How to Mold Sugar

Use sugar to create molded decorations.

You can create decorations for cakes, cookies and other desserts using only standard granulated sugar and water. When sugar is wet, it takes on the texture of wet sand and you can mold it into nearly any desired shape in the same way you would mold sand to create a sandcastle. While molding sugar is not difficult, it can take a little bit of practice to master the technique. To avoid frustration caused by broken sugar decorations, always mold a few spare shapes so you have them on hand when you need them.

Things You'll Need

• 2 cups sugar
• Large mixing bowl
• Fork
• 4 tsp. water
• Mold
• Cornstarch
• Cake board

Instructions

1. Measure 2 cups of sugar into a large mixing bowl and stir the sugar gently with a fork to remove any clumps.

2. Add 4 tsp. of water to the sugar.

3. Stir the sugar and water together with your hands until the mixture feels like damp sand.

4. Dust a mold with a thin layer of cornstarch. You can use candy molds, cake pans or even a standard cereal bowl to mold your sugar.

5. Pack the sugar and water mixture into the mold. Press the sugar down firmly with your hands as you work.

6. Turn the mold upside down onto a cake board or a cookie sheet and gently tap the bottom of the mold with a spoon to loosen the packed sugar. The sugar will fall out of the mold onto the cake board. If the molded sugar falls apart, repeat the previous two steps and try again.

7. Wait approximately 24 hours for the shaped sugar to dry before you attempt to handle or move it.

Tips & Warnings

• You can speed up the drying time by baking the sugar at 200 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove the sugar from the mold before you begin baking.

• If you would like to add color to your molded sugar, add a few drops of liquid food coloring when you add the water.

References

• "Cake Decorating!"; Wilton; 2004