Using Sugar Paste To Decorate Cakes And Cupcakes

By Author: Louise Adams
Total Articles: 7
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All bakers, both those that work as professionals and those that merely enjoy baking cakes, cupcakes and other forms of confectionery for their families, want to deliver something special for their audience to enjoy.

Part of it is to ensure it looks beautiful and is well presented, with icing playing an important part in how the cake/cupcakes appeals. This, in addition to its taste and texture, is important for bakers. Fortunately it does not have to be that difficult, as there are so many ideas you get from friends, magazines, cookbooks and good websites these days about cake decorating.

Icing, in almost every case, is the answer when you want to decorate. And most bakers may agree that fondant icing is their preference. Fondant is a sugar paste that is applied to cakes, normally everywhere, to leave a smooth layer of sweetness, onto which very often other forms of decoration can be added, be that small edible flowers such as roses, for example, or something else. It can be moulded or rolled to follow the contours of a big cake or otherwise manipulated to create the desired shape you want when decorating pastries, ...
... cakes, cupcakes and other sweet treats you may want to make special and appetizing.

Fondant is not unlike, say, buttercream, and can actually be removed from the cake before it is eaten, in which case it serves an aesthetic purpose only. So what is fondant? It is a sweet paste normally rolled into thin sheets, whereafter it is then draped over the cake to leave a smooth surface. Most bakers prefer fondant as it withstands temperature changes far better than similar options such as buttercream, which is important if you want the cake to remain fresh and beautiful for a few days, for example, which is what professional bakers often do.

And, of course, its smooth surface creates several opportunities for additional decoration. The fondant itself can also be rolled into different shapes to create further decorations such as to make flowers. Further: fondant is available in different colours and flavours, offering the baker several options. The versatility of this paste makes it a favourite with both professional and home bakers all over the world.

In addition to the rolled fondant you can buy from good cake baking suppliers, you may also find that poured fondant is your preferred icing, which is a liquid form of fondant which you pour over baked goods for that smooth look. It does need some time, however, to set after having been poured over the cake. It can also be used to fill pastries and chocolates – as an alternative to cream.

All of this shows how many options the baker has when it comes to using fondant for purposes of decoration. Fondant is enjoyed for its appearance, for its beautiful smooth look and, of course, for its taste as it is edible. It is made of certain combinations of sugar, golden syrup and water, with gelatine often added. Because fondant is so easy to use, it can be used in rolled form, or poured, or with the food colouring of your choice added, whether you are looking at liquid colourings - or paste colour options. Its versatility has made it a popular addition in the baker’s kitchen.

Some people actually prefer to make their own fondant, which many professional bakers may do; however, it can be a time-consuming process. Therefore most go out and buy their fondant from a trustworthy source such as a supplier, either in a factory, in a confectionery shop, or from a good website.

Fondant is the cake decorator’s friend. It makes that cake that you baked with love just that more special.

About Us:

At Almond Art we offer years’ experience in the art of baking and cake decorating. We have a great selection of products for bakers new and experienced to benefit from when they decorate their cakes, cupcakes and cookies/biscuits. In addition to the various sought-after decorating products we stock, we also offer a great choice of tools and equipment which are useful and essential for the decorator that wants to produce something special. Customers can place their orders for UK and worldwide delivery via our easy-to-use online service. They can also visit us at Clacton-on-Sea for in-store pickup. We stock products from leading brands, as well as our own unique, growing complement of exclusive products. For more about us and our services, please visit our website at https://www.almondart.com/.