I made Nicholas Lodges gum paste recipe, followed the recipe exactly. Yesterday when a started using the gum paste it is almost like rubber. I colored it with gel paste and its like rubber, even before I color some of it it was like rubber. I was exhausted by the time I got the color kneeded in. It is not like the Wilton GP. What went wrong or is anything wrong with it? This is the first time I've made Nicholas Lodge GP so I wasn't sure if that was the way it turns out. What can I do to make it less rubbery?

Melissa

It almost sounds like too much powdered sugar was kneaded in. You shouldn't be tired after coloring it! I don't add in that extra cup of PS.

Did you add the entire amount of shortening that the recipe calls for, and did you knead in a wee bit of additional shortening to the portions you were coloring? Adding a little more shortening (according to Nick) helps the gumpaste to relax a bit.

His GP is quite a bit different from the way Wilton GP feels. I love Nick's GP.

I did not add the one cup of powdered sugar I took out. I sprinkled my work surface with some of it and then kneeded the gum paste on it. I will try adding a little more shortening to see if that helps. Thanks for reply Cakepro.
Melissa

You tell that gumpaste who's boss! Warm it up a teeny, teeny bit if you need to.

Oh ~ one thing I have noticed with Wilton gumpaste is that if too much shortening is kneaded in, the gumpaste siezes up and becomes very tough. Many of my students overdose their Wilton GP with shortening...I'm not sure if Nick's does the same, but don't be too generous with the shortening just in case.

Happy kneading!

I make Nick's gumpaste all the time - it's the only one I use. The first time I made it I didn't knead in enough powdered sugar and it was very soft. It definitely sounds like there's too much powdered sugar. I usually leave a 1/2 lb out and see what the consistency is. Sometimes I add most of it, sometimes about half of that. It depends on the humidity where you are too. If you're still having trouble, I would call the shop. The ladies that answer the phone are great and always helpful!!

yep me too. where i live i cannot use all the ps the recipe calls for or it will be too hard, too stretchy and kill you. LOL

Another suggestion for loosening up Nick's gumpaste is to add in a tiny bit of egg white. I've had this work when using up some old stuff.

HTH
Rae

I made my first batch of his gumpaste last evening. It's in the fridge waiting to be turned into bunnys!

I didn't use any of the cup of ps i set aside. It said as soon as you can pinch it and it comes away clean from your fingers, so I left it out. I was a lil worried my eggs were lil larger than normal and I would have to much egg whites but it looks and feels fine. I will find out soon.

Being my first batch......I can't give much advice but I hth's some.

Chippi

I would add a little bit of egg white too. That's what he had us do last week with the gumpaste that was getting tough.

So I should add a small amount of egg white and kneed it by hand? Thanks for all the replies.

Okay.........my first try with it and not having much luck. I was gonna practice the bunnys but when I go to roll a ball of it for body, legs etc. I cannot get the crack out of the ball. I worked on it for like 15 mins trying to get it out. I added a lil crisco also. Will glycerin help? I must've done something wrong when making the gumpaste any ideas what I did wrong CC'ers? All help appreciated tremendously

Chippi

Trying to make figures out of pure GP is not a good idea.

Try using 50/50...mix equal parts of gumpaste and fondant, color, and use.

Everything I make - from flowers to foliage to figures, I use 50/50 (half Nick's GP and half Wilton or Satin Ice fondant - whichever fondant is closer to me at the moment ).

Ahhhhh .....I can understand why. Will it work with MMF also? I can buy some fondant but usually make it.

Thanks Cakepro!

I'm not really sure...a few of my students have tried using 50/50 for making GP flowers in my classes and it wasn't a good mix, but I'm not sure about how it would work for figures. I'm sure others will be able to give you a definite answer.

I think you'll have better results with store bought fondant--Wilton kneaded with gum paste makes excellent figures.

MMF just doesn't have all of the products added to it that contribute to stretchiness and workability.

If you want crack-free figures, I'd definitely use 50/50 wilton fondant + gum paste.

Rae

What about adding candy clay to gum paste? I added 50/50 candy clay and GP for some flowers I"m making. Will they hold up as good as just GP flowers? So far they seems to have hardened very well.