes as you wish. This is a great option if you only need a little bit of gold for your desserts or cakes. Again, these are delicate and can blow away easily, so use with caution! Tweezers or a fluffy paint brush is best when handling.
Ahhh.. one of the many comments we see: but why did my gold leaf turn green? If your gold leaf has turned green or tarnished this is because it is not pure gold. Unfortunately, there are cheaper gold leaf options on the market however these are not made with pure gold - just the "colour" gold (E175). When purchasing your gold leaf, you want to make sure the one you are buying is pure gold to avoid any tarnishing on your bakes - let's be real... it doesn't look good! Pure gold is more expensive as it is, well... made from pure GOLD. Cheaper isn't always better in this case! ;) So keep your eyes peeled for impersonators on the market.
Silver leaf is made using pure silver, again that has been hammered down into super thin sheets. This also classes it as "biologically inert" meaning it too will pass through your system the same way it goes in. Silver leaf is cheaper than gold leaf as silver costs less than gold ;) Yes, just like jewellery! However in saying that, it still looks just as impressive on your creations!
Using and purchasing gold leaf isn't scary once you learn the differences between them all and how to use them! Want to learn more on how to use edible gold leaf? Check out our step by step guide over on Youtube