Attaching Ribbon To A Cake

by Rhonda Adams
(Lakewood Colorado)

What is the best way to attach ribbon to cake?

Answer:To attach a ribbon to a cake, fondant or buttercream, use a double-sided satin ribbon, that has been backed with a non absorbent paper such as waxed or contact paper. Or try a textured ribbon as in the photo above.(The snowflake cake in the photo above did not need the waxed paper. The textured ribbon did not show any signs of absorbing moisture or grease and was much easier to work with.)

For satin ribbon-Iron the back with waxed paper before attaching. To glue the ribbon use small dabs of royal icing (for a fondant cake). You may need to attach the ribbon a few inches at a time.

For buttercream icing it is a little trickier as the frosting is greasy. You will have to make sure that you don't get any on the outside surface of the ribbon. Use the same method of ironing waxed paper onto the back of the ribbon before applying it to the cake. Put the seam at the back and attach the ends with royal icing. You may have to cover that spot with a flower or decoration of some kind.

The example above is a fondant cake with a textured weaved ribbon that I purchased at Joannes Fabrics sewing store.

Another option is a fondant ribbon. The fondant ribbon is easier to use then a fabric one. You can use it with BC or a fondant cake and it will mold a little to the cake as well.

Hope that answers your "attaching ribbon to a cake" question.

What kind of ribbon to you put around a cake?

I need to put a ribbon around the base of a cake, however, I would think that it would get grease spots on it rather quickly. 1. What kind of ribbon do you use? 2. Does the icing have to be fondant? 3. Do you put the ribbon on after delivering the cake to the reception.

Here are two posts that answers your question attaching ribbon to a cake and attaching a ribbon to buttercream.

The first post is more detailed and talks about ribbon on fondant and buttercream. The second one deals more with buttercream. If using buttercream put your ribbon on when the cake is cold. You don't have to wait until you get to the reception.
Hope that helps you out..

Attaching a ribbon to buttercream.

by Michele Owen
(Ohio)

Hi Lorelie,
I saw a discussion about attaching ribbon to a cake using a wax paper backing so it doesn't
bleed onto the buttercream. Should I place a towel on the ribbon before ironing it to the wax paper and will the wax alone adhere to it? could I back it with wafer paper and piping gel instead?
Thanks,
Michele

Hi Michele,
Yes you can use a thin towel between the iron and the ribbon if you are worried about the iron ruining the ribbon, but I don't think it's necessary. The waxed paper will stick to the ribbon and acts as a waterproofing and grease resistance from the oil in the butter cream. The oils will bleed through the ribbon and make it look blotchy otherwise.

I have not tried wafer paper, but i think even piping gel is too risky to use as a glue between the wafer paper and the ribbon. Hope that helps you out.

Lorelie


Thank you Lorelie,
I am so pleased I found your site!
Michele

Your welcome
by: Lorelie

You are so welcome. I am glad you found my site too. :-) Good luck and happy baking and cake decorating.

Ribbon on Cakes
by: Yani

Very useful advice as I would luv to use more ribbon on my cakes and didn't want to risk the greasy look effect..thank you Lorelie & fellow cake decorators*