How to Make a Multi Colored Loopy Bow

One of my most popular cakes, the safari first birthday cake, started my obsession with making two toned loopy bows.  I just cannot get enough of them.  I've had past clients say to me, "wow, how do you make that bow?".

I've seen a couple different ways to create them.  My friend, Milena, has a tutorial using wires.  Awesome.  The way I learned to make them is to secure the loops together with candy melts, which is the method I'm going to show you here.  

What you will need:

• Different colors of fondant
• Tylose Powder
• Paint brush
• Paper towels
• Rolling Pin
• Ribbon Cutter
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Parchment or Wax paper
• PVC Piping to hang the loops
• Powdered Sugar for dusting
• Colored Candy Melts

Start by kneading a generous amount of tylose powder into your fondant.  This is very important because it will make the fondant harden.  

Next, roll out two different colors of fondant, brush a little gum glue onto one of the pieces and move the other piece on top of it.

Use a rolling pin to thin out the fondant to an 1/8" thick.  If your fondant is too thick it will take longer to dry.

Use a ribbon cutter to create strips that are 6" long.   Don't throw out the thinner strips because they will be used later for filler.

You will need to repeat all the steps above with different colors for a total of 20 strips.  You may not use all of them in your bow, but it's better to have extra in case of breakage.

This is my ribbon drying contraption thingy, which I LOVE.  It's made with PVC piping.  All the pvc parts can be found at the hardware store.

Hang the strips around the piping as shown varying the top color.  Use a small amount of gum glue to  glue the bottom of each loop together.  Cut the bottoms of the loops into points using scissors.  

Also, trim and lay the thinner scraps of fondant over a piece of piping.

Allow the strips to dry for 24 hours.

Assemble your bow as shown starting with a small dab of candy melts onto a piece of parchment or wax paper.  Your candy melt color must be the same color as one of the loops.

Layer the loops securing them with more candy melts.  Use paper towels as support as you layer.  Once the candy melts have dried, remove the paper towels.

Dip the thinner strips into your candy melts and fill any empty spots in your bow.  Secure with a paper towel until the candy melts are again dry.

Peel the bow off the parchment paper and glue the bow to the cake using more candy melts.   If your bow has powdered sugar on it, you can remove it by rubbing a little shortening onto it, or by spraying it with vodka through an airbrush.