Choosing Between Starch-Based and Gelatin-Based GlitterAfter working with both types of glitter, we ultimately preferred
starch-based glitter. It’s simpler and faster to make, with several key advantages.
✅ Ease and Speed of Preparation. Starch-based glitter is quicker and easier to make, with the option for fast drying.
✅ Easier Coloring. Starch-based glitter is easier to tint, while gelatin-based glitter can sometimes develop an undesirable yellowish tint.
✅ Grinding
- Starch-based glitter is brittle and can even be crushed by hand, requiring just 1 minute to grind.
- Gelatin-based glitter is more elastic, taking 3–4 minutes to process. A regular food processor struggles with it, as the glitter tends to bounce around inside the bowl instead of being ground.
- A coffee grinder might work better, but since we didn’t have one, we used an immersion blender in a narrow, tall container. Even then, the final texture remained coarse, making it unsuitable for certain designs.
✅ Heat Resistance
- Starch-based glitter is more heat-resistant. It can be mixed into isomalt and used for lollipops with embedded glitter.
- Gelatin-based glitter shrinks, darkens, and burns when exposed to high heat.
✅ Moisture Resistance & Storage. We tested how both types of glitter react in the fridge by leaving them on ganache and classic cream cheese frosting for 24 hours. Neither type melted or ran, only becoming slightly softer, which did not affect their appearance.
When to Use Gelatin-Based GlitterDespite its challenges, gelatin-based glitter has one distinct advantage: it’s denser and more flexible. This makes it ideal for larger decorative elements, such as:
How to apply edible glitter?Edible glitter sticks easily to cream cheese frosting — it practically clings to the fresh surface without any extra effort. The same goes for buttercream: glitter adheres to it just as effortlessly as it does to cream cheese frosting. Ganache is a bit trickier — it’s best to apply the glitter while the ganache is still fresh and hasn’t set yet. If it has already firmed up, gently warm the surface with a hairdryer to soften it slightly, then apply the glitter.
You can find detailed online lessons on our favorite cream cheese frosting, buttercream, and ganache on our website.Final Verdict⭐ Starch-based glitter is the more universal and practical choice. It’s faster and easier to make, color, and grind.
⭐ Gelatin-based glitter, while offering a unique flexible texture, requires more effort in preparation and handling.