Pearl Luster Dust

For a soft shimmer, dip a clean, dry, soft brush such as our fan application brush into the dust, tap off the excess, and sweep it lightly across the surface. This dry method suits fondant, gum paste, and molded chocolate. To recreate a snowfall on swirled buttercream, hold a loaded brush about two inches above a cupcake and tap it lightly so the dust drifts down across the peaks. For a bolder finish, mix a small amount of dust with a few drops of clear, food-grade alcohol or lemon extract until it forms a paintable consistency, then brush it on with a fine brush. The liquid evaporates and leaves the pearl pigment behind.

Start with a small amount and build up, since you can always add more but cannot take it back. Dust clings best to a surface that has set. On very soft, fresh buttercream or melted chocolate it can sink in and look muddy instead of shimmery, so let chocolate set first. For a closer look at brush technique with edible metal, watch our video on adding gold texture to cakes.

Our pearl luster dust is made from FDA-compliant pearl pigments and approved color carriers, and it meets U.S. FDA CFR 21 Part 73, 74, and GRAS definitions. It is kosher certified by EarthKosher (email us if you would like to view the certificate), produced under good manufacturing practices (GMP), and suitable for vegan and vegetarian diets.

Under 21 CFR 73.350, mica-based pearlescent pigments may be used at up to 1.25% by weight of the finished food in cereals, confections and frostings, gelatin desserts, hard and soft candies (including lozenges), nutritional supplement tablets and gelatin capsules, and chewing gum. In practical terms, 1.25% is about 1.25 grams of dust per 100 grams of finished food, and our recommended range is 0.1% to 1.25% by weight.

Drinks have narrower rules than food. Up to 0.07% by weight is permitted in distilled spirits (18-25% alcohol by volume), cordials, liqueurs, flavored alcoholic malt beverages, wine coolers, cocktails, and non-alcoholic cocktail mixers and mixes such as margarita mix. Beverages typically consumed without added alcohol, such as tonic water and eggnog, are excluded.