I started working on a "practice cake" for my DDs birthday..
It had 2 tiers, with a MMF waterfall going down the front, MMF rocks, etc.. (That part was pretty easy..) I was going to dress it up with some type of tropical flowers, and palm trees and this is where I ran into difficulty.
(And please forgive me, I've never even taken a class or anything, I have to just figure it all out as I go..)
I think my buttercreme frosting was screwey, because I couldn't get it to hold much of a shape to save my life. (I wouldn't think high altitude living would have anything to do with that would it??)
Then I tried to use left over MMF to make flower petals, but they ended up just collapsing and I couldn't get them to hold their form at all.
I was just going to make MMF palm leaves and attach them to thick pretzel sticks as the trunks, but I couldn't figure out how to attach the leaves to the pretzel sticks..
So after doing a little investigation (I haven't had much time to search, we've all been battling a HORRIBLE stomach virus) I *think* what I need to do is to make a batch of royal icing and get a lilly nail and start practicing with that..
Anyone have any other suggestions for making good tropical flowers and palm trees???
I know there are some really good flower makers and palm tree makers on this site! Gonna bump your post up from page 2 and see if someone can help you=) GL with your cake, Jen
I just took a gumpaste and fondant class (which I highly recommend since it's opened up a whole new world to me). I would say don't even try using buttercream since it's just too soft and never really hardens or dries. Fondant is better at holding it's shape but really, gumpaste is what you need.
You could get the gumpast kit that has all the cutters in it and some gumpaste, or just buy some gumpaste and color it, roll it out and hand cut the leaves and petals. Then you need to use a gum glue to attach it. This is easily made by tearing of tiny pieces of the gumpaste (not colored and adding like a 1/4c of water. The gumpaste will dissolve and become a glue/liquide you can use to paste things! Great!
Hope this helps!
Thanks Ladies!!
I would LOVE to take a Gumpaste/Fondant (or any cake class!) class. I was getting ready to start taking them when my DHs work transfered us here to Denver (from Oklahoma).
So now I am trying to figure out a Convection oven (something new to me), high altitude cooking (again, new to me), and not being able to take a class, because I don't have anyone to keep my 2 kids (and DH works too long of hours for me to count on him to be here..)
I'll give Gumpaste a try!
I have til August 8 when the party is! lol
I had to make two palm trees for a luau last weeked. I made the leaves out of a 50% fondant and 50% gumpaste and let htem dry over a small rolling pin overnight to get nice shape. Then the next day I made gum glue and formed my leaves. I let that dry for a day and then made royal icing ( also green) and put a huge glob in the center of the upside down palm tree leaves. Then I put a BIG pretzel stick in the middle surounded by 3 chocolate covered caramels balls around the pretzel. This then dried upside down for another day, and the next day I stuck it into the cake. I will do it again this way because it worked so well.
here is a recipe for a really quick gum paste that i have used for years
using the same teaspoon like for a cup of tea
6 teaspoons water
2 tsp gelatine
1 level tsp glucose
1/2 tsp copha
2-3 cups pure icing sugar sieved with fine mesh sieve
place water and gelatine in a small teacup and place in saucepan with water in like a double boiler and melt over low heat once melted add the glucose and copha at this point you can add some flavourings like banana or musk but use oils they are the best...
sieve the icing into a large bowl use about half first make a well in the centre and pour in the warm liquid mix well and knead until it forms a smooth ball like pasta dough dont add too much icing other wise it will become too dry ( you can always add more icing after)then wrap in cling film and leave overnight to cure then go for it.....you will get to know how muck icing you need when you start using gum paste more and more i use this recipe for flowers and even small lollies for kids parties, boxes for chocolates..it is a versatile recipe. i tend to use cornstarch for rolling out as the icing sugar makes it too dry and brittle.... good luck
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