How to Choose Between Marzipan, Gum Paste and Modeling Chocolate Fondant
The options for decorating cakes, cupcakes and other sweet treats are almost limitless, subject only to your creativity. However, taking care when selecting the medium for your decorations is vital to achieving the result you desire. Marzipan, gum paste and modeling chocolate all have specific properties that lend themselves to particular applications. And although any of these confections can be made in your kitchen, selecting premade options reduces the amount of time you spend creating your designs. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Select marzipan to create sculpted fruits, vegetables or other simple shapes to place on top of other baked items such as cupcakes and cakes. Consider covering your cake with marzipan prior to applying fondant or butter cream icing to seal in the moisture of your cake and to add an almond flavoring to your foods, as marzipan is composed of at least 25 percent almond. Choose marzipan shapes as sweet treats by themselves, or a unique decorating option for any entertaining event. Serve marzipan especially to children, who enjoy eating these fun shapes and holding the sculptures in their hands.
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Cover your cake or cupcake with modeling chocolate to achieve a unique chocolate flavor, unlike the super sweetness of fondant or the richness of butter cream icing. Using white chocolate modeling chocolate provides excellent flavor for those who prefer white chocolate. Select modeling chocolate as your vehicle for complex sculpting as modeling chocolate will not dry out as quickly as other options and remains pliable longer.
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Work with gum paste, or pastillage for extravagant decorations such as bows and flowers that you are not planning to eat as gum paste is edible but very bland. Add depth and dimension to your gum paste decorations by painting, air brushing, or dusting your sculpted gum paste. Take care with your application of gum paste, however, as it dries hard and brittle and could easily break if not carefully handled. Select gum paste for decorations with thin areas as gum paste is stronger than fondant, but does take longer to dry, especially if thick pieces are used.
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References
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