February 4, 2012

What is Gum Tragacanth?

When demonstrating I am often asked to explain the difference between the gums we cake decorators use. When making modeling paste I prefer to use gum tragacanth rather than its synthetic substitute CMC basically because gum tragacanth gives me a firmer paste and I find it easier to work with.

The proportions I use in the UK are 1tsp to 250g sugarpaste. Knead the gum into your sugarpaste and… Continue reading

How do I get my sugar shaper to work?

Sugar shapers or clay guns, craft guns, sugarcraft extruders as they are also know are one of my favourite sugarcraft – cake decorating tools, one that I really wouldn’t like to be without! I use mine to add trim around the base of a cake, add fine details to a side of a cake where piping a pattern wouldn’t be easy, to create hair on my

Why does my sugarpaste crack?

Cracks appearing in Sugarpaste: Usually the simple answer to this is that either, the paste hasn’t been kneaded enough or the consistency of the paste isn’t correct i.e. it is too soft and stretchy or it is too hard and dry.

Cracked/Crazed Sugarpaste