How to make Sugar Roses

I know a fair few of you wanted me to blog how to make the blush roses I used on my traditional cake in The Great British Wedding cake, so here it it….. how to make sugar roses.
You will need:
White Sugar Florist Paste (SFP)
White fat such as Trex
Small rolling pin
Rose petal cutters or a small round cutter
Ball tool
Foam pad
Water and paintbrush
Empty egg box
Sugarflair blossom tint powder – Rose
Large powder brush

Here are some handy product links:

Sugar Florist Paste (SFP) is the key to really great sugar roses. It is extra strong when dry, dries out quickly and can be rolled out super thinly without breaking. You can of course make roses from regular sugarpaste but they will have to be much thicker and because it takes an age to dry out it is difficult to keep the rose petals in shape.

When working with SFP I like to work on a glass worktop protector as the surface is glass it is super smooth, and I can sit at the table to work too instead of hunched over the worktop in the kitchen! It’s entirely optional but you can pick them up fairly cheaply from most of the larger supermarkets – just make sure it’s smooth and not a bobbly one!

Instead of using icing sugar I always use Trex with SFP, it helps it stay moist whilst you’re working with it and makes it shiny too.

Grease the board with a little smear of trex, apply a little to your hands too.

Take a small amount of SFP and knead it in your hand until it’s smooth and ready to work with.

Make a small ball and then taper one side to make a cone. This will form the base of the rose.

Roll out a small amount of SFP on your board, nice and thinly 1-2mm.

Working with just one petal at a time, cut out one petal using your cutter. If you’re investing it is best to buy a set of graduated sizes. The larger the petal cutter the larger the rose.

Transfer the petal to your foam pad. Take the large end of the ball tool and rub it over the very top edge of the petal. This thins the edge of the petal and creates a look of the natural movement in rose petals.

Add a dab of water with the paintbrush to the back of the petal. Position the cone on top of the petal and draw the edges together to form a point for the inside of the rose.

Now repeat the process cutting out a petal and shaping with the ball tool on the foam pad. A small dab of water at the base of the petal before sticking into pace. The second petal should go on the opposite side of the first.

Encourage the edge of the petal to curl outwards. Don’t worry about the base of the rose being messy for now, the larger petals will cover it over. If they don’t you can easily pinch of the excess at the base and smooth it with your fingers.

Add another petal, again opposite the last one.

Repeat, adding petals overlapping them as they go around the rose until you reach the desired look. Remember to encourage the petals outwards otherwise the rose will appear too tight.

The average number of petals per rose is 10-12 but you can do more if you prefer!If you want to create a bud stop after the first three or four petals.

Now place the rose in a recess in the empty egg box and let it dry. This will take a couple of hours.

Roses can of course be made in any colour you like but I like white roses with a blush of colour. To add in the blush tinge add a tiny amount of blossom tint powder in your chosen colour to a small bowl.

Use a large dusting brush. I use powder brushes, new and clean obviously and not taken straight from my make up bag!
Swirl the brush in the blossom dust and rub gently over the now dry rose. The edges of the petals pick up the colour beautifully and you can build the colour up to the intensity you prefer.