You may have been served gold-adorned confections before, but did you know you could create your own?
Browsing through Instagram, it’s likely you’ve seen beautifully gilded desserts with price tags ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Luckily, while buying one of those desserts might make your bank account cry for mercy, you can easily create your own at home using gold leaf sheets. Versatile and beautiful, crafting your dessert using this material is a unique way to add some glitz to your chocolates and sweets.
Pure gold is biologically inert, which means your body won’t absorb or digest it. However, it’s important to only use gold leaf between 22-24 karats since a lesser value means the gold-leaf has more impurities and may be less safe to eat. It also doesn’t have a taste, so it’s all about the visual effect and eating with your eyes.
Because gold leaf is delicate, it’s vital to remember that a gentle touch is required to handle it without tearing or wrinkling. Wearing cotton gloves will ensure your body heat doesn’t melt the paper-thin material before you have a chance to apply it, and being mindful of your breathing will keep you from accidentally wrinkling the leaf or even blowing it away.
HOW TO DECORATE WITH EDIBLE GOLD:
You will need:
- A sheet of edible gold leaf, between 22-24 karats
- Clean cotton gloves
- Clean, dry food paintbrush
- Sharp paring knife or razor
- Truffles or sweets to decorate
How to:
- Cut your desired shape from the sheet using the paring knife or a sharp razor. If needed, hold down the opposite corner with the brush. Try not to use your fingers as the pressure may cause melting or tears.
- Carefully place the piece of gold leaf on the surface of the truffle or sweet using the blade edge. Using the brush, detach the piece of goldleaf from the blade.
- Once the gold leaf is in the desired position, gently pat it down with the brush into a smooth layer. Repeat with pieces until your truffle is decorated to your taste.
Decorating with edible gold leaf is a simple task that requires patience and thoughtfulness. Give yourself time to experiment with shapes and effects. After all, the worst that can happen is you need to eat any less-than-perfect results!
FAMOUS GOLDEN DESSERTS INCLUDE:
Krispy Kreme’s Luxe Doughnut: a treat served with Dom Perignon 2002 champagne jelly, white chocolates dusted with gold, and 24-karat gold leaf.
The Golden Phoenix Cupcake: a chocolate cake served with edible gold dessert and a golden spoon.
The Frrrozen Haute Chocolate: an opulent Guinness World Record dessert with a price tag of $25,000, decorated with 5 grams of 23-karat edible gold.
