I'm making a tiered baby shower cake for a friend Saturday and i have to have "baby blocks" made out of gum paste. well, my dilemma is, i made my blocks a couple days ago and they are still not dry...i don't know if they will dry in time to be decorated and used or not. so I'm thinking i can use sugar blocks...i don't know if anyone knows what I'm talking about or not, I'm hoping they do, i just need to find out how to make the sugar mixture, is it just sugar and water? they need not be eaten, but would like the entire cake to be edible. they will also need to be hollow so the pillars can be hidden within them. i need something that will dry quickly and that can be decorated. if this isn't an option, is there any way to speed the drying process of the gum paste??? please help me out with this...my "future career" is riding on this cake.
TIA...Jen
http://www.recipesource.com/desserts/candy/sugar-eggs1.html
here it is........guess it's just sugar and water...hmm
The recipe I use to make molded sugar skulls is 1/4 C meringue powder per 5lbs of granulated sugar.
I don't measure the water, I just add enough bit by bit and mix till it feels like damp sand.
Test by grabbing a handful of the mixture and squeezing. If it holds together, you're ready to mold.
**do you know how quickly this dries**
What are the dimensions on your boxes? My skulls are about 4x3x4 and there is a front and back half to them. A couple tips about molding- pack the sugar mixture in really firmly. If the mixture sticks in the mold it's too wet and if it crumbles into pieces when you try to unmold, it's too dry. Adjust by adding more sugar or water.
After I unmold the halves, I let them dry overnight. Next morning, I scoop out the centers leaving about a 1/2" thick wall. Then I let dry fully during the day. Depending you what type of climate you live in, you should be able to start working with them in that afternoon.
**can i pipe on this with b/c or royal? **
I use royal icing to glue the halves together and also to do piped designs on the skulls.
I love making these things. Have fun!
Edited to say- the whole process of molding, drying, scooping and drying can be done within a 24-hour period unless it's really humid where you live.
you can place your gumpaste pieces on a baking sheet and place them in the oven at a low temp. of 150 to 200 degrees. Time for drying is about 15 -20 min.don't bake until completely dry as they might crack. bake just til firm.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%