papier de fleur

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PAPER FLOWERS that I make from dyed coffee filters accent this cake for an unusual texture. Paper flowers are a great alternative to sugar flowers, as they are more durable in warm weather and are easy to reuse if decorating a fondant cake.

Alternating different styles of cake tiers makes a modern design feel more fanciful. Here I’ve alternated fondant-covered hexagon tiers with round ones. For an even dreamier feel, paint on a cross-hatch pattern using a fine-tip paintbrush and yellow powder dye mixed with vodka. To play up the whimsical quality, I painted the pattern by hand for an imperfect look. This pattern can be painted on a chilled iced cake, but I prefer to apply it to a fondant-covered cake for a cleaner application.

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To make paper flowers, start with a handful of dry unbleached coffee filters. Mix a few drops of all-natural dye into a large bowl filled halfway with water. Drop a handful of filters into the water and let sit for about 1 minute, then wring out and set aside to dry overnight. Once dry, use a utility knife to cut petals in various sizes and shapes from the colored paper. Carefully layer the petal pieces around a wire, securing them with floral tape. To create a flower center, secure yellow stamens around a piece of wire with floral tape and then continue to layer the petals around the flower center. To create small flowers such as the yellow blossoms on the cake, simply wrap the petals around the wire without a center. Cut out leaves various sizes as well. Once you’ve created enough flowers and leaves, arrange them together in bunches and secure with floral tape.