How to Learn Sugar Art

Melted Sugar Sculpture

Making sugar art is a highly valued, complex skill to master. Once boiled, sugar syrup can be shaped by pulling, blowing or casting in molds. The results can be truly stunning in the hands of a professional, but it is an art form that requires great patience, experience in candy making and hours of practice before similar results can be expected at home. However, it is by no means impossible to learn, and basic sugar art sculpture can be made without a large investment in tools and ingredients.

Things You'll Need

• Gloves
• Silicon mat or marble countertop
• Scissors
• Candy thermometer
• Copper pot
• Ladle
• Spatula
• Pot of cold water
• 250-watt lamp
• Flat brush an inch or so wide
• Kitchen scale
• 1 lb. 10 oz sugar
• 11 oz corn syrup
• 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
• 8 oz water
• Paste food color (if desired)

Instructions

Cooking the Sugar

1. Mix the sugar and water in the copper pot, and stir over low heat until the sugar is completely dissolved.

2. Bring the sugar syrup to a boil. As foam forms on the surface, scoop it off with a ladle and dispose of it. This residue has in it the impurities that are naturally found in sugar. Clean further impurities and sugar residue by dipping your brush in a small amount of water and washing down the inside of the pot, just above the boiling sugar. Don't use too much water or you will slow the cooking time. Wash the pot with the brush three or four times or until the sugar is clear.

3. When the boiling sugar reaches approximately 110 degrees Celsius, add the corn syrup and cream of tartar. Then turn the heat to high and place the candy thermometer in the pan. Boil without stirring until the temperature reaches 150 to 157 degrees Celsius.

4. Once the sugar is at the correct temperature, remove the pan from the heat and place it in the pot of cold water for about 30 seconds.

Pulling and Sculpting the Sugar

1. Pour the sugar syrup on to the silicon mat or a lightly oiled marble countertop. Let the sugar cool slightly and then use a spatula to fold the ends up toward the center. Folding will allow the sugar to cool evenly. If colored sugar is desired, divide the sugar into portions and color with paste food color as you continue folding. Uncolored sugar will lighten to white as it is pulled.

2. When the sugar is cool enough to handle but still warm, put on the gloves and start pulling the sugar. Pull by holding the sugar down with one hand and stretching it out with the other and then folding it over on itself and repeating the procedure. You will need to pull approximately 10 to 20 times before it takes on the glossy texture that you're looking for. Do not over-pull the sugar or it will crystallize too much and lose the shine.

3. Place the lump of pulled sugar under the heating lamp to keep it warm and pliable as you work.

4. Shape your pulled sugar into whatever art form you'd like. Blowing sugar is done with a sugar blowing pump and torch, in a technique similar to blowing glass. If you're just beginning, experiment by cutting small pieces into different shapes with scissors. You can stick the pieces together by warming the sugar with a torch, and you can even paint your art with brushes using food coloring. Be creative and have fun--the possibilities are endless!

5. When your sculpture is complete, store it in an airtight container with calcium carbonate.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not boil your sugar syrup to temperatures higher than 157 degrees Celsius, or your candy will become too hard to work with. Sugar boiled to 150 degrees is the easiest to work with as it stays pliable longer.

• The sugar used for sugar art must be boiled to high temperatures. Be careful to avoid burns. This is not an activity suitable for children.

References

• Sugar Artistry
• That Takes the Cake
• Spun and Pulled Sugar Secrets