What is the difference between gumpaste and fondant?
Fondant is used to cover a cake. We prefer fondant to be nice and soft so we can mold it around the cake with ease as well as it’s soft on the pallet to eat.Gum paste unlike fondant is similar but had added edible gums in it. This edible gum helps make the paste tough and can even dry rock hard.The purpose of gum paste is to use on decoration that can hold their shape. Like in this Frozen theme cake the spikes are made of gum paste because they are hard and can hold their shape.You would not be able to use fondant for these spikes as it will not dry hard as this.And you can also make sugar flowers, sugar figures and such for cakes using gum pasteAdding CMC to fondant to strengthen and stiffen the fondant. But flowers are still best made with gum paste.
I have two recipes for gumpaste, Why?
As you can see on this blog I have two recipes for gumpaste one with egg white and one with meringue. The first recipe is adapted from Nicholas Lodge Gumpaste recipe using egg whites and I use that almost all the time to make my sugar flowers. Sugar flowers made with wires are not meant to be eaten so they can be made with egg whites. The drawback of the first gumpaste recipe for me is that it is made with raw eggs and I do not get pasteurized eggs. My first Castle Cake was made with this gum paste. As a cake decorator when I saw all the kids at the birthday party eat the towers it really freaked me out. After that, I went on a hunt for an edible gum paste recipe. I tried almost all recipes that are available on the internet. The most common complaint I had was that due to the heat and high humidity in Israel the gum paste would stay soft and sometimes form molds or sticky after 2 to 3 days. After several experiments, I came up with my own recipe and have now settled on this recipe. I use it on cakes where the gum paste may be eaten. All my kids’ cakes that need hard objects are made with these recipes. All my cakes made for pregnant moms use this recipe.
Which gumpaste recipe should I use?
Meringue powder can be expensive and sometimes hard to find. So if you need to use gum paste for an item that will not be eaten such as sugar flowers, use the gumpaste recipe made with raw egg whites. If you need edible gumpaste that might be eaten use this gumpaste made with meringue powder.
What gumpaste should I use for hot humid weather conditions?
If you live in hot humid weather than the first gumpaste recipe made with egg whites is the best for sugar flowers and this edible gumpaste for cake decorating would be ideal for other cake projects. The presence of egg whites in both these helps dry and keep the projects hard.
Ingredients and substitutes
Egg White or Meringue Powder – my gum paste recipe is made with meringue powder. You can use it for making sugar flowers but it will be an expensive paste. So I use it only when I need a gum paste recipe that may be eaten. Sugar flowers made with wires are not meant to be eaten so they can be made with egg whites.Powdered sugar – There are many different brands on the market some made with beet sugar or cane sugar. I always recommend using powdered sugar made with cane sugar for cake decorating. Having said for gum paste it really does not matter if you use either. What’s important though is that your powdered sugar is fine, not coarse (yeah I get a brand that’s not really fine hence the mention)CMC / Tylose – This is edible gum and is the MOST IMPORTANT ingredient in this recipe. While there are other gum paste recipes this one uses either CMC or Tylos nothing else. These can be found at any cake decorating store near you or online. It’s not really expensive and has a long shelf life.Clear Vanilla Extract – The purpose of the clear vanilla extract is to prevent the gum paste from getting an ivory tint from the vanilla. Having said that often I do not have clear vanilla just my homemade vanilla extract so I often use Rose Extract for my gum paste recipe.
Step by step instructions (pin)
Dry ingredients – In a mixing bowl place 2 cups of powdered sugar, Tylos / CMC, cream of tartar, and meringue powder – mix well.Wet ingredients – Next, add 3 tbsp of warm water to the light corn syrup and mix thoroughly.Combine the wet to the dry ingredients and combine well for at least 2 minutes. Adding a little water if necessary.Tip – powdered sugar needs very little water to dissolve so resist the temptation to add too much water.The mixture should get sticky and that is what we are looking for. If necessary add a few tablespoons of water.Tip – the meringue powder in the powdered sugar will make it sticky similar to egg white this is exactly what we want otherwise the gumpaste will be crumbly and difficult to work withNext, add the remaining powdered sugar. Continue to knead well. Do not add more water unless necessary. You should be able to form a ball of dough.Next, rub in the vegetable shortening until you have a nice smooth and pliable dough.Tip – I divide my gum paste into 250 grams portions and store them separately. That way I use one portion at a time.It’s best to rest the dough in the fridge for a couple of hours before you use it. It will firm up quite a bit.Tip – Always keep gumpaste well-wrapped, first in plastic wrap then in a ziplock bag.Label and store in a sealed box so you know when you made it.
Storage
Like fondant, gum paste too should have a long shelf life if kept properly. Sealed properly this gum paste can be kept at room temperature for about a month. You can leave it in the fridge for about three months or even freeze it for a bit longer. Just make sure you bring it to room temperature before you need it. As a cake decorator, I use my supplies fast. I never store my gumpaste or fondant for long at room temperature especially in summer as the temperature can go up to 40 C so use your judgment when it comes to food safety. I portion my gum paste and bring one or two out of the fridge and it is usually used up in a day or week.
Troubleshooting
My gumpaste is too dry or too hard?
It can still be used. Just heat it in the microwave for 5 seconds then knead it really well with some vegetable shortening. Once it’s soft and pliable it’s ready to use again.
My gumpaste is too soft?
When made fresh gumpaste appears too soft avoid adding too much powdered sugar and let it rest a few hours. If it’s still soft after resting then you can add more powdered sugar until it’s pliable. If the gumpaste is too soft because of excess kneading, again just let it rest for a few hours and it will stiffen up again.
Can I put gumpaste in the fridge?
No, unfortunately, gumpaste does not like the fridge. The gum tends to break down so when you take it out of the fridge the condensation will melt the gumpaste flowers or gum paste projects.
Frequently asked questions
How to make a quick modeling paste
If you enjoy good weather the simplest way to make a quick modeling paste would be to add CMC or Tylose to your fondant. A tsp of CMC to 250 grams of fondant works great. You can make cake toppers such as animals and this Birdhouse cake with just a simple modeling paste. SAVE THIS RECIPE ON PINTEREST FOR LATER. TRIED MY RECIPE? SHARE IT WITH ME, PLEASE.Share a picture of your work with me by uploading an image here below my image on this board. You can also find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest. Thank you for sharing - Save for later
