This may seem like a stupid question, but is there a difference between processed fondant and gum paste? I am in the Wilton Course 3, and we use fondant to make our flowers. If gum paste os different, is it easier or harder to work with.

Thanks!!!

Hi. I have used the Wilton gumpaste and it has been very difficult. I am considering trying the kind you mix instead of the ready made. There are also some other brands I am considering trying.

Gum paste dries faster. Also, I wouldn't eat gum paste. You can roll gum paste thinner for more realistic looking flowers. I think a lot just depends on what you are wanting to use it for.

You can also make a gum paste by adding tylose (CMC) to fondant. Lorraine (aine2) is a genius with gum paste. You've got to see her figurines.

You can also make a gum paste by adding tylose (CMC) to fondant. Lorraine (aine2) is a genius with gum paste. You've got to see her figurines.

any brand name of fondant, and tylose, or gumtex added makes gumpaste.. in course 111 , that is what you do . you add some gumtex that is in the kit to 12 oz. of fondant. that way you can make the rose in that course. or you can buy the g/p already prepared. i really like it. i love to make nicholas lodge's recipe too. but agian, i do like the wilton already prepared g/p.. i don,t like the satin ice g/p . for me it is too soft. sometimes the wilton powdered gumpaste mix, comes out really soft too. i guees it depends on the weather that day. i know you can add in more p/s but it is still soft for me.

You can also mix your ready made gum paste and fondant together ( mix 50-50) This becomes a gum paste and it is easy to work with and I thinks is makes the gumpaste not as sticky. You can also add the Wilton Gum Tex to you fondant and by doing this your fondant becomes a gum paste mixture also.

Personally I like using either straight Gum Paste or the 50-50 Mixture.

Hope this helps,
jddavidson

Thank you! That helps!

Although I am confused because my teacher had us add gumtex to our fondant before we covered our cake with it... and that doesn't make sense to me if it is to be used for flowers. But it doesn't suprise me, because I don't think he is the most knowledgable instructor! haha!

I am an instructor and when i took the classes no one explained that to me either......So i had to ask question and start playing with the fondant & gum paste.

Here is what i tell my students when they come to class........
Straight fondant....Use it to cover cakes, use it for overlays, inlays, and borders. You could use it for swags.

flowers, figures etc.......
There is staight Gum paste right out of the package,

then there is Fondant with ready made gum paste mixed together (50-50)= Gum Paste

Then fondant with Gum Tex mixed together= Gum paste.

They all dry a little different...some take longer than the others. And the hardness sometimes is a little different.
I just played with it all until i figured out what i liked.

I hope this helps a little.

that helps so much! Thank you!!!