How to Decorate a Cake With Sugar and Gum Paste
Gum paste, also called sugar paste or candy clay, is used to make edible decorations. This pliable paste of sugar is easy to mold, similar to modeling clay; it dries to be hard and crispy. Gum paste can be painted, flavored, tinted or dusted. Since it's flexible, you can turn it into a large variety of shapes. Purchase gum paste or make your own. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Gum paste
- Cornstarch or shortening
- Dusting powder
- Wire (optional)
- Styrofoam (optional)
- Cookie cutters (optional)
- Rolling pin (optional)
- Knife (optional)
- Icing or pasteurized egg whites (optional)
- Airtight container
- Food color and flavor (optional)
Instructions
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Mix your own gum paste or buy pre-made gum paste. Allow homemade gum paste to rest for several days under a damp cloth, in a glass jar or in a plastic bag. This will make it pliable and strong.
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Dust a smooth working surface, your tools and your hands with cornstarch or shortening. Keep the gum paste covered when not being worked.
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3
Roll the paste, then cut out your desired shapes using cookie cutters or a knife. Alternatively, form it with your hands or use a mold that you have dusted with cornstarch or shortening. Gum paste can also be used as a fondant to cover the entire cake. Roll the paste to approximately 1/16-inch thick.
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Stick pieces together using dusting powder. Place roses and rosebuds on a wire and stick them into Styrofoam upside-down until dry. Attach dried pieces of gum paste with icing or pasteurized egg whites.
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Allow the gum paste creations to dry in airtight containers, away from moisture and heat, which could soften the paste. The larger the creation, the longer it will take to dry. Sometimes it can take more than 24 hours to dry. Allow ample time to dry before using the creations for decorating.
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