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Molly2
Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 24, 2005
Posts: 971
Birthday: Oct 10
Gallery Supporter Member
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 Posted:
Tue Oct 07, 2008 7:34 pm |
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I like making the gum paste fondant figures but every time I make them the seem to crack as they dry what am I doing wrong? I usually make 50/50 gum paste/fondant I add more shorting but the still crack. Can anyone please tell me what I’m doing wrong.
Thank You for your help
Molly |
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Sugarflowers
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Aug 19, 2006
Posts: 1454
Location: McKinney, TX
Birthday: Feb 02
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Tue Oct 07, 2008 7:59 pm |
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It kind of sounds like you might be working too slowly, leaving your paste uncovered when not in use, and/or not getting the parts smooth before putting them together.
Instead of adding more shortening try adding a tiny amount of your gum glue to your paste to male it more pliable.
HTH
Michele |
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Molly2
Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 24, 2005
Posts: 971
Birthday: Oct 10
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:31 pm |
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So I should add gum paste glue to my gum paste before shaping it into a figure?
Molly |
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Sugarflowers
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Aug 19, 2006
Posts: 1454
Location: McKinney, TX
Birthday: Feb 02
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Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:15 pm |
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Do this only if you think your paste is too dry. It will make it a lot more pliable.
Work quickly with fresh paste, fresh gum glue, and a clean work surface. Sometime bacteria on a work surface can cause cracking. This happens because as the bacteria grow they produce gasses that will put forces on the paste from the inside.
HTH
Michele |
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Molly2
Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 24, 2005
Posts: 971
Birthday: Oct 10
Gallery Supporter Member
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Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:03 pm |
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I always make sure my work area is very clean I sanitize my space before I work with any type of food so I don't think that’s the problem I did add some gum paste glue to my dough it seemed to help
Molly |
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korkyo
Frequent Member
Joined: Sep 03, 2005
Posts: 389
Location: Belton, Mo.
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Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:21 am |
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When I use straight gum paste and it's too dry I add a tiny touch oe egg white. Seems to do the job. |
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kcjc
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 11, 2007
Posts: 70
Location: North Carolina
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Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:51 am |
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molly2 thanks for asking this questions. i too make sure I have a very clean area. I purchased a hard surface cuttung mat for dress making tha i only use for fondant/gumpaste(love it,use a coupon from ac moore etc and purchase at Joannes) that I wash in my dishwasher. i sometimes get a seperation in my fondant.not like an uneven crack but a smooth seperation.Does that sound like it's from the gases. This happens with previuosly made fondant that I've added additional crisco from my hands etc to make it more pliable.Am I using fondant that has bacteria? I seal it by wrapping securley in seran then in freezer bags that I smoosh the air out of. Help. I am now concerned I'm doing something improper.Karen |
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jjkarm
Frequent Member
Joined: Apr 08, 2008
Posts: 203
Location: Utah
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Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:48 am |
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| Sugarflowers wrote: |
Work quickly with fresh paste, fresh gum glue, and a clean work surface. Sometime bacteria on a work surface can cause cracking. This happens because as the bacteria grow they produce gasses that will put forces on the paste from the inside. |
Wow thanks, I've never heard about the bacteria forming gasses before! I have two different gum paste recipes I use depending on what I'm making. I've noticed that the recipe made with egg whites seems to crack more easily than the recipe that does not contain egg whites. Will bacteria form more easily because of the egg, or does that make any difference?
Thanks!  |
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cylstrial
Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 12, 2008
Posts: 527
Location: Bloomington, IN
Birthday: May 25
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Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:43 pm |
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Very good info! I never knew any of this! Thanks for asking the question! |
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summernoelle
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Mar 08, 2007
Posts: 1432
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Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:02 pm |
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I never use gumpaste in my figures because of cracking-I use all fondant, and it works great.
Never knew that about the bacteria. Eeewwwwwww. |
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Molly2
Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 24, 2005
Posts: 971
Birthday: Oct 10
Gallery Supporter Member
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 3:53 am |
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summernoelle
I always thought you had to have gum paste mixed with fondant in order to make figures. Do your figures stay to gather pretty will? do you still use the gum paste glue I have been brushing my figures with the gum paste glue and I have not had any problem with figures cracking since I started that but if it works with out it I'm going to try it.
Thank You
Molly |
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deena1987
Junior Member
Joined: May 18, 2007
Posts: 40
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 4:39 am |
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This may sound dumb but what is gum paste glue? Is it watered down gum paste or is a product you can buy? |
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Sugarflowers
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Aug 19, 2006
Posts: 1454
Location: McKinney, TX
Birthday: Feb 02
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:21 pm |
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| deena1987 wrote: | | This may sound dumb but what is gum paste glue? Is it watered down gum paste or is a product you can buy? |
The gumpaste glue I use is Tylose and water. I use about 2 Tbsp. water and about 1/8 tsp. Tylose. Allow this to absorb the water and then mix. It makes a very good glue that adheres quickly.
You can also make gum glue with gumpaste and water. How much water to gumpaste ratio depends on how thin/thick you want your glue to be. If you make it too thick, it will be very difficult to use and can be too bulky.
HTH
Michele |
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pmaucher
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 04, 2007
Posts: 97
Location: Fairless Hills, PA
Birthday: Aug 22
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Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:38 pm |
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I used to have this problem. Fortunately I found out about Marzipan. I use that for all my figures now. It has not cracked on me, easier to color on and tastes alot better. I make my own marzipan out of almond paste, Powd sugar and light corn syrup. The monsters in my NBC cake are made from marzipan.
Good luck
Pam |
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