How to Quilt Cakes
In this post, I will be sharing one of my methods of making diamond patterns or quilts on cakes. With this method, I roll out a piece of fondant, make the patterns on it and wrap the fondant around the cake tier. An alternative to this method is making the patterns directly on a covered cake. I will be showing you how I do that method in a separate post.
TOOLS:
(1) Rolling Pin
(2) Ruler
(3) Fondant Wheel/Embosser
(4) Pizza Cutter/Fondant Cutter
(5) Paint Brush
(6) Measuring Tape
(7) Toothpick
EDIBLE COMPONENTS:
(1) Fondant
(2) Water or Vodka
(3) Sugar Pearls
PROCEDURE:
(1) Using your rolling pin, roll out fondant to a length long enough to wrap the cake tier you are working on. Use a measuring tape to measure the circumference of the cake tier for accuracy. Also measure the height of the tier with a ruler. Using your ruler and pizza cutter, cut the fondant into a rectangle the same height and circumference as the cake tier. Make sure all the angles of the rectangle are a perfect 90 degrees. below, I use a small rectangle just for illustration purposes.
(2) Next, place the ruler at a horizontal side of your rolled out fondant. Using a toothpick, mark the edge of the fondant at every 1 inch. Repeat the same for the opposite side of the rectangle.
(3) Place your ruler diagonally on the fondant. The edge of the ruler should touch the lower left angle of the rectangle and the third toothpick mark at the top of the rectangle. Use your fondant wheel or the embosser to make a line connecting both points. Start moving the ruler at 1 inch increments and keep connecting the points.
Note: If you want to make bigger diamonds, the edge of the ruler should touch the lower left angle of the rectangle and the first or second toothpick mark at the top of the rectangle. To make smaller diamonds, the edge of the ruler should touch the lower left angle of the rectangle and the forth or fifth toothpick mark at the top of the rectangle.
(4) Next, using the same method as above, make intersecting lines with the ruler. Continue this process until the rectangle has been marked completely.
(5) For a more elaborate design, cover the rolled out fondant with fondant strips of various colors before quilting it.
(6) Next, place the rectangle on the cake. Brush the side of your cake with water or vodka and wrap the rectangle around the tier. Make sure you keep the seams at the back of the cake.
(6) It is possible to leave the cake this way without applying the sugar pearls. It all depends on the design you are going for.
(7) Next, if using sugar pearls, place them at the angles where the lines intersect. Brush the rectangle with vodka and embed the sugar pearls into the fondant. Small flowers can also be used like in the pink and white quilted cake in paragraph 5.
(8) If you do not have access to sugar pearls, you could make your own pearls using fondant. Tutorial here.
(9) If you want to make a more detailed design, before brushing the cake with vodka and placing the sugar pearls, use your fondant wheel/embosser to make short horizontal and vertical lines at the intersecting angles.
END NOTE:
It is possible to quilt buttercream frosted cakes like the cake below. This link shows you how to achieve this.
Terry Adido is passionate about showing people how easy it is to recreate restaurant quality meals in the comfort of their kitchens. With a style of cooking he refers to as Afro-European Fusion, his meals are influenced greatly by French and Italian Cuisine with a West African twist. If you love good food, you are in for the ride of your life.
Well done Terry…May God continue to Bless the works of your hands..
Thanks Angie.
Tanks
You are welcome Dorcas.
Thanks Terry
You are welcome Lorlah.
Nice tutorial. Thanks.
You are welcome Aisha.
Terry you are so gifted, thanks for d tutorial, pls can you post the picture of vodka, I searched for it at the market but couldn’t find it, thanks
Thanks. I do not know where you live, but vodka can be found in liquor stores in most countries. If you live in a country like Nigeria, check stores like Shoprite. There are various brands.
Wow Terry u are really a star u inspired me a lot with this beautiful cakes and decorations plz keep up the good work may God continue to bless u
Thanks a lot Mariama.
Thanks terry for this.it’s so detailed anyone can learn.but I really want to know, does the fondant need to dry a bit before placing on the cake?
Not necessarily Princess.
I only just found this website. Thank you for the many things I have learnt and will still learn from you 🙂
God bless you.
Welcome on board Doo. We are glad to have you here.
Tnks my Boss Terry.am a beginner, but wit ur post am learnin faster. Stay bless
I’ve learned so much from your tutorials. Thx!
You are welcome Isha.
I bumped into this site a few days ago and i’m still new at this.i went through your posts and i had that “Hallelujah” moment.u are a star terry and God will bless you because you are not selfish.
Thanks Anathi. Do have fun on the website.
So before placing my sugar pearls do i need to use vodka only or i can just use water to make my pearls stick?
You can use water. Just be careful not to use a lot so you don’t soak your fondant with water.
Got it,thanx
Thanks. I just stumbled on this site while trouble shooting. It has really helped. Please what is the best to cover the cakes with before placing the fondant panels. Thank you
Hi. Buttercream frosting or a layer of fondant.
Go Terry, go Terry. Thanks for the tutorial.(on a lighter mood, when are going to finish this coffee you’re holding?) Lol.
Thanks Esther. That tea cup is bottomless…
Thanks Terry for the tutorial. If I get you correctly, seems like the cakes was covered first in fondant before placing the rectangle? If yes is it ohk to leave the top alone like that ‘cos they won’t be on same level. Secondly is corn flour same as corn syrup you used in achieving that shiny look? And lastly can this quilting be done directly on a covered fondant cake? Thanks.
Hi. (1) The top of the covered cake would be the same level as the rectangle you wrap it with. You also have the choice of you covering your cake first, covering the top with fondant and wrapping the sides with the quilted fondant. (2) No they are different. One is a flour while the other is a syrup. (3) Yes. I did that with this buttercream cake. The same can be done on fondant.
You are blessed to share all these for free.
Can you help me out on one thing. After quilting the rectangle, when I lifted it to put on the sides of the cake, it got pulled and teared.
I have a Minnie Mouse cake to complete next week, please advise how to do this right.
Thanks a million times.
Shyami.
Hi. That happens when the fondant is very soft. I’d advice you use firm fondant for this. Also, be careful not to make very deep lines on the fondant. Thus also causes tears.
Love this site! remain richly blessed for sharing. I deeply admire the grace of God upon you. It takes God for any one to have a sharing heart, in a generation where money making is our top priority. May God enlarge your coast & may you never lack anything good, in
Jesus mighty Name I Pray for You.
Thanks.
Hi terry am a little bit confuse. Do I nid to cover d head of d cake with a little round shape fondant before applying d quilted sides or will it just be d buttercream head like that. Thanks sir
Yes to the first.
You are gifted my brother May our dear lord keep on multiplying the intelligence and thank you for sharing the knowledge.
Thanks Idah.
You are simply the best. God bless you. Thank you so much.
Thanks Divine.
Hello Terry! Your cakes are beautiful and your instructions are so helpful. I was wondering if I could cut and quilt the panels a few days before applying on the cake? Or do they have to be applied fairly quickly after quilting?
Hi Martha. They can be made ahead of time like any other dry fondant panel. Thanks.
Hi terry,thanks for the post.it was very helpful.
You are welcome Bussy.
Hmmmmmmmm! I can barely go to bed early ever since I discovered u. Tnx a lot Terry. Kindly put me through on how I can put fondant beneath my cake as per d tote bag cake
I do not understand your question please.
I love these cakes!
Amazing job, they’re incredible.
I’m making my sister and best friend fondant cakes for the first time today, how do you make the cakes so large? Do you have a youtube channel by a chance?
Let me know when you can!
Hi. No I do not have a Youtube Chanel. You can increase the size of your cake by increasing the recipe and/or stacking several layers of cake together.
Thank you so much Terry.
You are welcome.
Thanks for this tutorial Terry
You are welcome.
Thanks for the tutorials Terry… God bless you…
My question is
…can the top of the cake be the same color with the side
Hello. I am getting ready to make a shower cake and wanted to find out how to make or where you got the tiny pink flowers that are shown on the pink and white striped cake? Also what would be the best method to attach them to a buttercream embossed cake? Thanks so much
I made them. Buttercream would be fine.