
There are various types of edible glue; such as royal icing, gum paste/water mixture, melted chocoloate, piping gel etc. Which glue you choose depends on each individual project. I would use royal icing to fasten the pieces of a gingerbread house together, for example, as it tends to be a strong adhesive.
My favourite type of sweet glue is made with tylose powder.
I’ve adapted the following tylose glue recipe from Bonnie Gordon’s School of Cake Decorating and Design . (Smaller quantity).

Ingredients/Equipment used to make edible glue:
- 1/4 tsp tylose powder
- 2 Tbs warm water
- paintbrush
- small bowl or container
- fork
Instructions on how to make edible glue:
- Put 1/4 tsp of tylose powder in a small bowl or container.
- Add 2 Tbs of warm water and stir with a fork to break up the Tylose lumps the best you can. (The mixture will look lumpy; this is normal).
- Cover and put it in the fridge overnight.
- When it has set, the glue should have a syrupy consistency. If it’s too thick, add water or too thin, add more tylose powder.
- Use a paintbrush to apply the glue for precision.
When the glue is ready, it will be transparent. It’s for this main reason that I prefer tylose edible glue for most of my projects… It’s much easier to see mistakes with royal icing ‘glue’ than it is with this recipe!
Happy glueing!!
Marian








Thank you for sharing your tips.
Edible glue? I hadn’t realized that there is such a thing! This really is a uniquely informative site.
can i eat the glue
Giggle, yes, that’s why it’s called edible glue.
Thank you for sharing
Hi Marian, I was wondering, how long will this glue last for? And does it need to be refrigerated? Thanks!
Hi there,
I’m wondering the same. How long will the glue last for? Could I store it in the fridge for my next project?
Hi Lori, It lasts indefinitely as long as it’s properly sealed and yes you can store it in the fridge for your next project.
Have fun decorating!
Would this glue work on skin or fabric? I am looking for edible glue for a costume.
Thank you.
@ Jenny: I don’t think it would be strong enough, sorry! =(
Would love to know what your costume is if you care to share. =)
Hi Marian I am wondering if you have any glue that you dont have to put it in the fridge overnight? If not do you know of any one or any website that does? THANKS!!!
@ Abby: Depending on what you need it for, (how strong you need it to be), you could use other substitutes like royal icing (a thick RI is pretty strong), or even a gum paste and water mixture (a little bit of water mixed with gum paste). Good luck!
hello! i was looking for this thanks u so much just two questions
how quick it dry? I need glue a lot of snowflakes to a wedding cake,
and can I use tragacanth gum insteand of tylose?
thanks so much
thanks you so much. this will help me with my school invention.It means a lot to have all the ingredints right there. thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you flavor the glue? I’d love to make a gingerbread house with flavored glue to add a little extra taste for the kids!
@ Melanie:
Yeah if I eat a bunch of pineapple a couple of hours before, we can make it taste like pineapple. For the kids.
Hi. I’m wanting to make seed balls for my birds (cockateils) as they are so expensive.
Any ideas on an edible glue gor this? Thanks
i loved it and thank you for sharing your recipe.
can you use this glue for sticking sweets onto styrofoam balls which will be covered with tissue paper?
I am making a center pice out of gumballs there about 1/2 in round. Is this glue strong enough to hold a lot of them.
Would honey work @ Robyne?
Thanks, @ raleigh.
@ Angie, @ JR: I don’t think it’s strong enough, sorry.