Wanted to share an article on cakes…and we wonder why they can get so costly at times! Look at this process and what Ron Ben- Israel says….Article from Brides.com

Famed baker Ron Ben-Israel is well-known for his remarkable use of sugar in creating unique and stunning cakes for weddings and special occasions. In addition to crafting flowers that look life-like from sugar, Ron and his team fabricate custom silicone molds in a myriad of shapes allowing them to add an unlimited number of details to each one. Here Ron explains the process. —Anne Chertoff

Many brides want their wedding cake to resemble their wedding dress in color, formality and sometimes fabric and detail. “Almost any type of lace can be cast into a silicone mold and then into a sugar detail that is applied to the cake,” says Ron who obtains specific swatches from designers. The molding process starts with Ron making a frame of four plexiglass strips held together by clamps. ”The frame is sealed with clay to avoid the liquid silicone from seeping out and the lace is affixed to a work surface with non-toxic clay, so it won’t move during the molding process,” says Ron.

After mixing the silicone compounds Ron has to work quickly. He pours the liquid in a thin stream, a process called needling, gradually covering the lace. The silicone will cure in six hours and will become a flexible rubber. After the liquid silicone sets, the cured mold is flexed and the lace is peeled off. It can now be used many times to recreate the exact replica of the lace. Thin sheets of sugar paste (sugar dough) are rolled and pressed into the mold.

The molded objects can be further enhanced by using edible luster. Here Ron used a mixture of pure gold and silver, which historically have been used in royal courts and signify eternal union and abundance, to add color to the applique. To attach the applique to the cake tiers Ron explains that, “a little sugar-glue adheres the confectionery lace to the cake surface.” Sugar-glue is a diluted version of the sugar paste.