Make a gum paste bow
Elegant Present Cake
Make your bow using gum paste and a few simple steps.
The perfect cake topper for any occasion! First, it is important to gather the materials you will need. Start with Gum paste in any color you want (or color white gum paste yourself!). Alternatively, you could use a mix of fondant and tylose powder which makes fondant harden like gum paste. You will also want to grab a rolling pin and a knife! I chose to use pink gum paste for this project!
How to make a gum paste bow
Start by making the gum paste loops. Roll out the gum paste until your desired thickness is reached (1/8” works well). Make 20 loops of varying sizes (roughly 5 longer loops, 5 of the next size down and so on until you reach your shortest loop length). Allow to dry at least 2-3 hours.
Build your gum paste bow! Trim the edges to a center point, cutting away on each side. Now, flatten a piece of fondant to about 1/4” thickness (not gum paste) and press your second largest loops into them. Add another layer of fondant and then add the next layer of loops, staggering.
Finish your bow! Continue this process, adding discs of fondant, until you reach the top of the bow. You will need to turn the top loops sideways to have a nice three-dimensional loop. Your longest loops are left. Lay the longest loop where you want the bow to go on the side. Top with the remaining finished bow.
Place your bow on your cake!
Now that your bow is finished, you may add to the top of your prepared cake. If you’d like to have a ribbon on the sides of the cake, add this before you place the bow. Cut your fondant or gum paste ribbon the same width as your bow ribbons, or choose a thinner or flatter width based on the style you are going for. Add your bow and you now you have a present cake with a gum paste bow!