Food Network Challenge Blind Date Cake - "glass" S
Decorating By ANik2Grls Updated 18 Jul 2009 , 12:06am by secondchoice
OK, so I tried today to make those beautiful tiles that Jennifer Matsubara made on her cake!
It was a first run, so I used sugar and pink color. The pink came out peach due to the sugar turning color (will use isomalt next time) but the tiles came out nice anyway ...
BUT ... how did she get all those hues of blue, do you think? The individual tiles were sort of streaked or tie dyed looking -- how do I get that look? So that they really look "mosaic"????
Anyone have any ideas????
Thanks!
Amy
**Picture of my sugar tiles attached ...
I would also love to know her secret. I know yours are not what you had hoped for, but they are lovely nonetheless! Nice job!
I want to know how you did that-- I saw it on the challenge-- but I was curious as to how she did it-- I really like that affect!
My guess is that she didn't mix the color in all the way. Sorta of like when you marble fondant. You can color some the color you want it to be, then just swirl some more of that color in, then pour the not well blended sugar into the molds.
I think TexasSugar is right, she just didn't mix the food coloring in all the way.
I looked up a hard candy recipe online and made it as per the directions. In them, they say that once you get the sugar dissolved, not to stir anymore - add color at about 250 degrees (the boiling motion mixes the color in), wait till you reach 300 degrees and then cool (dipping bottom of pot in cold water filled sink) and pour. I waited until the bubbles subsided and then poured into one of those Wilton silicone brownie trays that Michael's is selling these days. I waited for them to cool, and popped them out with rubber gloves on so that I didn't get finger prints on them and make them all smudgy.
So, I think that maybe next time (when I use Isomalt) I will put the color in after I take it off the heat, and gently swirl it and then pour ... maybe that will give me that "look" ...
I will definitely post pics when I try it ... I have to get my hands on some Isomalt first - anyone know of local places you can get it so that I don't have to wait for it to come in the mail????
I am wondering if you could possibly use them to make an igloo.. Like before they are completly hard mold them again into like an igloo?
Not trying to steal your thread just wondering?
Katie
I am so glad you started this post. I was going to try to make the tiles by melting Jolly Ranchers in the microwave. I heard this was an easy way to make candy molds if you aren't a candy expert. Don't know for sure cause I have never tried yet. I will try your way. Your tiles are pretty perfect for a 1st attempt! Great Job.
Here's the recipie I used
http://www.candylandcrafts.com/hard_candy_making.htm
I have never in my life EVER done anything with sugar until today, so if I can do it, it's pretty easy! ha ha....
All you need is sugar (or isomalt), light corn syrup, water, gel color, a silicone tray and a candy thermometer!
Fun!!!
There are a red ice mold at Target that some bought for this purpose or you can use Wilton's Brownie Squares pan. What ever you use you want it to be silicone and not just plastic.
I saw the episode, but cannot find a picture of the cake. Does anyone have a link?
http://www.denverpost.com/lifestyles/ci_11380664
This is the only picture I could find, and it's not the completed cake ... it's the second photo down, the blue cake with the glass "tiles"....
Amy
This may be a silly question.......but where do you buy isomalt?
Thanks!
I was VERY afraid of cooking sugar too - it's not too bad! I would try it if I were you -- it's pretty cool!
I am still trying to find a local resource for Isomalt and picked up some diabetic sugar in the pharmacy section (ingredients say Isomalt!!!) and I'm going to try that -- but you can get it online...
Good for you for trying those tiles, yours look darn good. I think I'm gonna give it a go. I used sugar in school but did just enough to get me through class and am by far no expert...actually I'm still kinda scared of being burned...AGAIN!!
Anyway, great job Anik2Grls
I am making the tiles in three colors for my own 40th birthday cake. I will try to post pictures when I am done. I have collected all of the necessary ingredients and equipment, just have to make them. I already had the ice trays. We've used silicone trays for ice for several years. They also sell the trays on amazon pretty cheaply.
Isomalt I got from countrykitchensa. They also sell it on amazon, but it is through a 3rd party retailer so the shipping is somewhat high.
I didn't see that challenge...Damn...that guy is fine 
.
ANik2Grls...are your tiles rock hard? They look so pretty and I'm thinking they would look great around a pool cake that I have to make for my niece's birthday at the end of June, (I was going to do fondant squares).
They would have to be much smaller...now to find a mold...
Does it have to be silicone...why can't it be plastic?
Plastic will melt. It needs to be silicone or metal for hard candies. I think the tiles would be fabulous for a pool cake. Someone on one of the other tile threads (I have seen 5 different CC threads about the tiles and that one cake challenge cake!) was talking about a pool cake as well. Cute idea!
Yes, the candies will be hard.
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