Sugar paste is a popular and versatile icing for decorating cakes as it can be shaped, moulded, modelled, smoothed, colored and so much more.
Before starting to work with sugar paste, apply a thin layer of butter cream, alcohol or boiled glaze to cake surface. If you’re using a softer cake, such as a sponge cake, it is recommended that the cake be chilled before covering with sugar paste.
1. Soften sugar paste by kneading it well. Be sure to lightly dust your work surface with sifted powdered sugar – NOT cornstarch.
2. If you will be coloring your own sugar paste, don’t use liquid colors as they can dramatically change the consistency of the sugar paste making it too sticky and wet to work with – powdered color is recommended. Apply small amounts of color until you have the color required. If you’re working with large quantities of sugar paste, you can use a food processor to help with the coloring process.
3. Once your sugar paste has its ideal color, roll out desired thickness on a light dusting of powdered sugar to avoid sticking. AVOID marble surfaces as they are too cold.
4. When you’re ready to cover your cake, use an acrylic rolling pin to place the sheet of sugar paste on the cake. Use the roller to roll the sugar paste across the top surface for adhesion.
5. To smooth the sugar paste down the sides of the cake, lift the edges with one hand and pull it away, using your other hand to smooth down the sides. Use a smoother to smooth the edges and remove all creases.
6. Remove bubbles using a pin – pierce one side of the bubble with a pin and smooth over the area with a smoother.
7. Finally, trim any excess sugar paste with a plastic scraper.
Use your favorite tools to decorate with sugar paste – plastic and metal cutters can be used to cut out a range of shapes to make each cake unique for its occasion. You can also use crimpers and embossers with your sugar paste to help enhance your baking creations.
Holiday Decorating Tips with Sugar Paste
Halloween Cake Decorating Tips – With endless possibilities, some Halloween sugar paste decorations include pumpkins, ghost, witches, eyeballs, worms, cats, spider webs, bats and mummies.
Christmas Cake Decorating Tips – Popular Christmas sugar paste decorations include snowmen, Santa, gingerbread people, penguins, Christmas trees, reindeer, snowflakes, wreaths and presents.
Valentine’s Day Cake Decorating Tips – Beyond the obvious heart, some other ideas for Valentine’s day and sugar paste include roses, envelopes, lips, and popular phrases such as ‘be mine’ and ‘love.’
Birthday Cake Decorating Tips – Depending on who’s on the receiving end of the cake, the possibilities are endless. Ideas include balloons, animals, polka dots, stripes, bows and flowers.
Thanksgiving Cake Decorating Tips – Get creative with your Thanksgiving desserts and use sugar paste to make turkeys, leaves, pumpkins and more.
Wedding Cake Decorating Tips – For a more elegant look, try ribbons, bows, lace, pearls, hearts and flowers.