Edible Images Instructions

Before You Start

 

Images are printed on an actual layer of icing. The icing is held together by a backing sheet that you will remove before applying the image to your dessert. Keep your frosting sheet in its original sealed bag until you are ready to use. They do not need refrigeration! Keep the image at room temperature, out of any direct light. Shelf life of the frosting sheet is 12 months. Our frosting sheets are dairy-, gluten-, and nut-free and FDA-compliant. The sheet only has 1 (one) plastic backing. Once this backing is removed, your topper is ready to apply. 

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Uses for Frosting Sheets

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Fondant - Using a brush, apply water to the area where you will place your image. Water outside the image area will leave a mark on your fondant. 

Cookies - There are several ways to adhere edible images/decals to the cookies. You can use edible glue, Regular icing, frosting, royal icing, or corn syrup thinned with a little water to adhere the image to most cookies. 

Oreo Cookies - Apply corn syrup thinned with a bit of water to the chocolate cookie and place the edible image on top. 

Hard Candy Lollipops - Lightly coat the lollipop with corn syrup thinned with a little water, and apply the image on top. 

Buttercream - Frosting sheets are best when placed on a buttercream-type frosting. Apply the edible image as close to serving time as possible.

Whipped Cream - Because of its high water content, you should apply the edible image as close to serving time as possible. Any type of frosting with very high moisture content tends to cause bleeding and melting. A thin coating of buttercream can be applied where the image will be placed to prevent bleeding/fading.

Royal Icing - Add a generous mist of water over royal icing before applying the Edible Image                               

Rolled Fondant / Sugar Paste - Apply fondant or sugar paste as directed. Plan where you will lay the Edible Image. Then, with a small paintbrush, apply a generous coat of plain water only where your image will lie, and then apply your image to this area. Water outside the image area will leave a mark on your fondant. If you do not use enough water, your image will not adhere. Corners and edges can be tapped down with a very small, slightly moist paintbrush.       Chocolate / Ganache / Baker’s Coatings / Poured Fondants - To apply Edible Image to any poured icing products, simply pour your icing over your product. Then apply the image while the icing is still wet. Be sure to let your product sit on a flat surface so the image will not slide.

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When To Apply Edible Images 

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If you are using buttercream or any other harder frosting, the image can be placed on at your convenience, but not more than 48 hours prior to the event. Depending on how wet your frosting is, the image may begin to fade due to excessive moisture. If you are concerned about fading, place the image on the cake within an hour of the event. Tip: DO NOT let the water come into contact with the edible image before or after it is on the cake. The edible ink from the printed image will bleed. Also, the sheet will melt, ruining the print. 

NOTE: Images are best applied to light colored icing. Keep in mind that your decal is made from very thin icing, so dark colors may show through your design. In this case, we would suggest putting the image on a thin piece of fondant, then onto the cake.

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How To Apply Edible Images 

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Release the image from the backing sheet, simply hold the corners (image facing up), and roll across the sharp edge of a tabletop, slowly working in from all sides toward the center. Ensure the icing is still moist or sticky. It is this moisture in the icing that will ensure the image blends with the cake. If it becomes dry, apply a very fine mist of water over it before applying your printed frosting sheet, which will help the frosting sheet stick to the cake. With clean, dry hands, lay the edible image sheet on top of your cake by holding the ends and gently applying it from the middle outward. Gently smooth out the edible image and pat it down to ensure there are no air bubbles underneath the sheet. Air bubbles may distort the image. Leave the edible sheet on the food for about 20 to 30 minutes. This will help the edible image be absorbed into the food and become part of it. 

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Trick If the Plastic Backing Does Not Peel Off 

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Sometimes, the plastic backing does not peel off easily due to factors like humidity and atmospheric temperature that slow down the drying of the edible ink and the sheet to the right threshold. Climatic conditions vary from place to place, so there is no single formula to work everywhere. To peel your icing sheet off the backing, you need to remove the moisture/humidity from the icing. Applying one of the below tips can solve the problem. 

1. Put the printed sheet in the ziplock bag and place the sheet in a DRY freezer for about 10 to 15 seconds, the humidity within a freezer is generally very low, and with the cold temperature the icing will harden up very quickly. Make sure the freezer is a dry one, not a wet freezer, take out the sheet, and then remove the backing immediately. 

2. Place the frosting sheet in an oven at a low temperature for about 1-2 minutes, or lay the sheet on a warm pan for a minute or two. You may also make use of a Salton “TYPE” hot tray at low heat to dry the icing sheet. 3. Use a blower-type hairdryer (or any other hot air supply) on the reverse side of the backing sheet on high heat for 30-40 seconds. After heating the backing sheet, let it cool down before attempting to remove the icing (the cooling process allows the icing sheet to stiffen). This method is highly reliable and should resolve your release issues. 

4. Leaving the frosting sheet in an air-conditioned area also helps 

5. Pull the backing sheet over the sharp edge of a tabletop a couple of times. This technique will help to pop the image off the backing sheet 

6. Note: The only reason that makes the backing stick with the frosting sheet is the underlying moisture caused by edible ink usage or atmospheric factors. All the above steps are aimed at reducing the humidity or moisture. 7. Removal of backing from frosting sheets with a complicated edible design that consumes much ink may take more effort, as the wet ink may take more time to dry out. You may need to repeat a step several times for a satisfactory release. 

8. If the relative humidity in the atmosphere is high depending on the season, you should not keep the frosting sheet in the open for long after removing it from the ZipLock bag. It may absorb additional moisture from the atmosphere.

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Storage 
 

DO NOT REFRIGERATE. This may dry out the icing sheets and cause them to crack. Simply keep the frosting sheets stored flat in its original packing or sealed tightly inside a ziplock bag at a cool and dry place. Keep out of direct light. Exposure to heat and light may affect the quality of your print. These sheets come with a shelf life of 12 months. The printed icing sheet will last at least 6 months if stored correctly. Over time, you may find the color deepens and the sheets become slightly firmer.