Sueded Buttercream with Sprinkle Snowflakes – how to create a suede-like texture on buttercream and decorate with delicate sprinkle snowflakes. A cake tutorial by contributor Erin Gardner.
My interest in sueded buttercream began with an unlikely spark: a beauty tutorial about “baking” concealer. The method—dusting a creamy product with setting powder to achieve a matte, silky finish—made me wonder if a similar technique could be adapted for cakes. Powdered sugar resembles cosmetic setting powder, so I decided to experiment by tinting it and applying it to buttercream.
While sueding with cocoa or powdered techniques is common on fondant and ganache, I only found a few examples of tinted powdered sugar used on fondant, and none showing the effect on buttercream. I decided to try it—and it worked beautifully. The finish is modern, soft, and surprisingly forgiving: the tapping motion used to apply the powder helps hide minor imperfections in the buttercream surface.
This look is especially lovely for winter-themed cakes, but it would also be beautiful in pastel shades for spring. For best results use American buttercream, which crusts and helps set the dusty matte finish. Do this on a cake that will be kept at room temperature—refrigeration and humidity can reintroduce shine and soften the effect.
SUEDED BUTTERCREAM AND SPRINKLE SNOWFLAKES
a tutorial by Erin Gardner
- Cake frosted with American Buttercream (example shown on an 8” round, freshly frosted — icing not fully set)
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon petal dust (or powdered food color)
- Cheesecloth
- Rubber band or string
- Small flat-edged paint brush
- Silver rod dragées (for snowflake centers)
- White diamond sprinkles
- White sugar pearls
MAKE THE SUEDE BUTTERCREAM EFFECT
Mix the confectioners’ sugar with half of the petal dust in a small bowl until the color is evenly distributed.
Cut a 4-inch square of cheesecloth and place about a tablespoon of the colored sugar in the center. Gather the corners to form a small powder puff and secure it with a rubber band. Gently tap or shake the puff until the powder moves to the surface and is ready to apply.
Lightly tap the powder puff across the sides and top of the cake, working gently over the top edge to avoid leaving dents. If you accidentally mark the buttercream, smooth the area with the tip of an offset spatula and reapply the powder. Place a cookie sheet beneath the cake to catch excess sugar as you work.
Let the cake rest for about 10 minutes so the color can settle and some sugar is absorbed by the buttercream. For a subtle, pale shade, you can stop here.
To build depth, dip a clean piece of cheesecloth directly into the petal dust and dab small areas around the cake to introduce darker accents. Repeat in layers until you reach the desired dimension.
If powder gathers unevenly or ring marks appear from the puff, gently brush the area with a clean piece of cheesecloth to even the finish. A paint brush will remove the sugar more completely, so stick to cheesecloth if you want to preserve the dusty, matte appearance.
Use a small flat-edged brush to clean the cake board or platter. Brush away excess sugar, then tuck bristles under the cake to neaten the bottom edge.
MAKE THE SPRINKLE SNOWFLAKES
Snowflakes are six-sided, so begin each design with a center element that establishes six points—silver rod dragées work well for this. From that center, build outward symmetrically with pearls, white diamond sprinkles, and other small candies. Aim for balanced repetition rather than randomness to achieve a snowy, cohesive look. The process is playful and free-form; use the images as inspiration and let your creativity guide the placement.
Just as every natural snowflake is unique, your sprinkle snowflakes will vary. If you can’t source specific sprinkles, substitute larger pearls or other white candies. If silver dragées aren’t available or you prefer not to use them, any long, thin candy can serve as the radiating arms of a snowflake.
Note: silver dragées are commonly used for decoration but are not FDA-approved for consumption. Consider advising guests not to eat the silver rods.
MORE SNOWY WINTRY BAKES TO TRY:
- Snow Globe Cookies
- Candy Snowflakes
- Snow Angel Cupcakes
- Coconut Snowball Cupcakes
- Snowy Ski Scene Cupcakes