How to Apply Gold Leaf to a Cake (& Cupcakes) Step-by-Step

I love baking, and I love anything gold, so it was only a matter of time before I tried to apply gold leaf to a cake!

I’d wanted to try this technique for ages, but was always intimidated. Gold leaf is expensive, delicate, and famously tricky to handle.

But when I started planning an Art Deco-inspired cake for my Gatsby-themed 30th birthday, I realized it was exactly what the design needed — time to take the plunge.

The good news? Applying gold leaf to cakes and cupcakes is actually way easier than I expected — as long as you know a few key tricks. Keep reading for all my best tips for working with this beautiful (and surprisingly forgiving!) finishing touch.

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In This Post

About Gold Leaf

Gold leaf is exactly what it sounds like — pure gold, hammered into whisper-thin sheets or flakes, which makes it expensive but gorgeous and perfectly safe for consumption. You can use it in crafts, cocktails, and desserts — anything that needs a little shimmer. I think cake decorating is one of the most fun ways to use it.

How do you know if gold leaf is genuine and safe for consumption? Look for gold leaf labeled at least 22K, which is the minimum it needs to be edible according to America’s Test Kitchen. Silver is often added and totally fine, but steer clear of copper or other metals.

One last tip: if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Fake gold leaf isn’t just unsafe to eat, but it also won’t look as pretty.

Supplies for Working with Gold Leaf

When you’re working with gold leaf, you don’t need a lot of supplies. I researched different recommendations on getting the gold leaf to “stick” to your cake, but in practice, I found that all it needs is a frosted cake or cupcakes. Gold leaf is sticky enough to adhere to cold buttercream on its own!

Supplies for Applying Gold Leaf to a Cake

To apply gold leaf to a cake, you’ll need:

I recommend using gold leaf sheets for cakes — I used a standard 24K variety. Although it’s no longer available, this product by Slofoodgroup is similar.

For tools, I used a small food-safe paintbrush (these Wilton brushes) to pat the gold into place. You could use tweezers or even a fork in a pinch, but a brush gives you the most control.

Finally, you’ll need a cake that is frosted and cold. Although refrigerating cakes is often not recommended because it can dry them out, it’s crucial here — you need frosting that is firm to the touch to apply the gold leaf.

For my 1920s party, I made a black velvet cake. I used In Bloom Bakery’s cake recipe and Sugar and Sparrow’s black buttercream recipe. I’ve only tested this with a traditional American-style buttercream, so I can’t speak to how other frostings will hold up to gold leaf. But if the frosting is too sticky, applying the gold leaf may be difficult or impossible.

Supplies for Applying Gold Leaf to Cupcakes

For applying gold leaf to cupcakes, you’ll need:

Gold leaf flakes
Toothpicks
Frosted cupcakes

I like using flakes for cupcakes for a few reasons: they’re super cute, they’re easier to apply to small areas, and they won’t mess up any piped designs like full sheets might. You can use sheets if you want, but for something like cupcakes or piped frosting designs, flakes are much more forgiving.

I used BeePoint’s gold leaf flakes. Although some reviewers complained about receiving less than expected, I was satisfied with the amount I received. Since they’re so fragile and lightweight, I think the quantity can appear to be less than you think it should be.

Since some of the flakes are quite small, instead of using a food-safe paintbrush, I recommend using good old toothpicks to apply gold leaf flakes. They have minimal surface area, which makes them ideal for delicate flakes.

Just like with the cake, be sure your cupcakes are frosted and refrigerated. For my Gatsby-themed party, I made black velvet cupcakes with rosettes piped on them (check out my quick instructions on this frosting technique if you’re curious). I used In Bloom Bakery’s cupcake recipe and Sugar and Sparrow’s black buttercream recipe (again).

How to Apply Gold Leaf to a Cake (Step-by-Step)

Once you have your supplies, applying gold leaf to a cake is a simple step-by-step process.

1. Pick Up Gold Leaf Sheet with Brush

Use a small, clean, dry, food-safe paintbrush to pick up the sheet. Do NOT touch the gold leaf with your fingers. Seriously — don’t do it or you’ll regret it.

Even though I knew I was not supposed to do this, I did it anyway — and every time I did, I wasted more gold leaf because it got hopelessly folded on itself and stuck on my fingers.

I think it works best if you kind of break off a piece of the sheet, but err on the side of larger pieces. You can always break it down more, but you can never go back.

2. Dab Gold Leaf onto Frosted Cake

Next, dab the leaf onto the cake. No, really, that’s all you have to do. You don’t need to add water or simple syrup — it will just stick to the cake on its own. Be very intentional with where you place it, as it may not be possible to remove it once it’s on the cake.

Use the brush to gently pat the gold leaf onto the cake, touching it just enough to make contact. Don’t drag or press too firmly, as it can stick to the brush or fold on itself. However, some folding will happen naturally, and it makes it look prettier to have a variety of textures — some flat and some folded.

It’s okay if it doesn’t lie perfectly flat on the cake, since that three-dimensional look is part of what makes gold leaf a fun addition to a cake.

3. Continue Until You Have Desired Pattern

Continue adding gold leaf to your cake until you have the pattern you want. You can do any sort of design that you like! Although I love symmetry, since gold leaf is a little unpredictable, I’ve found that an asymmetrical design with a soft diagonal climbing up the side of the cake tends to work best.

Once you’re finished with your pattern, you can go back and fill in any gaps. Whatever design you choose, the gold leaf will look stunning. Just remember that less is more, and you can’t easily remove gold leaf from the cake.

And just like that, you’ve got a gorgeous GOLD cake ready to serve — and guaranteed to impress!

How to Apply Gold Leaf to Cupcakes

The process for applying gold leaf to cupcakes is only slightly different than applying it to a cake!

1. Pick Up Gold Leaf Flake with Toothpick

Take a deep breath (but don’t breathe on the gold leaf) and use a toothpick to pick up a flake. Did you touch it with your fingers? Be honest.

Again, I think toothpicks are better than tweezers for flakes because they have a smaller footprint. One word of caution — since gold leaf flakes are smaller, they can be more difficult to work with than sheets.

Especially with small flakes, if you touch one the wrong way, it can just fold up on itself until it essentially disappears. This can be frustrating, but just be patient and make sure you have extra gold leaf flakes. You will probably lose a few, and that’s perfectly normal.

2. Gently Place Flake on Frosted Cupcake

Next, lightly (and I mean lightly) touch the flake to the frosting. It should stick easily, regardless of your frosting design. I like to pipe rosettes, but you can add gold flakes to any piped design.

If you have a more traditional piped design (for example, a swirl with a peak in the middle), it would look elegant to add a few flakes clustered around the center.

Remember, there’s a chance it will fold up on itself and shrivel into oblivion — if that happens, take a deep breath and move onto the next flake. You may need to switch toothpicks as you go — they can get sticky.

3. Continue Until You Have Desired Amount

Continue adding gold flakes to your cupcake until you have the desired amount. Again, I think it’s easier to go asymmetrical with gold leaf, so I chose to place a few flakes on one side of the cupcake rosette. You can sprinkle them across the cupcake, but I think they look best when clustered. Even when it’s imperfect, gold leaf always looks gorgeous — that’s part of the magic.

Anddd you’re done! Isn’t gilding cupcakes easier than you thought? A few flakes go a long way — and trust me, no one’s going to notice the ones that didn’t make it.

FAQs

See answers to common questions about using gold leaf for cakes and cupcakes!

What kind of gold leaf is safe to eat?

Gold leaf is made of 22K-24K gold. The addition of silver is common (and fine), but other metals, such as copper, are not food-safe.

In general, if it’s suspiciously cheaper than other gold leaf, it’s probably not genuine and therefore not safe to eat. Rule of thumb: if it’s not at least 22K and from a reputable brand, skip it.

Does gold leaf have a taste?

Nope! Gold leaf is completely tasteless and serves a purely aesthetic purpose, so you can add it to any kind of cake or cupcakes without compromising flavor.

How much gold leaf do I need for decorating a cake/cupcakes?

Since even a small amount of gold leaf can be stunning, you can make any quantity work. However, since gold leaf can be tricky to work with and you will probably lose some of it while decorating, I always recommend erring on the side of more. You can always save leftovers for a future cake!

Can I apply gold leaf to buttercream / fondant / ganache?

I’ve only tested this with American-style buttercream. Generally speaking, the surface needs to be firm yet slightly tacky.

Gold leaf shouldn’t have a problem adhering to fondant; you might just need to add some water or simple syrup if the surface is too dry. Ganache would probably be a little tricky, but it is possible — I just can’t speak to it.

When should I apply gold leaf to a cake or cupcakes?

Most importantly, be sure that the frosting is fully set. It needs to be slightly tacky but firm to the touch. That’s why it’s crucial to refrigerate your cake before applying gold leaf.

Although in theory, it could become too firm and not tacky enough, I had no issues, even after lengthy chilling. If you find your gold leaf won’t stick, leaving the cake or cupcakes out at room temperature for a few minutes, or adding a little bit of water or simple syrup, should resolve that problem.

How do I store cake/cupcakes with gold leaf?

Store in an airtight container at either room temperature or in the fridge. If you’re at all concerned with your frosting melting — even slightly — I recommend storing it in the fridge, as long as it’s only for 24 hours or less.

How long will gold leaf keep on a cake or cupcakes?

I’ve had success storing cake/cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge for 24 hours. Although the gold leaf might keep longer than that, your cake will probably start to dry out, especially if you didn’t bake it the same day you frosted and decorated it.

Do I need special tools to apply gold leaf?

As long as you don’t use your fingers, you can use pretty much any small tool. However, I’ve found that using a dry, food-safe paintbrush works best for applying sheets, and using toothpicks is easiest for flakes. You can also use tweezers, the tip of a fork, or anything you have on hand.

How do I apply gold leaf without tearing it?

In my experience, sticking causes more frustration than tearing, but a little folding or ripping is normal and even adds to the texture. To prevent major rips, be gentle — always a good thing to do when working with gold leaf.

How do I keep gold leaf from sticking to everything?

Sticking is pretty much unavoidable with gold leaf, but there are ways to minimize it. Touch it as little as possible — even with your tools. Don’t touch it with your fingers, even if you think they’re perfectly dry.

I have to admit — I was pretty pleased with myself after this one. Gold leaf looks so impressive, but it’s not nearly as difficult or time-consuming as it seems. In other words: the perfect party trick.

Planning an Art Deco-Inspired Event?

This gilded cake was just one of the details I created for a 1920s-style celebration. Check out my full party guide for decor, planning, and themed ideas — plus my tutorials on batching cocktails and making clear ice to serve them in style.