Christina’s Tips and Tricks on using Fondant and Gum paste.

-Fondant dries out and gum paste will dry up and harden. Always keep them in a plastic bag and wrapped well. I found that using a good Ziploc bag is the best, the regular sandwich bags and clear wrap don’t work as well.

Even when working with fondant and gum paste, if there is time you are doing something else; cover or wrap your gum paste or fondant.  

Wilton sells their fondant in a silver wrap, I always cut this neatly when opening and reuse along with a Ziploc bag. This helps keeps your fondant for a long time.

-after you’re done with your fondant or gum paste: roll your leftover into a ball. Spread a little vegetable shortening on it and wrap well. Again use a Ziploc bag, wrapping well and tight. Then put in an airtight container. If you need a little bit to do a small project; just cut a piece off and re wrap well. A plastic lettuce knife works great for dividing fondant and gum paste.

-try to keep your work area nice and clean; don’t use any black or dark covered clothes. If you use dark fabric you’ll get a lot of specks in your fondant and gum paste. This is frustrating when working with white.

-Always condition your fondant and gum paste well prior to using. This means  add a little Crisco to it and knead until it is a nice soft ball and pliable.

-if you find that your gum paste or fondant is too sticky just add a little icing sugar (a little at a time)

-have some vegetable shortening available (I love working with Crisco) at your work station. This is great to rub on your hands (just a tiny bit) before rolling out or on your mat, rolling pin or board. Don’t use a lot! Just make it a little greasy.

Colouring your fondant and gum paste 

 

Sugar roses in burgundy, pink, peach highlights and white

 

There is a trick to colouring your fondant and gum paste that works best…

Always do a small ball at a time. Once you've coloured a small ball, add it to the bigger ball. This is a great way of controlling colour so you don't add too much at a time. If you are covering a cake and colouring all your dough at once remember not to add too much colour all at once. Some colouring is intense so use a little at a time.

 

There is pre made colouring fondant out there- Wilton has fondant already made up in different colours. I usually colour my own, but I found the smaller neon colours handy for small projects.

 

 

Don't forget that some colouring (such as the paste colouring) makes your fondant taste bitter! Remember this when adding colouring. Some colouring has a taste.

 

To help with waste keep all your scrap fondant, you can always use this for other projects. I always keep these pieces and even recolour. For example I covered a cake with a beautiful aquamarine fondant. I thought that purple cut out fondant flowers would look nice, so I took the remaining aquamarine fondant and coloured it with a little purple. It came out as a nice bright purple.

You can always refer to a colour chart if you have trouble knowing what colours make what.

If you are doing a variety of colours, start with the light colours and add colouring as you go.

Colour Wheel

Handy for mixing colours

 

The different types of colouring

 

Liquid:

The most popular colouring. You can find this at grocery stores. Liquid colouring gives the weakest colouring since it has been watered down to begin with. When colouring fondant or gum paste with liquid colouring don't forget this will make it sticky.

Liquid Gel:

Handy because it blends really well and gives a rich, deep colour.

Gel Colouring:

Gel colours are very concentrated so use only a little at a time. Gives bright vivid colours and blends really well in your fondant or gum paste.

Powdered:

Powdered colouring is very concentrated also. Very handy when painting sugar flowers (then steam the colour out--I'll get into this at a later date). I use powdered colouring the most. I also sell a variety of my favourite powdered colours on my website: www.christinascakecreations.ca

 

*Gloves will help keep your hands colour free!

*Wearing a mask (like a painters mask over your nose) will help when painting with the powdered colours

 

 

I hope this helps with your colouring and using fondant and gum paste.

 

 

 

Please visit my website at www.christinascakecreations.ca

 

Christina