Birthday Candles And Icing

[tigerlily6200]

Does anyone know if the generic number candles have gluten in them?? My daughter turns 6 and I am worried about her candle.  Also I can't find any of the icing in a tube to write her name on the cake without wheat starch?  Any suggestions?

[kareng]

I wouldn't worry about candles. I have seen 1 type of gel tube or icing without wheat. I can't remember the brand. If no one comes up with it, I'll see if I have some when I get home. I'm having my gray removed from my hair.

[shadowicewolf]

You could make your own. I don't know how to make the gel type of frosting, but the regular is pretty easy to do. Make up a batch, take a gallon size bad, snip the end in the desired size, and have fun.

 

I had to make a birthday cake once and did it that way and it came out pretty well.

 

I agree, candles should be fine.

[kareng]

I'm trying to figure out which one I got.  I think it was a Betty Crocker icing in a tube, not a gel.

 

When my boys were that age, they loved M&Ms on the cake for decoration.  You could spell her name out with them.  I had parents ask me how the cake was decorated. Their kids were raving about it and wanted it for their birthday.

[Rebekka's mom]

I thought M & M's were a candy to be vary of..

[kareng]

I thought M & M's were a candy to be vary of..

 

No. The company will label on the bag "may contain wheat" if they are a special batch made on a machine that might have run the pretzel m&Ms thru.  That is usually the "special" flavors:

 

 

Mars Chocolate makes M&M's, Dove, Snickers and other products. The company urges gluten-free consumers to check labels, even if a product normally is gluten-free; in busy times of year (such as Halloween), Mars uses alternative facilities to make its candy, and some of those may introduce cross-contamination risks. The company says it will label any gluten ingredients or cross-contamination.

Warning: At least some packages of two relatively new varieties of M&Ms — coconut and mint flavors — include the warning "May contain wheat" on their labels as of October 2012. Other varieties — including milk chocolate, dark chocolate, peanut and almond — don't contain that warning. In addition, I saw Mars several seasonal products, including M&Ms candy corn, that featured the "May contain wheat" warning. Always read the label before purchasing.

 

 

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[tigerlily6200]

Thanks guys!  I love the M&M idea... anyone know if the special colors of M&Ms are a concern.  I will need purple and pink...lol typical little girl

[kareng]

Thanks guys!  I love the M&M idea... anyone know if the special colors of M&Ms are a concern.  I will need purple and pink...lol typical little girl

 

 

Not sure.  Maybe the candy store would let you see the bag?  Or email Mars?

[love2travel]

Karen has a good idea. You can also easily and quickly make piping gel. Just google for tons of recipes.

[pricklypear1971]

I've had good luck with Wilton products. I haven't purchased piping since going gluten-free, but I've used their fondant and colorings. They are made in a shared facility, but most things are...

[cyclinglady]

I make my icing from scratch and I can pipe on flowers and edging that looks professional. But, in a pinch, I have used Jelly Bellies (gluten-free) on my daughter's cake along with some Cinderella figurines and she loved it. In fact, she requested this for three of her birthday's. Now, I just put fresh flowers on her cakes. To be honest, I'm lazy. I prefer to have a yummy homemade cake than a nicely decorated one that may not taste as good or be as fresh!