Help With Gum Paste /fondant Figures Cracking
Decorating By Molly2 Updated 16 Oct 2008 , 8:38pm by pmaucher
I like making the gum paste fondant figures but every time I make them the seem to crack as they dry what am I doing wrong? I usually make 50/50 gum paste/fondant I add more shorting but the still crack. Can anyone please tell me what Iâm doing wrong.
Thank You for your help
Molly
It kind of sounds like you might be working too slowly, leaving your paste uncovered when not in use, and/or not getting the parts smooth before putting them together.
Instead of adding more shortening try adding a tiny amount of your gum glue to your paste to male it more pliable.
HTH
Michele
Do this only if you think your paste is too dry. It will make it a lot more pliable.
Work quickly with fresh paste, fresh gum glue, and a clean work surface. Sometime bacteria on a work surface can cause cracking. This happens because as the bacteria grow they produce gasses that will put forces on the paste from the inside.
HTH
Michele
molly2 thanks for asking this questions. i too make sure I have a very clean area. I purchased a hard surface cuttung mat for dress making tha i only use for fondant/gumpaste(love it,use a coupon from ac moore etc and purchase at Joannes) that I wash in my dishwasher. i sometimes get a seperation in my fondant.not like an uneven crack but a smooth seperation.Does that sound like it's from the gases. This happens with previuosly made fondant that I've added additional crisco from my hands etc to make it more pliable.Am I using fondant that has bacteria? I seal it by wrapping securley in seran then in freezer bags that I smoosh the air out of. Help. I am now concerned I'm doing something improper.Karen
Work quickly with fresh paste, fresh gum glue, and a clean work surface. Sometime bacteria on a work surface can cause cracking. This happens because as the bacteria grow they produce gasses that will put forces on the paste from the inside.
Wow thanks, I've never heard about the bacteria forming gasses before! I have two different gum paste recipes I use depending on what I'm making. I've noticed that the recipe made with egg whites seems to crack more easily than the recipe that does not contain egg whites. Will bacteria form more easily because of the egg, or does that make any difference?
Thanks! 
I never use gumpaste in my figures because of cracking-I use all fondant, and it works great.
Never knew that about the bacteria. Eeewwwwwww.
summernoelle
I always thought you had to have gum paste mixed with fondant in order to make figures. Do your figures stay to gather pretty will? do you still use the gum paste glue I have been brushing my figures with the gum paste glue and I have not had any problem with figures cracking since I started that but if it works with out it I'm going to try it.
Thank You
Molly
This may sound dumb but what is gum paste glue? Is it watered down gum paste or is a product you can buy?
The gumpaste glue I use is Tylose and water. I use about 2 Tbsp. water and about 1/8 tsp. Tylose. Allow this to absorb the water and then mix. It makes a very good glue that adheres quickly.
You can also make gum glue with gumpaste and water. How much water to gumpaste ratio depends on how thin/thick you want your glue to be. If you make it too thick, it will be very difficult to use and can be too bulky.
HTH
Michele
I used to have this problem. Fortunately I found out about Marzipan. I use that for all my figures now. It has not cracked on me, easier to color on and tastes alot better. I make my own marzipan out of almond paste, Powd sugar and light corn syrup. The monsters in my NBC cake are made from marzipan.
Good luck
Pam
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