Okay, I've been through all 3 Wilton Cake Courses, yet can't remember using gumpaste. (I've learned more from this site than I did in all three classes combined). The photos I've seen were people make things using gumpaste are so pretty. It seems like something I would like to use. So, do I buy it or can I make it?

Gumpaste is a lot like fondant, but seems a little stretchier so you can rollit ever so thin to make very realistic flowers, etc. It dries faster and stronger than fondant.

gum paste is a type of sugar dough that has great elasticity that allows it to be rolled paper thin. Used to make flowers, etc. It's made from confectioner sugar, gum tragacanth, water, and gelatin.

Do you make it? or buy it? I did get a little pack that says gumpaste on the outside, but wasn't told what to do with it? Do I add something to this?

You can by it as a power that you add water too, or you can buy it already made. So there should be instructions how much water to add to your mystery packet! I've never attempted to make it from scratch.

Was the little packet from your course 3 kit If so it was for adding into your fondant to help it dry faster and harder.

thanks! I will look for it the next time I'm in Michael's. (I've become a regular)! Thanks again for the help, I feel so silly not knowing what some of this stuff is.

Oh, is it gum-tex? That's a whole different thing!

Now I see why I'm still labeled "Newbie"!!!! Yes, it said gum-tex. Maybe I just need to rethink this cake biz. before I hurt somebody

i won't laugh, when i first started decorating cakes, i had no idea what fondant, etc, was what the difference between gumpaste, was or god forbid, someone used a name like pastilage or sugar paste so don't feel bad, and watch sugar rush on the food network

Why would anyone laugh? There is so much to learn about this sugar art and cake decorating. Besides, the Wilton Classes whet your appetite and get you addicted to doing this stuff!

I had the same little packet in my 3rd class and didn't get to use it either .... there were no instructions

You're only a newbie based on your number of posts...there is a lost of ranks that you can get to by clicking on near the top of the page. I was very excited last week when I became an addict!

i have a simple gumpaste recipe from this book i bought at amazon.com, but i've never tried it yet. would anyone like the recipe?? let me know how it turns out...i'm too busy to try it out right now.

Yes I'd be interested in the recipe. Don't know how I'll get the ingredients out here, but hopefully I can get my sister to send them to me. But at least I'd know, what to tell her to get.
Thanks a lot in advance
regards from China
Ursula

this recipe comes from the book-Cake decorating for the first time.
gumpaste recipe:
1 package gelatin
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 pound powdered sugar(that's 4 cups)
directions:
stir gelatin and water in saucepan. allow mixture to bloom in 3 minutes(no clue what bloom means)
stir in cornsyrup. heat on medium until gelatin completely dissolved, stirring constantly or mixture will scortch. in mixing bowl, alternate gelatin mixture with powdered sugar and mix until stiff. keep gum paste covered with plastic wrap to keep moist or store in airtight container.
tips-can be kept in airtight container for up to four days.
can be dyed with food coloring, which is best when making certain decorative items such as roses.
all this comes straight from the book. if anyone tries it, let me know how it turns out.

O.K.

This is coming from someone who has never seen or used gumpaste, so don't laugh!

Do people eat it?
mcginnis

i think it's mainly for decoration. no, i won't laugh!

Everyone has to start somewhere.....

The recipe appears to be more for fondant also called "sugarpaste", it is different from gumpaste. However, you could still use it to make many flowers. Gumpaste dries very hard to preserve the beautiful flowers that are usually made from it. You can technically eat it, but most flowers are constructed using wire, so generally it isn't eaten.

It is easy to make. the best recipe I have found is on NicholasLodge.com. It is made with Tylose which is more white than gum-Tex. It has the recipe and clear instructions. I cut the recipe in half when I made it the first time, because I just wanted a little to play with.

If you wrap the gumpaste carefully-double wraps and a container- and protect it from light, it will last several weeks.

OK, now that I have a recipe for it, where do I learn how to use it?
I would love to make some flowers from it.