After posting the gum paste tiara tutorial, I noticed some feedback on Facebook about the extruder I mention in the "things you'll need" list.
Some decorators had never heard of an extruder. Some were not sure what it was or how to use it. Others thought that you could do the same thing by simply rolling out fondant ropes by hand.
So - I threw together this quick post on 8 Ways to Use an Extruder for Cake Decorating!
Now I'm not going to get into any deep philosophical reasons - I'm just going to say that my extruder has saved me tons of time and I use mine almost every single week! It works for me in so many ways!!
So, I think you need one. But really... you can ignore me! What do I know? ha!! Okay seriously... I'm going to tell you how I use mine!
Just for reference, the specific one I have (pictured above) is the Makin Professional Extruder. I also have an extra disc set, but I only got it a few weeks ago and I could do most anything I wanted with just the original set!
Update: I just realized that I should note one more thing. My very first extruder was like this one... and it was a nightmare!! I do not recommend getting that kind! I bought it because it was cheaper and I'm cheap... but it's a waste! With it, you simply had to push the fondant out and it was awful! Maybe my fondant or gum paste wasn't soft enough or something, I don't know but I hated that thing!! I recommend that you get the kind that needs to be twisted!!
So, to show you how useful it is, I've added pictures of several of my cakes where I used my extruder (click on the photo or link to visit the post about that cake). This is only a short list ... I'm telling you - I use this tool all the time!!
Just be sure your fondant / gum paste is soft and/or warm and it should be a breeze to use! If it starts to get difficult to push the fondant/gum paste out of the extruder, I take it out, warm it in the microwave for 5-10 seconds, then put it back in! Just be careful... hot fondant will burn you bad - I know from experience (that link goes to my old blog)!
The original set comes with four different sizes of multi-hole discs. Here are some uses for that disc...
1. Tassels. You can see it works great for tassels...
2. Hay. You see the hay I made on this barn cake...
and this farm yard animals cake...
And last - most of the hay on this hay bale cake was done with my extruder (plus some done with the grass tip and buttercream):
3. A scarf. I used a slightly larger multi-hole disc to make the scarf on this Winter Snowflake Cake:
4. Grass. And then there's probably the most obvious... grass. Here is some on this LSU cake:
and on this soccer ball cake...
and even on this Hello Kitty Cheerleader Football Cake (for grass and pom poms!!):
5. And hair. I haven't done a lot of hair on cakes - but here's one of the mermaids I made:
Then there are several uses for the single hole discs (other than a tiara).
The Makin Professional Extruder comes with five different single hole sizes. I can honestly tell you I've never used that tiniest one... it's crazy-small!! But for the larger ones... here are some uses:
6. Tiara (see the full how to make a tiara tutorial here).
Anywho... other than the tiara... you can see how I use them here on the following cakes.
7. Trim on 3-D Cakes. For this dump truck smash cake, I used it to make all the trim!
I used the largest hole to do the loops for the spiral binding of the law books cake:
And one of the larger ones for the center line on the lady bug:
and to trim the Batman symbol on this cake:
Other than the single hole discs and multi-hole discs, the last ones I use most often are these clover shaped discs (for lack of a better word - how would you describe this shape?):
8. Ropes. I used a small hole disk to make 2 ropes and twist them together for the barbed wire on the top tier border of this western cake:
When you push out the fondant with this disc, then twist it, you get a fantastic rope look without having to try and twist together 3 separate strands! You can see it here on this nautical cake:
and on this cowboy cake (and many other cowboy cakes!)...
And that's all I've got for you tonight! I'll leave you by emphasizing again... there are so many uses for an extruder and honestly, I probably couldn't live without mine! If you do cakes like these at all, you'll find this to be an invaluable, time-saving tool!
So, do any of you already have an extruder? What do you use it for?
If you don't have one, do you think you'll be getting one? I'd love it if you'd leave a comment!
Fern Acosta
Thanks so much for this explanation. I was wondering what it was. I think I will go out and buy one soon because I hate rolling the fondant and trying to make it look decent. I would love to ask you a million questions about your work but I'm sure you'd tire of me quickly. I have a very inquiring mind. Thanks for all of the information that you share. You make my cake decorating life easier.
Rose
You're very welcome Fern! Always feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer and help out as much as I can! x
jan butterfield
I have an extruder, but I always forget to use it. Your examples bring to mind so many opportunities I had that would have made my work go so much faster. Thanks!!!
Rose
You're welcome 🙂
Sarah
I haven't read many of your blogs....but something told me thread this one. I. AM. GETTING. A. DANG. EXTRUDER!!!!!!!!!!! (What a fun word!) that is the coolest little thing!
Judy
I used my extruder to do the spider web on my Spiderman cake. 🙂
laling
Hi,
thanks for sharing, its really nice to hear ideas from other decorators, I've been cake deco for about 20 yrs and its always nice to see what others do.
Looking forward to spend more time on your blog.
ellenkent.com
This is my first time visit at here and i am truly impressed
to read everthing at alone place.
ashley young
I bought an extruder just like yours but I don't think i am getting it apart correctly to clean it because my end piece tgat actually is inside to push it through became very loose and then even popped off this last time I used it. I feel like I'm forcing it in when I'm ready to use it and then forcing it out when im ready to clean it. Any thoughts on what im doing wrong?
**I just realized as I was getting ready to post this that my email address has been wrong on here so every time I've posted something I haven't seen a response:). Oops
Rose
It sounds like you broke it! I did that to one of my first extruders and I wasn't able to put it back together so I ordered a new one. It also sounds like maybe your fondant/gum paste is not soft enough if you feel like you're forcing it. I recommend warming it up more and/or coating it in shortening before using it.
ashley young
thank you so much! I was afraid that it wasn't fixable but hoping it was. I appreciate it!
Gloria
I 've one but my fondant don't comes out of it or is it butter bream I'm to use but I wil need one of this your own
Rose Atwater
I used fondant in mine - I just make sure it's very soft and warm.
rukky
Thank you for all this ideas, I got mine 2weeks ago and I use it for a winnie the pooh theme cake I made, it made my work soooo easy, I first heard about an extruder on your blog. Just want to thank you for sharing all this knowledge i'v learnt a lot on your blog. I truely appreciate
Angela
My extruder is a lifesaver for ropes and plain round edging, I always knead in some Trex (crisco)to the fondant, just enough to make it more pliable, it really helps it come through easily and also lessens the cracking you can get if the fondant is pushed through when its a little dry/firm.
Great post on the extruder with some lovely cakes x
Traci Bussmann
Thanks for all the great info!! I am wondering specifically how you got the white wording on the blue law book cake? It looks awesome!! What's the trick???
Rose
You can click over to that post for all the details, but in short, it's an edible image 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Gilian
Great tips!!! I want one now. haha I used to see it, but thought they were for cookies. Had no idea at all. This will be very helpful for me. =)
CezeStar
I just ordered an extruder ASAP after reading this, im a beginner baker and always get frustrated when i do my rope with hand and it my doesn't come out nice. Thanks so much, I love looking through the other cake pictures. Nice work