Gold leaf adds a decadent feel to your dishes especially when you decorate your cake with gold leaf coated almonds! With Halloween around the corner and Thanksgiving coming up, I am sure learning how to apply gold leaf to almonds is only going to help you with your dessert presentation. Trust me, if you are hosting a party then desserts garnished with gold leaf plated almonds are definitely going to bowl your guests over.

Things Required:

Edible Gold Leaf and Almonds

Soft Paintbrush and Fan brush

Gloves

Parchment Paper

1 cup water mixed with 1 tbsp sugar

A pair of paring knives

Instructions

1.       You can purchase your edible gold leaf from bakeries or pastry shops where they are sold. Ensure that you ask specifically for edible gold leaf as certain types of gold leaf has non-edible elements like copper.

2.       You can buy any type of almonds, shelled or unshelled as the gold leaf will fall well on them anyhow and the texture will remain the same. I prefer to use smooth jordan almonds as they are easy to work on and look pretty.(Check the Image)

3.       Since the edible gold leaf is extremely delicate, ensure that you handle it carefully.

a.       Wear gloves before touching the gold leaf so that it is not affected by the oil or moisture on your hands.

b.      Ensure that your work area is cool and dry and that the air is still. Heat, moisture and wind can cause the gold leaf to fold, wrinkle or break.

4.       Ensure that your almonds are dry and in good condition. Place the almonds on parchment paper.

5.       Make a sugar mixture from 1 cup water and 1 tablespoon sugar. Dip your paint brush in the sugar solution and slowly coat each almond while it is on the parchment. The sugar solution acts as a adhesive agent for the gold leaf.

6.       Carefully cut out a small part of the gold leaf using the tip of a paring knife. The piece should be just enough to cover the almond. Slide the torn out gold leaf from its backing and then using a second paring knife coat the almonds with this gold leaf. Now gently use your fingers to press the leaf on to the almond. Ensure that you don’t use too much pressure. Cut out similar sized portions of golden leaf to cover all sides of the almond.

7.       To ensure that the gold leaf makes a smooth covering around the almond use the fan brush.

TRIVIA on Edible Gold Leaf

Edible gold leaf has been used for ages to decorate dishes especially by the Italians and French. It is believed that entire banquets were covered with gold leaves in Renaissance Italy! Quiet a decadent show, wouldn’t you say?!!

Edible gold leaf is usually used to garnish desserts, beverages (even cocktails), savory foods, cakes, fruit bowls and candy dishes.

Edible gold leaves are not harmful for your body and they pass through it unchanged.

Image Credit
favorstudio.com