How To Make Edible Moss For Woodland Cakes
This edible moss is perfect for whimsical woodland cookies, cakes and cupcakes. This recipe uses light colored cookies, like graham crackers and nettle tea to create a beautiful, realistic and delicious moss effect.
Why you'll love it:
- This recipe makes even the simpliest cake and cupcake designs look impressive.
- It's a perfect touch for the top of woodland cakes
- The edible moss is absolutely delicious, and you can use small amounts on top of the cake you're making, or cover the entire sides of the cake
- It incorporates needle tea which is a great source of terpenoids, carotenoids, fatty acids, and more! Source
- Nettle tea has a very mild earthy flavor and is really masked by the cookie flavors. It's added optionally to make the moss look realistic.
This edible moss looks beautiful on our woodland chocolate cheesecake.
You may also love it on these Chocolate Oreo Dirt Cupcakes
Ingredients:
- 1 14 oz sleeve of graham crackers or similar light colored cookies, I've also used digestive biscuits.
- ½ 1 oz bottle (standard size) of liquid food coloring in green
- ¼ cup loose nettle ground tea - this is totally optional, and will not alter the taste of your moss. It does really make it look so much more realistic, and adds a little bit of health benefits to whatever magical cake creation you're making! Balance, hehe!
How to make it:
- Preheat oven to 350 F or 176 C
- Add your full sleeve of graham crackers or cookies into a food processor and grind them up. If you don’t have a food processor, crush up the graham crackers in a plastic bag, but just be sure to get things nice and crushed. You want them to be finely processed.
- Add your graham cracker crumbs to a large bowl and add in your food coloring. This recipe does require quite a lot to get it a nice dark green color. Start with ½ bottle and add more if needed. Use gloves to mix it up with your hands without staining them.
- Place the colored cookie crumbs on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 15 - 20 minutes.
- Once your color is nicely incorporated with the crumbs, add your nettle and be amazed by how magical and real it looks!
This edible moss looks gorgeous on our Lilac shortbread cookies
save this recipe for later on pinterest!
Click the image below to save this recipe if you need to remember to make it later!
Expert tip:
If making a woodland cake - a chocolate cake would be great base for edible moss. When you do your crumb coat, the chocolate cake crumbs could give the effect of edible dirt. I didn't think of this initially and next time I make a woodland cake, I'll be using chocolate!
If using this for a cake your buttercream or frosting will work as your edible glue. Be sure you have your moss ready right when you frost your cake to sprinkle it on right away. It won't stick once your buttercream has hardened up a bit.
Frequently asked questions
Is this recipe vegan?
This recipe is vegan if you choose to use honey free / vegan graham crackers
How do I store the edible moss?
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks, or in a ziplock bag in the refrigerator for up to one month
Edible moss for woodland cakes
Ingredients
- 1 14 oz sleeve of graham crackers or similar light colored cookies I've also used digestive biscuits.
- ½ 1 oz bottle standard size of liquid food coloring in green
- ¼ cup loose nettle ground tea
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F or 176 C
- Add your full sleeve of graham crackers or cookies into a food processor and grind them up. If you don’t have a food processor, crush up the graham crackers in a plastic bag, but just be sure to get things nice and crushed. You want them to be finely processed.
- Add your graham cracker crumbs to a large bowl and add in your food coloring. This recipe does require quite a lot to get it a nice dark green color. Start with ½ bottle and add more if needed. Use gloves to mix it up with your hands without staining them.
- Place the colored cookie crumbs on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 15 - 20 minutes.
Once your color is nicely incorporated with the crumbs, add your nettle and be amazed by how magical and real it looks!
Notes
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks, or in a ziplock bag in the refrigerator for up to one month What can I use it for?
Use it on cookies, cakes & cupcakes!
Is the ground nettle safe to eat just out of the bag?
Yes it is 🙂
Hi there! How does it test? Thinking about making for a mushroom cake for a family party but will it make the cake taste like tea?
You could leave the nettle out if desired, it just gives it a more realistic look! And I find it doesn't alter the taste whatsoever! So excited for your adorable mushroom cake! I'm sure it will be amazing! xox
I love your recipie for edible moss. How long will the edible moss be good for? Does it freeze well?
Thanks!
Thanks so much for this helpful question! I'm happy you asked. I've had a bag of this moss in my fridge for over a month, and just sprinkle it on anytime I have a need for moss, haha! I don't believe it would freeze well, but it stays fresh in a ziplock bag stored in the refrigerator for several weeks, xo!
What can I use in place of nettle tea? The kiddos didn't like it.
Great question! You can skip it entirely. But, if you want to use a green, leafy tea for aestetics, you can see if they enjoy lemon balm, and moringa has virtually no flavor which would work well instead!