I need help with and idea for the right type of mold for pastillage. I need to make a bell for a grammy cake, and I used the bell from my clarinet dusted with cornstarch but it just broke into pieces when I tried to remove it. Any suggestions? PLEASE HELP!!

You may need to make the pastillage a little thicker. Another thing I've done is cover the bell in plastic wrap and then dust the wrap with cornstarch & cover it with your pastillage. Let your pastillage dry really, really well (several days) before trying to remove it. It's very fragile before it dries, but once it dries completely, it's very hard & much more sturdy.

Agree with LadyVee - You really have to let pastillage dry well. Even when it looks dry outside, the inside can be damp. Examine the cracked bell and see if it is still wet at the breaks so you'll know for sure.

You can also coat some cornstarch on the side of the pastillage that is going to touch the bell.

Good Luck and if it cracks again, just call it the Liberty Bell

thank you!