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Making metallic edible glitter – a recipe:

8th August 2011 by Lindy Smith

Is your glitter edible? I am a little concerned that many people are unknowingly adding non-toxic glitters to their cake and cupcakes, in the mistaken belief that they are edible. These glitters are often sold alongside edible products but are intended for decoration purposes only – to be used on items that are removed not to be eaten!!

Edible products that add sparkle are available however it is much more fun and cost-effective to make your own. You can also easily make your own glitter in any colour you might choose.

fine edible glitter

Edible glitter recipe

You will need:

1/2 tsp Gum Arabic
1/2 tsp Hot water
Metallic edible lustre dust in colour of your choice  – ½ teaspoon (I use the Squire Kitchen edible metallic dusts)
Paintbrush – flat-headed or pallet knife
Non-stick ovenproof sheet or silicone mat
Oven preheated to 140°C
Sieve or tea strainer

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How to make the glitter:

Mix the Gum Arabic, water and food dust together in a small bowl, it should look like thick paint.

Pour onto the non-stick ovenproof sheet and spread the mix thinly using a paintbrush or pallet knife, you will find it separates into globules, this is perfectly normal.

edible glitter baking in the oven

Bake for about 10 mins or until the mix is thoroughly dry and starting to peel away from the sheet.

dried edible glitter

Remove from the oven and cool, then rub through a sieve or tea strainer.

sieving the baked edible glitter through a sieve

The glitter particle size you obtain depends on the mesh size used.

fine edible glitter
Fine edible glitter flakes
large grained glitter
Large flakes of edible glitter

Store your glitter in a small airtight container ready for use.

Using edible glitter

To use, sprinkle glitter on your cake and cupcake as desired.

cupcake sprinkled with glitter

I hope I’ve inspired to have a go…Do let us know how you get on.

Happy Baking

Lindy

‘Bringing world-class sugarcraft to your kitchen’

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Filed Under: Sugar Recipes Tagged With: arabic, edible glitter, glitter, gold, Gum arabic, how to

About Lindy Smith

Award winning, best-selling author and sugarcraft artist, who loves to design beautiful colourful cakes, inspire, teach and supply you with gorgeous products.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Suzn says

    12th August 2011 at 11:31 am

    This is an AWESOME tutorial! I can’t wait to try this. Thank you for sharing!!!

  2. Lindys Team says

    12th August 2011 at 1:03 pm

    Hi Suzn,
    Hope you have fun experimenting. Let us know how you get on!
    Glittering times ahead!
    Marina

  3. Sophie says

    15th September 2011 at 2:31 pm

    Wow thanks for the tutorial, so excited about trying it! 🙂

  4. Alison hanns says

    8th December 2011 at 9:31 pm

    I saw a similar thing to this on a cookery chatsite a couple of years ago but lost it.
    So, thanks for sharing. It is so easy to do….I use a large pyrex plate and paint the coloured ‘glue’ straight onto the plate in a thin layer but I watch it in the oven like a hawk as I had some turn a nasty brown! ;0(.

    Ive just made sum pretty pale pink to use on forty eight butterfly cupcakes for the weekend, it looks so pretty, I’m well pleased with the result, thanks. Another good thing about making your own glitter is that you can varybthe size of the flakes AND more importantly, you know for sure that its definitely edible.

    I love your website and shop. And Lindy’s cakes are an inspiration. I tried making your lovely Tiger a while ago. Mine looked more like Tony the Tiger from the Frosties advert, but then I am a beginner! Lol

  5. Rachel Filmer says

    31st January 2012 at 12:02 pm

    I’ve raised this issue with manufacturers and have been told that the current “non-toxic non-edible” glitters are identical to the glitters they used to call edible, but the names had to be changed due to an EU ruling. The reason for this appears to be that the glitters cannot be digested and therefore cannot be called edible.

    Whether this is accurate or not is difficult to know – I have certainly eaten many cupcakes sprinkled with non-toxic glitter without any problems. However, it’s definitely useful to know how to make glitter that’s definitely safe to eat.

    Just wondering if you could use a pestle and mortar to make really fine glitter?

  6. Jane says

    31st January 2012 at 12:57 pm

    I have been using ‘non-toxic’ glitter on my cakes. Before I did, I checked with the store that sold it and the manufacturer and they said the only reason it is labelled ‘non-toxic’ and not ‘edible’ is because it is not digested but just “passes through” as it were, but that it is fine for use on cakes. I hope they didn’t lie to me!

    It’s nice to know that I can now make my own and know what’s going in it.

  7. Lindys Team says

    7th February 2012 at 1:21 pm

    Hi Rachel,
    You are correct the glitters being sold by the manufacturers are non edible.
    This is why Lindy has come up with the recipe above.
    The pestle and mortar would be great for making this edible glitter even finer.
    Best wishes,
    Marina

  8. Gina Tuley says

    22nd February 2012 at 5:07 am

    Thank you SO MUCH…This is AWESOME!!!!

  9. elizabeth mitchener says

    22nd February 2012 at 2:51 pm

    Hi
    Have been asked to do a birthday cake with glitter icing. Would I be able to knead some of the above edible glitter into sugarpaste then use as normal? If not any suggestions would be very welcome!

  10. Lindys Team says

    14th March 2012 at 1:39 pm

    Hi Elizabeth

    That sounds like a good way of making glitter sugarpaste. I hope it works out well!

    Regards

    Zoe

  11. Lauren says

    31st March 2012 at 9:12 pm

    thanks for the recipe! cant wait to try it out and know that it is definately edible thanks again! ps to elizabeth thats a good idea! mut remember to try that one day ^_^

  12. Annie says

    11th April 2012 at 12:35 pm

    There is a lot of confusion over the issue of “edible” glitters in the UK now. Interesting comment from Vincent Greenwood, Scientific Officer, FSA made in February of this year:

    “there are edible glitters on the market. Some are starch based, and others are made of mica with titanium dioxide. Both are safe to eat when compliant with food additives legislation.

    The term non-toxic in relation to glitter is legally meaningless. We are aware that a number of companies have changed the description of products from ‘edible’ to ‘non-toxic’, while still implying that they are safe to eat and will simply pass through the body undigested. As these materials haven’t been scientifically tested for their safety following consumption that claim should not be made.

    We would suggest that anyone looking to buy edible glitter check the ingredients. If it is starch-based or made of mica with titanium dioxide, it is considered edible. You should ignore any claims as it being ‘non-toxic’.”

  13. Charlotte says

    12th April 2012 at 5:04 pm

    Hi,

    I was just wondering if using Tylo Powder would have the same effect as Gum Arabic? Am definitely going to try this!!

    Thanks,

    Charlotte

  14. Jane says

    26th April 2012 at 12:15 pm

    Hello Charlotte,
    Tylo Powder wouldn’t have the same effect. We use Tylo (CMC) in sugarpaste to create modelling paste.
    Jane

  15. Camila says

    19th May 2012 at 7:44 pm

    Hi,

    Really nice DIY…totally in love with this post but the Gum Arabic is edible? do you have any particular place to buy it?

    Thanks
    Camila.

  16. Jane says

    22nd May 2012 at 12:12 pm

    Hello Camila,
    Yes, gum arabic is edible and you should be able to buy it at your local supermarket or cake decorating shop.
    Jane

  17. Stacy Lynn says

    28th August 2012 at 3:41 am

    Hi Lindy! Have you done the post on edible coloured glitter/fairy dust yet? I am looking for it and cannot find it! I would like very much to make it.

  18. Lindys Team says

    9th October 2012 at 10:48 am

    Hi Stacy, Sorry but Lindy has been so busy writing her new book on colours that she hasn’t had time yet to do the post on glitter/fairy dust. With the NEC show coming up in early November she will be busy preparing for that as well. It is “all hands on deck” at the moment!
    Susie

  19. chantal says

    10th October 2012 at 4:25 pm

    hi
    thanks for the very informative and helpful tutorial. plz can u help. how can i make gold edible paste to do scroll work on cakes, it has to be metallic gold. tried mixing gold lustre dust with royal icing but it just becomes a dull yellow icing.

  20. Lindys Team says

    11th October 2012 at 9:40 am

    Hi Chantal
    Try using autumn leaf Sugarflair paste colour with royal icing. Pipe that onto your cake and then paint with our edible gold paint or with lustre dust mixed with confectioner’s glaze.
    Hope this helps.
    Susie

  21. Natanya says

    5th December 2012 at 10:57 am

    Hiya,
    Was wondering which lustre dust you used here?
    It looks like it made a lovely warm gold from the photos. Otherwise which would you recommend for a gold that is not too yellow but not too orange?
    I was also wondering if you can use the SK sparkles and do the same?
    Thanks!
    regards,

  22. Lindys Team says

    13th December 2012 at 10:31 am

    Hi Natanya
    We think that Lindy used Antique Gold on the blog post, but it is quite orangey. Light Gold is a lovely colour, not too yellow not too orange! We havn’t tried using SK Sparkles to make edible dust but think that they would be fab!
    Fiona

  23. Rebecca says

    25th January 2013 at 6:15 pm

    HI everyone….

    I am needing blue and silver edible glitter for my daughters baby shower. Has anyone made silver …Do you have any pointers and suggestions to get the best sparkle possible?

    Thank you so much. On to our 3rd grandson.

    Rebecca

  24. Jessica says

    27th January 2013 at 7:11 pm

    Thank you so much this info is awesome, we had to share it on our Facebook page!

  25. Lindys Team says

    31st January 2013 at 11:34 am

    Hi Rebecca

    We don’t sell edible glitter unfortunately. Have you tried our “Sparkles” dust? It is not silver but more of a see through sparkle effect.

    Sorry we can’t help you further.
    Susie

  26. vanessa says

    21st May 2013 at 3:47 am

    has the post on the glitter/dust yet been posted its been over a year now… i would like to see that one as well

  27. Lindys Team says

    23rd May 2013 at 11:44 am

    Hello Vanessa,
    Unfortunately Lindy has not had the time to create this post yet.
    We hope you enjoy all of our other blog posts.
    Marina

  28. Minette says

    5th July 2013 at 6:09 pm

    Hi, can the gum arabic in this recipe be substituted with CMC (tylose powder). Thanks….

  29. Jane says

    12th July 2013 at 10:48 am

    Hello Minette,
    The CMC is used for making modelling paste and wouldn’t work for edible glitter.
    Jane

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