Discover how to make, colour, store and attach wafer paper flowers to a cake. A complete, beginner-friendly guide from expert cake designer Winifred Kristé.

If you have ever seen a cake adorned with flowers so delicate they seemed to be made of spun air — there is a good chance they were wafer paper.

Wafer Paper is light & translucent where gum paste is heavy and opaque. Forgiving in a way that makes them one of the most accessible and genuinely beautiful forms of edible art.

This guide covers everything: what wafer paper flowers are and how they differ from gum paste, how to make them step by step, how to colour them with real depth and beauty, how to store them so they last, and how to attach them safely to your finished cake.

Whether you are picking up a pair of scissors for the very first time, or deepening a practice you already love — this is for you.

Take your time with it.

What are Wafer Paper Flowers?

Wafer paper flowers are flowers made from edible wafer paper — a thin, flexible sheet composed of potato starch, water, and a small amount of vegetable oil.

The result is a material that is completely food-safe, almost weightless, and extraordinarily beautiful to work with.

Unlike gum paste flowers, which are sculpted from a firm sugar paste and typically require significant drying time between each petal, wafer paper flowers can be shaped, curved, and assembled in a fraction of the time.

Their translucency gives them a quality that gum paste simply cannot replicate — a light, papery delicacy that looks genuinely alive and catches the light in the most beautiful way.

They are also 100% edible and largely flavourless, which means they add beauty without affecting the taste of your cake.

Everything made from wafer paper is safe to eat — and your guests will likely ask you about them before they eat them.

2. Wafer Paper Flowers vs.
Gum Paste Flowers

Both are forms of sugar flower artistry. Both can produce something breathtakingly beautiful.

But they are very different to work with — and choosing between them is really a question of what you are drawn to. Wafer paper flowers are made from pre-formed edible sheets — no mixing, no kneading. They are lightweight and translucent, with a romantic, painterly quality. They can be made three to four times faster than gum paste flowers and do not require overnight drying time between layers.

For beginners, they are the most encouraging place to start. Gum paste flowers are made from a sugar-based paste mixed and rolled by hand. They are denser and more sculptural — capable of extraordinary botanical precision, fine veining, and a porcelain-like finish that genuinely fools the eye at close range. They require more patience, longer drying times, and more specialised tools.

Neither is better. They are different tools for different creative visions. Many decorators — including Winifred — work with both, and knowing when to reach for which is part of the artistry.

At Winifred Kristé Cake, we teach both. If you are just beginning, wafer paper is the most forgiving and most immediately beautiful place to start.

3. What Types of Wafer Paper Flowers Can You Make?


One of the things that draws people to wafer paper is the extraordinary range of what is possible. From the simplest fantasy flower — made in minutes with just scissors and a few petals — to the most botanically layered rose or peony, this medium is capable of genuine variety.

Here are some of the most beautiful and loved wafer paper flower types:

COSMOS—
Delicate, romantic, and one of the first flowers Winifred teaches. Light enough to sway on a stem. Our free workshop begins here:

 

CLICK HERE to get started for free! Bonus PDF Guide is included.

More than 3000+ people have signed up for it and learnt all the foundations for working with wafer paper, create beautiful cosmos flowers and how to arrange them on a cake. 


OPEN TULIPS—
Another easy flower take requires 20% effort, but creates 80% impact. In this tutorial, Winifred teaches you how to achieve 2 different color tones for your flowers.

 

CLICK HERE to get your free workbook and guide. Click on thumbnail above to watch the tutorial on her YouTube.


WAFER PAPER LEAVES—
Wafer paper leaves and foliage are often underestimated, but a well-made leaf can transform an arrangement. If you are completely new to wafer paper, leaves are the most forgiving place to begin:

 

CLICK HERE to get your free workbook and guide. Click on thumbnail above to watch the tutorial on her YouTube.

4. How to Make Wafer Paper Flowers — the Daisy Tutorial

In this step-by-step tutorial, Winifred brings you through how to create these delicate looking mini daisies in just a few simple steps!


The best way to understand wafer paper flowers is to make one. This step-by-step tutorial walks you through creating a wafer paper daisy— one of the most approachable flowers to start with, and genuinely beautiful when it comes together. Read through all the steps once before you begin, gather your tools, and then take your time with each one. There is no rush here.

TOOLS YOU WILL NEED

  • A pair of craft scissors
  • A dry dusting brush for dusting
  • A mini brush for the edible glue
  • A toothpick
  • Egg whites 
  • Wafer paper glue 
  • Vodka (in a spray bottle)
  • Pliers
  • 26g white floral wire
  • Some edible dust colours
  • Wafer paper
  • Pale yellow gumpaste


STEP-BY-STEP DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut the 26g wire into halves or thirds and use the plier to bend the end of the wire into a little hook. Prepare the amount of gumpaste as shown and roll it into a mini ball.

2. Dip the mini hook into the egg whites, tap off the excess, and push it into the gumpaste ball. Ensure that you close the hole caused by the insertion by pinching your index finger and thumb in this manner.

3. To create the centre of the daisy, turn the gumpaste ball around and use a toothpick to make random indentations.

4. This is what it should look like when it’s done. Leave the ball to dry for at least 1 – 2 hours, making sure that the gumpaste is completely dry before you move on to the next step. 
Tip: You can make these daisy centres one day before and finish the remaining steps the next day.

5. Next, cut a tiny circular shape out of wafer paper and thread it through the wire until it reaches the bottom of the daisy centre.

6. Add some wafer paper glue to the circular cut out and adhere it to the gumpaste. This helps the wafer paper petals to adhere to the daisy centre more easily in the later steps. The wafer paper cut out should be well adhered to the bottom of the daisy centre when you’re done.

7. Cut out mini teardrop shaped wafer paper (these will be the petals) and start attaching them to the center of the daisy (Winifred usually attaches 5 – 6 petals around the daisy centre).

This is how the flower will look after you’re done with the petals. They can be more opened or angled at 45° like this one here.

This will be your first layer of petals. You can choose to stop here or continue adding another layer for more visual interest. 

In the picture above, Winifred has added a few more petals below the first layer to add more dimension to the flower.

8. The petals are looking a little flat at this point. To counter this issue, use the vodka spray to give it 1 – 2 sprays from a distance. 

Note: Avoid spraying too much vodka as we only need enough liquid for the petals to become soft and pliable for you to bend them. Wafer paper is extremely sensitive to liquid and adding too much will drench your flower, potentially destroying it. 

9. Once the petals become soft and pliable, use your fingers to gently bend it backwards. This helps to give the entire flower more character by introducing some movement in the petals.

10. Mix the edible dust colours that you’ve chosen to achieve an orangey-yellow shade. Once you’re done, use your brush to gently tap on the daisy centre to transfer the colours over. Note: Dusting your flowers is important as it helps to give it more life and look more realistic.

11. Cut out a mini starfish shape to create the calyx and colour it with a green tone. Tip: Mix edible gel colors with vodka to achieve a paintable consistency. 

12. Just like what you’ve to the daisy petals, use your fingers to bed the calyx to curl it before it dries out. Attach this to the bottom of your daisy and you’re done! Tip: Use the same green to paint your wire to gussy it up as the stem of your flowers.

And that’s it! 

Hope you like this tutorial!
FULL PICTORIAL VIDEO HERE:


If you’ve attempted making these flowers, tag us on Instagram (@winifredkristecake) so we can see your beautiful wafer paper daisies!


5. How to Colour Wafer Paper Flowers


Colouring is where wafer paper flowers go from beautiful to extraordinary. And it is also, for many beginners, where things feel uncertain at first. Which products do you use? How do you build depth? How do you avoid the paper dissolving?

The single most important rule: always use oil-based colourings (that contains glycerin) on wafer paper. Avoid water-based food dyes as it will cause it to warp, bubble, or dissolve — because wafer paper is highly sensitive to moisture. 

In this 6 part wafer paper leaves series, Winifred teaches you how to color and shares the importance of understanding what colors, liquid and wafer paper to use:


 

GINKO LEAVES—
Here's another bonus for you!

Wafer paper leaves and foliage are often underestimated, but a well-made leaf can transform an arrangement. If you are completely new to wafer paper, leaves are the most forgiving place to begin, you will also learn how Winifred mixes a natural muted yellow for her Ginkgo leaves:

CLICK HERE to get your free workbook and guide. Click on thumbnail above to watch the tutorial on her YouTube.

Lastly, if you want to add additional colors to your flowers, you may also use edible dry dusts to add on any accent colors as you wish. It helps to enhance the look of your flowers or leaves and since edible dust colors are dry, you will not risk adding moisture that may soften or melt your wafer paper. 

6. Common Beginner Mistakes + How to Avoid Them


Wafer paper has a reputation for being difficult — and honestly, some of that reputation is earned. It is sensitive. It responds to moisture, to humidity, to a too-wet brush. But most of the frustrations beginners encounter are the same ones, and all of them are entirely avoidable once you know what to watch for.

Mistake 1: Using water-based colour directly on the paper

Even a small amount of water-based dye applied directly can cause wafer paper to warp, buckle, or dissolve. Always use petal dust (dry), gel colour mixed with vodka, oil-based candy colours, or petal dust mixed with piping gel. These methods give you full colour range without touching the paper's structural integrity.

Mistake 2: Using too much liquid when softening petals

When using vodka spray to soften petals for shaping, one or two short sprays from about 30cm away is all you need. Over-spraying — or holding the bottle too close — will drench the paper and damage it. The aim is just enough moisture to make it pliable, not wet.

Mistake 3: Skipping the moisture barrier on buttercream cakes

Buttercream and fresh cream both contain moisture. Placing wafer paper directly on frosting without a protective barrier will cause the base of the flower to soften, sag, and potentially collapse. Before attaching any wafer paper flower to a frosted cake, apply a thin layer of melted cocoa butter to the area of contact. This creates a simple, food-safe barrier that protects the flower.

Winifred answers all your TOP 14 Frequently Asked Questions about Wafer Paper Flowers here:


7. How to Store Wafer Paper Flowers


One of the most practical advantages of wafer paper flowers is this: made and stored correctly, they can last FOREVER. You can make them weeks in advance, tuck them away safely, and bring them out when you need them. For wedding cakes and events where timing matters, this is a genuine gift.

The single most important factor is keeping them away from moisture. Everything else follows from that.

Where to store them: In a cool and consistently dry place. Avoid storing near ovens, windows, fridges, or anywhere that experiences sudden changes in temperature or humidity.

How to store them: In a rigid, airtight container — not a zip-lock bag, which can crush delicate petals and doesn't protect against humidity as effectively. A sturdy box with a secure lid works well. Add a few silica gel packets inside to actively absorb any residual moisture. If you are storing multiple flowers, separate layers with sheets of tissue paper to prevent them pressing together.

How long do wafer paper flowers last? Finished wafer paper flowers stored in a dry, airtight container can last 6 to 12 months or longer. The flowers themselves will not go bad — but their colour may gradually fade and their structure may soften if exposed to humidity over time. Unused wafer paper sheets, stored correctly, typically last 2 to 3 years.

Wafer paper will not go bad. As a general rule of thumb, it’s recommended that you use it within a year of its purchase. This is because the paper dries out and becomes brittle over time.

One of the best things about utilising wafer paper is the scrapes. These unused bits can be kept for future use. Ensure that you keep the extra pieces in a clean Ziplock bag and store them in a cool, dry place.

HOW TO STORE WAFER PAPER FLOWERS?

  • Store in a cool dry place – Because wafer paper is mostly made of starch, it’s highly sensitive to water and moisture. Storing them in a cool dry place ensures they retain their shape by reducing the possibility of the flowers absorbing moisture and oil from the buttercream.

    For more information, watch this comprehensive video above on how you store you wafer paper flowers.

8. How to Attach Wafer Paper Flowers to A Cake

Before attaching the sugar flowers to your cake, we need to learn how to make wafer paper glue. This glue can also be used to attach the petals to your wafer paper flowers in step 6 of our wafer paper daisies tutorial.


 

INGREDIENTS

  • Water
  • Wafer Paper


DIRECTIONS

  • 1. Mix some wafer paper and water in a container and microwave them in 10-second intervals. You’ll most likely only need to do this twice.
    Note: There’s no fixed quantity for each ingredient as long as you end up with a gooey mixture. However, to achieve this texture, the amount of water used should be lesser than the amount of wafer paper.

    2. It’s okay to have some lumps in the mixture after microwaving it. Let it sit for 1 – 2 hours and it should come together to form a smooth mixture. 
    Note: This step is not compulsory. You can start using the mixture as soon as it is out of the microwave, even with the lumpy bits.

    3. Store the mixture in a container for up to 5 days if you’re not using it immediately.

    4. Next, attach the wafer paper flowers to your cake. Since most of our flowers are built on wires, you’ll need to know how to put them into the cake. 
    Note: Always make sure that no exposed wires go into the cake. You don’t want any wires to be touching the cake as they can be toxic and may cause a bad reaction especially when your cake is citrus-based.
    Wrap your wires with floral tape (floral tapes are non-toxic) – to make them safe for insertion. If you still feel unsafe, you may also place a straw into the cake before inserting the wire through the straw. This ensures that the floral tape doesn’t come in contact with the cake.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Attaching your flowers:

Step 1. If your flowers are built on floral wire, wrap each wire with floral tape before inserting it into the cake. This is important — floral tape makes the wire food-safe. Never insert an unwrapped wire directly into cake.

Step 2. Insert wired flowers using a flower pick or a short section of drinking straw as a protective barrier between the wire and the cake interior.

Step 3. For flowers being attached directly to the cake surface (without wire), use a fine brush to apply a small amount of wafer paper glue to the base of the flower, then press gently into place.

Step 4. If attaching to a buttercream or fresh cream cake, first apply a small amount of melted cocoa butter to the area of contact — or to the back of the flower — and allow it to set before placing. This protective barrier prevents the buttercream's moisture from softening the wafer paper.

Step 5. Arrange your flowers as close to serving time as possible, take note of humid environments or if the cake will be displayed for a long period in a humid area. 

9. Want to Go Further?

If this page has sparked something in you, we would love to take you further.


1. Start free: Over 3,000 students have begun their wafer paper journey with Winifred's FREE Cosmos Workshop — a full foundational class covering the essential techniques, cosmos flowers, and how to arrange them on a cake. It is the most beautiful place to begin.

 


2. Mini Wafer Paper Rose Class: Create Stunning Edible Roses in Minutes

Discover a quick, efficient method to craft show-stopping sugar flowers—perfect for cake professionals and passionate creatives alike.

This mini class is a fast, approachable introduction to professional edible flower design. For just $19, you’ll learn how to create elegant, high-impact roses using a simple, time-saving method—plus get a bonus color class to spark your creativity and elevate your results:

 

3. Go deeper: The Ultimate Floral Bundle covers 12 stunning flowers — including hydrangeas, ranunculus, roses, peonies, and more — with full lessons on colouring, design, and cake composition. Designed for all levels, from complete beginners to working professionals.

 

This wafer paper flowers course by Winifred Kristé Cake is suitable for newbies and professionals; each lesson is designed to guide and help you to master these seemingly complicated creations in just a few simple steps.

The curriculum includes learning 12 stunning wafer paper flowers such as hydrangeas, ranunculus, rose, fluffy peony and more. It also covers the tools and materials and special tips you need to create these intricate flowers. 

Here are just some of our students' gorgeous beautiful wafer paper flowers :)

10. This could be you.

If this is something you have been wanting to try for the longest time, I hope all these resources have been helpful and our team is always one email away: [email protected].

We are here to support you in your journey to become the sugar flower artist and cake decorator of your dream :)

Wafer Paper Flowers are quick and more fuss free to make as compare to gumpaste flowers, so come discover the wonders of it & elevate your cake’s décor and learn how to make them today!

Frequently Asked Questions

A 100% yes. Winifred learns most of her skills from scratch, made all the mistakes so you don't have to- so all classes are designed with the thought of making sure all the fundamentals are covered in detail step-by-step processes, before we move on to something more advanced.

You're in safe hands to kick start your wafer paper and cake decorating journey here. All we ask for, is a heart open to learning.

If you are still unsure, you may try out Winifred's most popular Wafer Paper Mini Rose Class, perfect for beginners to get started!

Not at all. However, if you prefer to start with a smaller class and have a taster, our Beginner's Favorite is our Wafer Paper Mini Rose Class.

This class will allow you to understand how easy it is to create a romantic looking flower like the rose- you’ll be guided step-by-step through the process, and be able to build confidence in working with wafer paper flowers.

You’ll need some basic tools like scissors, floral wire, and edible glue, along with wafer paper (don’t worry—we’ll send you a full supply list when you sign up (yes even in our free classes)). Many of the items are things you may already have in your cake decorating kit.

If you are just starting out, begin with what you already have. The tools can grow as you do.

Wafer paper can work on buttercream cakes, too. Just remember to add in a layer of melted cocoa butter between the wafer paper flowers and the buttercream so the condensation from the buttercream will not soften or affect the wafer paper. (Wafer paper is sensitive to moisture.)

Winifred is based in Singapore where the humidity level is around 70-80% on average, so yes, both wafer paper and flexible gum paste flowers can be made in humid climates. Helpful tools include a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity level to about 60-65%, and the use of vodka to condition wafer paper. You can learn more about working with wafer paper on my YouTube Channel.



I love both Wafer Paper and Gumpaste for making my flowers and I use both mediums for different reasons.

One big reason why I use wafer paper instead of gumpaste is because of how light weight it is. When adding a lot of flowers to a cake design, this is important. Other benefits of wafer paper include taking only minutes to dry, which means faster assembly and no waiting overnight before dusting. Flowers made from wafer paper can also last forever, so you won’t have to worry about flowers withering again.

Gumpaste on the other hand gives me very rich colors and allows me to create more realistic looking berries and fruits. Now with the flexible gumpaste available, there is more reason for me to love gumpaste!

Yes- in fact, many techniques for gumpaste and wafer paper are interchangeable.

Both are beautiful — and both have their place on a cake. Wafer paper flowers are made from edible rice paper: they are lightweight, translucent, and do not require overnight drying time. There is a delicacy to them — almost ethereal — that makes them feel incredibly lifelike.

Gum paste flowers are denser and more sculptural, ideal for highly detailed work that needs to hold its shape firmly over time.

If you are new to sugar flowers, wafer paper is a wonderful, forgiving place to begin. If you are drawn to intricate, structured petals with a porcelain quality, gum paste may be calling you.

This varies widely depending on the school and the depth of the course. Single classes can range from as little as $19 — like our Mini Wafer Paper Rose class — to several hundred dollars for a comprehensive masterclass. Subscription platforms like Skillshare or Sugar Geek Show offer membership-based access that can be cost-effective if you plan to take multiple courses. 

At Winifred Kristé Cake, we also offer a free entry point — our Wafer Paper Guide + Cosmos Workshop — so you can find your footing before committing to a paid course.

We would gently suggest starting with something free — both to experience the teaching format and to find a teacher whose style genuinely resonates with you. Our FREE Wafer Paper Guide + Cosmos Workshop is designed exactly for this: a full, foundational introduction to working with wafer paper, creating cosmos flowers, and arranging them on a cake.

Over 3,000 students have begun their journey here. From that experience, you will know exactly where you want to go next — and you will already have surprised yourself with what you can make.

Some of our most popular classes that you might be interested in:

that will boost your creative skillset for you to expand more on knowledge and experience & to take it to the next level:

background pattern
Hi, I'm <line-under>Winifred 👋🏼 </line-under><br> I teach passionate cake artists how to excel in design through the use of exquisite color palettes and life-like florals. Hi, I'm <line-under>Winifred 👋🏼 </line-under><br> I teach passionate cake artists how to excel in design through the use of exquisite color palettes and life-like florals.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Hi, I'm Winifred 👋🏼
I teach passionate cake artists how to excel in design through the use of exquisite color palettes and life-like florals.

Over 14 years of experience in the cake industry weaved into an Online Academy. Through teaching and sharing my expertise, I help aspiring cake artists bring elegance, confidence, and clarity to their work.

I’ve always been inspired by the process of creating beauty from scratch — especially when art and cake come together. This passion has grown into a mission: to equip and empower cake artists, hobbyists, and small business owners with the right skills and mindset to flourish creatively.

Whether you're just starting or refining your craft, I’m here to support your growth and help you do more of what you love — with confidence and purpose.