Other than the Nicholas Lodge recipe, which is the best gumpaste or gumpaste mixture I can use to make realistic looking flowers? I was hoping to roll it really thin, but won't crack. Can anyone please help me before I order my gumpaste. THANKS A LOT. Have a nice day everyone =]

good question. I would like to know too.

I prefer Nicholas Lodge's formula for flowers - it has a good "stretch" so that you can roll thin and still get additional thinning and/or ruffling around the edges. I have used Satin Ice and Wilton ready-to-use successfully, too (not the Wilton dry mix). The Satin Ice is a nice white-white. Do not use Bakels if you want it to dry firm! Those are the only ones I have used that I knew what brand it was - sometimes we use "mystery paste" in classes

I have used Satin Ice and I like it. You can roll it very thin. I use to make my own (I used Scott Clark Woolley's recipe which is posted on his website) until I discovered Satin Ice. So if you wish to go that route, then try it.

Thanks to everyone who helped. I gladly appreciate it. =]

I like this recipe from Scott Clark Woolley. I also find that there are different qualities of gum trag. I'm not too crazy with Wilton's gum tex.

Here's the gum paste recipe from Scott Clark Woolley:

INGREDIENTS

6 cups + 1 1/3 cups confectioner's sugar
2 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. Gum Tragacanth
6 tbsp. water
4 tsp. unflavored powdered gelatin
1 heaping tbsp. shortening
2 extra large eggs or 30 gms pasteurized egg whites

METHOD

Place 6 cups of confectioner's sugar and gum tragacanth in metal bowl over simmering water for about 5 minutes. Stir it once and remove from heat.

In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin on the water and leave for a few minutes until it 'blooms'. Place over simmering water or place in microwave, for about 30 seconds, until gelatin dissolves. Add in shortening to melt.

Add in this mixture, along with the egg whites, into the sugar. If using a mixer, start it at slow then when it starts to mix up, increase the speed to medium and beat for about a minute.

Make a well with the 1 1/3 cups confectioner's sugar. Scrape the gelatin/sugar mixture into the well. Work in he sugar into the mixture. It will be very loose at this moment. Grease hands and knead the paste. Cover with plastic wrap. Let it rest overnight. If in a rush, place in the refrigerator for about an hour until firm.

To use the gum paste, take a piece out and work it by stretching and pulling until it is pliable. Place unused piece in plastic wrap or plastic zipper bag. This will prevent the gum paste from drying out.

If your gumpaste is cracking, try kneading a bit of shortening into it.

Theresa

If I may offer an opinion -

When you say "the right gumpaste", I am assuming that you mean the paste which will give you the thin, delicate texture that flower petals should have.

My concern is more with where you live, as that usually dictates more which recipe to use.

You live in Vegas. I've never been there, so enlighten me - is it a dry climate? I mean, I know it's the desert, but does it get cold and damp there during this time of year?

I don't know your skill level, but if you're a newbie to gumpaste, then you need something which dries slower, so you have more time to work with it. Otherwise, in a dry climate, you will be snapping your petals apart as you try to attach them.

Theresa

sorry to jump in but what's the diff between gum tex and gum trag?

Thanks for the praise on my pics. It's always appreciated. Go back in a few minutes, and take a look at what I did in school a few weeks ago.

Well, I'm on the East Coast, in a valley, so here, we need gumpaste which will dry quickly, due to the humidity factor. Since that is not going to be a problem for you, you could actually start out with store-bought paste.

Store-bought pastes have ingredients in them which will prevent them from drying out in the package (remember, there's no such thing as a perfect vacuum, even in outer space). It's those same ingredients which prevent some pre-made pastes from drying when used. They're definitely a no-no where I live, but they might work for you.

Is there a reason why you're reluctant to try an egg-white based recipe? I have heard and read nothing but good things about both Nick Lodge's and Scott Woolley's recipes.

You mentioned fondant mixed with Tylose. I have used this often, with great results. If it starts to dry out on you, add a bit of shortening to the paste, and you should be fine.

Theresa

...........what's the diff between gum tex and gum trag?..........

GumTex is a product of Wilton. It is suppose to be similar to gum trag but isn't
Gum trag is a gum additive used in making gum paste. CMC is similar also, as is Tylose.

I love Nicholas Lodge. Wilton premade one is good as Satin Ice is, but if they are too hard I will add some fondant. If the Nicolas Lodge turn too soft I will add either Wilton or Satin Ice to harden it.
Edna

i love nicholas lodge also... scott wooley... wilton premade.. maybe i used satin ice wrong time of year... it was too soft... i,ll try it again. i mix tylose with pettinice... when i watch and make nicks flowers.. i use nicks gumpaste... when i watch scott and make his flowers .. i make his gumpaste.... etc.. that is when i watch their dvd's or videos...

Thanks icer101 for the reply. And Edna, Thanks for the top mixing gumpaste with fondant to soften it. Sometimes Ive seen hard gumpaste wilton and They feel rock solid. I guess fondant is the key to make it softer.

At school, we use FondX or Pettinice. I have made both into gumpaste. My honest opinion -

FondX works better, because it takes the normal recipe to make it into gumpaste, and it can be used right away. I had some leftover Pettinice fondant from the carved cake project we did at school last week, which I brought home and made into gumpaste. It not only took more Tylose to make it the right consistency, but I had to let it sit for 36 hours before I could get any stretch out of it.

Theresa

Edna -

I do not agree that FondX is better. To me, the fondant, by itself, feels like plastic, and has the smell of artificial clear vanilla to it. I do not have that experience with Satin Ice. But we all have our own opinions, right?

On the other hand, to make FondX into gumpaste, well, that's a different story. I am very pleased with how well it turns out, and that it is useable immediately.

Theresa