Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

Hi there. I am making a handbag cake and applying my sugar paste in panels. Should I emboss before I apply the panels or once they are on the cake? My concerns are if I do it before will they stretch and change shape when applying into the cake and if I wait to do it when on the cake will I be able to press as hard and get a good impression?

Many thanks

Hi
I usually emboss the panels before adding them to the cake, i then let the panel dry a little then it doesnt loose shape/stretch when adding it to the cake. Hope this helps

I usually emboss after attaching panels because of the stretching problem. I think it depends on how big the panels are as well. Letting the panels dry a little as suggested by s-1hart sounds good to me and definitely worth a try.

Two different answers!! Aarrgh..which one?? Ha

try both, whatever works well for you. . .sometimes in cakery there isnt one answer-doesnt help us tho! good luck xx

Hi gcci906

Try s-1-hart’s method on a scrap piece of fondant the size of the panels you intend using, sounds like it works well. I have to go really carefully when embossing on pre attached panels, sometimes you can end up with tramlines. The diamond shapes the in LV style handbag tutorial was very difficult with embossers, in the end I had to use a ruler to mark out the lines. Perhaps this may sway your decision?? x

Think I will do the embossing before and let it dry a bit. Thanks for advice