I was just wondering how exactly do you add gumpaste to MMF. I have a can of wilton's gumpaste powder(you add water etc to it) If I added the powder to the MMF would that work? About how much should I add for one batch of MMF? (ex. one pack of mini marshmallows)

Certainly not an expert by anystretch of the imagination, but I don't think adding gumpaste powder is gonna work...I have heard of mixing gum paste and MMF in a 50/50 proportion. Last night in our Wilton 3 class, the instructor told us to add GUMTEX powder to the fondant to make it become harder. GUMTEX powder and GUMPASTE powder are two different products. To be safe, I would suggest you make the gumpaste according to the directions on the can...then add this to your MMF...like I noted above...half gumpaste, half fondant.

Hope I am right...just my opinion...like I said...I am a noobie and don't have a lot of experience with either...maybe a Wilton instructor or someone with more experience could answer this question better?

i actually do it all the time when i'm making figures or toppers. all of the cupcake toppers in my photos were made from this recipe

this is how i make mine. i use the basic recipe of 1-16oz bag of marshmallows, 1tbsp water (i usually sub this for vanilla), and not quite a whole 2lb bag of powdered sugar. i melt my marshmallows in the microwave. while they are melting, i sift my powdered sugar into a very large, i think 8qt, stainless steal bowl. after they are completely melted i just dump all of it into the bowl and grease my hands VERY well and start kneading. once it starts to come together i add about 2 tbsp (this is approximate because i usually just dump some in ) of this http://www.countrykitchensa.com/catalog/product.aspx?T=1&ShopId=38&CatId=532&SubCatId=528&productId=619113 i've never used the wilton gum paste powder, but i'm assuming they are pretty similar. i just continue kneading the fondant in the bowl until its the right consistancy. then i rub a coating of shortening on the outside and wrap in plastic wrap and put in a zip bag and let sit for 12-24 hours. works awesome! before i started doing this the mmf was way too soft to sculpt with and it was a pain to remember to have a batch of gum paste ready to mix in with the fondant.

i wouldn't recommend using this as a covering for a cake though! it would dry too quickly and might crack.

Julie, I can't get your URL to work. What is it? Code-speak works!

Lisa

sorry about that i forgot the space between the word this and the link. should be fixed now.

sorry one more thing. you can make up the gum paste as directed on the package and then use a 50/50 mixture of the gum paste and mmf and that works just as well too.

Julie, thanks for posting your recipe. I've been wanting to try to make a 50/50 but havent yet. Still using just plain mmf for my figures and it can really limit what I do.
This sounds simple and I only have to knead everything once.
Thanks again!

Julie, thanks so much for posting this. Are you saying that you completely knead your fondant/gumpaste mixture in the bowl? All the mess that I make kneading has kept me from making MMF. This sounds great. I have the gumpaste powder that you use just sitting there waiting to be useful!

Would this work for flowers or do you think I would be better of using straight gumpaste? I am doing roses and gerbera's for an April wedding, but it takes me so long that I have to get started very soon!

Thanks,
Martha

i do! i started doing it on the counter too and hated having to clean up afterward! so i went out and bought myself the 8qt bowl. now i have 2 dishes to clean and no messy counters!!! (well 3 if you count the spoon, lol)

as for the flowers i haven't really made any so i can't help you out there, but it wouldn't hurt to try it.

I have no experience with figurines. So, humor me. How does it limit you to use only MMF in making figurines, flowers, etc? Is there a time when MMF by itself is best or should it always be a mixture? Thanks!

Lisa

IcedTea4Me2 - from personal experience, when i make say a head and try and form it into a ball and i then want to set it down if i'm using just straight mmf it tends to spread or deform because it is so soft, but if i use just straight gum paste i find that either i am just too slow or its the gum paste i use, but it cracks on me, which is why i use the mmf with gumpaste powder added because it gives me a longer window with drying time. as for the flowers i've never made anything beyond ribbon roses so i really can't give advice about those.

so i guess i would have to say, just from personal experience and keep in mind i've only ever used mmf and i'm not saying other brand aren't good, lol, straight mmf is best for covering cakes and enhanced mmf is best for figures.

Thanks!

Lisa