Gum Paste

Gum paste is a sugar dough used for making fancy decorations specifically for cakes. It is also known as sugar paste, candy clay, and pastillage. It is stronger than fondant. It dries quicker and harder than fondant making it more favorable to use in making figures than fondant.

This is my recipe of my gum paste that I use in making  flowers and figures in cakes.

 

Ingredients:

2 pcs egg whites

3 cups confectioner’s sugar (reserve 1 cup for kneading)

3 tsps tylose powder

Shortening for greasing

Procedure:

• Beat the egg whites in a bowl using a mixer until bubbly.
• Slowly add 2 cups of the confectioner’s sugar.
• Add the tylose powder and continue beating.
• Grease your hand and a clean flat surface that will serve as your kneading area.
• Knead the sugar mixture while adding the remaining 1 cup of powdered sugar little by little. Continue kneading until it is no longer sticking on your hands.
• Wrap the gum paste in plastic and refrigerate for 24 hours.

Before using the gum paste, bring it to room temperature and knead. You may add colorings for your desired figure.

Remember:

• Gum paste dries quickly so always secure the unused gum paste by wrapping it in plastic to avoid contact with air.
• If you want to make your gum paste dry faster, pop it in the oven for 3-5 minutes in 250º F or you may let them dry in areas with hot temperature like beside the stove while cooking.
• Do not refrigerate dried gum paste figures or flowers for they will soften. 

These are some of the things that you can make with gum paste:

sprinkles	different shapes
flowers	butterflies
letters	figures