Is gum paste the same as fondant?

No, it's not the same. Fondant takes much longer to dry and never dries really hard. But fondant has better taste, especially homemade marshmallow fondant ! Gum paste does not taste as good, dries fast and rockhard, and doesn't taste great.

How long can homemade gumpaste be stored?

Homemade gum paste has a really long shelf life. You won't need any kind of special storage - simple plastic wrap and an airtight container will do. I either wrap it once and then place it in a bowl with a lid or wrap it with several layers of plastic wrap. It can be kept at room temperature for up to a month. However, I prefer to keep it in the fridge where it will keep for up to 6 months. If you have different colors of gum paste, you can wrap a small amount in individual portions before placing them in larger zip-top freezer bags in the fridge. Be sure to bring it to room temperature before you try to use it. To soften quickly, warm small balls in the microwave no more than 10 seconds at a time to soften and bring to room temperature. Knead until smooth. Place a little vegetable shortening on your hands and knead it until smooth before using stored gum paste.

What can you make from gum paste?

Most often it's used for sugar flowers. For me, not so much. But that's only because my hands still hurt pretty often, even after my surgery , and making sugar flowers is very tedious and time-consuming work. For that reason, I usually buy sugar flowers pre-made and in bulk for my wedding cakes (see below). But I still make other 3-D decorations. But I still use it all the time for other small decorations and any time I need a decoration to dry hard or fast or both. Here are a few ways I use it: Sugar bows - like on this wedding cake . Cake toppers (like the pineapple top on the cake below here and the rainbow at the very top). Numbers on cakes Teacups (as on the Alice in Wonderland Cake , this Shabby Chic Baby Shower cake and this doll cake) Crowns and Tiaras (see this princess cake and this one and this one) Unicorn horns and ears and I even used it for this "sheet of paper" on the typewriter cake I made recently down below.

How do you use gum paste?

Well, it depends on what you want to do with it. But the bare essentials are a clean surface, a rolling pin (usually a small one), and cornstarch to keep it from sticking. If you're going to make character figures (sugar models), you'll want to work quickly. Keep any pieces you're not currently shaping covered. That will prevent them from hardening before you can put it all together. The same goes for making multiple petals that you want to put together into one flower. Keep them covered as much as possible. A gum paste storage board is a great investment if you plan to work with gum paste often. Gum paste doesn't really have a flavor, and since it's not usually eaten, I don't stress over adding any flavors. However, you can use gel pastes to make it any shade you need.

Should I use gum paste or fondant?

Gum paste and fondant can be interchanged in some situations, but there are also situations where one or the other is clearly the better choice. I use gum paste for any decorations that need to dry hard, stand, or be really thin. For instance, using gum paste to make beautiful sugar flowers yields much more lifelike flowers than using fondant. Or for sculpting anything that needs to stand up. Fondant is the better choice for covering large surfaces or making flat decorations because it doesn't dry hard and tastes better. See examples below.

Is Gum Paste Gluten-Free? Is Gum Paste Dairy-Free?

Yes - this recipe is gluten-free. And yes, this recipe is dairy-free.

Homemade Gum Paste Recipe

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Recipe by Rose

Prep Time20
Cook Time10
Total Time30 minutes
Yield2 pounds 1x
DietGluten Free

Description

Easy, homemade gum paste to use for cake decorating and figure making.

Ingredients

Units Scale

2 packages unflavored gelatin (2 tablespoons)
1/2 cup cold water
2 tablespoons melted shortening
1/3 cup white corn syrup
2 pounds powdered sugar
3 tablepoons Tylose powder

Instructions

Pour the water into a small boiler and sprinkle the gelatin on top. Allow it to soften for about 5 minutes.
Slowly heat the mixture, stirring until the gelatin is dissolved and you have a clear liquid. Do not allow it to boil! Turn off heat.
Add the melted shortening and corn syrup. Stir until thoroughly combined.
Pour all but 2 cups of the powdered sugar into a large glass or plastic bowl and make a well in the center. Pour the gelatin/syrup mixture into the well and mix until the sugar is all combined.
Dump the mixture out onto a surface (or silicone mat) that is lightly greased with shortening. Sprinkle the tylose powder over the paste and with greased hands, knead, incorporating all of the remaining powdered sugar and tylose.
Continue kneading the dough until it forms a soft smooth ball. Add additional sugar as needed if your dough is still too sticky. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place into a Ziploc bag. Allow to rest over night before using!
Can be stored at room temperature for up to a month and in the fridge for up to 6 months. When ready to use, grease your hands, then warm small balls in the microwave no more than 10 seconds at a time to soften and bring to room temperature. Knead until smooth. Roll out and use!

Equipment

Silicone Baking Mat

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Notes

Please read the entire post for all the details, tips, etc.

Find it online: https://rosebakes.com/homemade-gum-paste-recipe/