Would you like to cover the cake with sugar paste, but you don't know how to do it? Know that it is not difficult and you can create a great looking dessert. Plus, like all things, it gets easier and easier as you practice. Let's start!
Ingrediants
- Sugar paste
- Powdered sugar (at least 100g or more)
Steps
Step 1. Clean and clear a large flat work surface
Step 2. Prepare a cake or the layers you will want to cover by spreading some buttercream icing
Step 3. Bring the sugar paste to room temperature
Step 4. Measure the height and width of the cake
If you're making a multi-layered dessert, measure one shelf at a time.
- If the cake is round, add their width to double the height. For example, if the cake is 25cm wide and 7.5cm high, then the sum will be 25 + 7, 5 + 7, 5 = 40cm. To your measurements add 10 to 20 cm. This is the diameter that the sugar paste disc should have.
- For the other cakes, measure the widest point (for example diagonally from corner to corner, in the case of a square or rectangular cake) and add twice the height to this value. For example, in a 20 cm square cake with a height of 7.5 cm your calculation will be 28 + 7, 5 + 7, 5 = 43 cm (28 cm is the diagonal of a square with a side of 20 cm). Add another 10-20 cm to the result to obtain the diameter of the sugar paste disk needed to cover the cake. Write down the value.
Step 5. Place a silicone pad on your work surface and lightly dust it with icing sugar
Step 6. Take the sugar paste and flatten it with your hands to give it a pancake-like shape
Step 7. Spread the piece of sugar paste on the silicone mat sprinkled with sugar, add more powdered sugar and cover it with a second silicone mat
Step 8. Use a rolling pin to give the sugar paste the thickness you want, usually 6mm
After a few "passes" with a rolling pin, turn the sugar paste with the help of the silicone sheets, remove the latter and add more sugar. This step is crucial; if you ignore it you will find the sugar paste stuck to the silicone and you will not be able to detach it. Obviously a silicone cake will not be very tasty.
Step 9. When the piece of sugar paste has reached the diameter and thickness you want, check that it is not glued to the silicone
You shouldn't have a hard time peeling it off.
Step 10. Remove the silicone top sheet
Lift the sugar paste using the silicone pad at the base.
Step 11. When you need to line the cake or the various layers, start placing the sugar paste upside down and without the mat on it
Don't start with the base of the cake. Remember those extra 10-20 cm? Begin to place the sugar paste where the cake adheres to the table, then coat the side and spread the rest of the topping on the surface of the cake until it falls on the other side. The flap of sugar paste must be equal in size on all sides. ** This is a trick that no cookbook explains to you. These extra inches of sugar paste that wrap around the cake flatten out on the sides instead of "hanging" like a crumpled tablecloth.
Step 12. With the help of a flat glass or a specific tool, smooth the sugar paste on the cake, level or fold the corners well and flatten it on the sides
Step 13. Use a small curved knife (or pizza wheel) to scrape off the excess dough along the edge of the cake where it touches the table
Be very careful, as you won't be able to reattach the sugar paste if you cut too much.
Step 14. Voila
You just covered your beautiful cake or a layer of it with sugar paste!
Advice
- When not in use, keep the sugar paste covered.
- You can buy silicone sheets at home improvement stores or online. You can replace them with cling film or wax paper. If you want to properly store the silicone and reuse it for other projects, Not fold it. The folds will transfer to the sugar paste.
- If you're making a small cake, use a single serving of marshmallow sugar paste; for large or multi-layered cakes, use two or more. It is always better to abound.
- Sugar paste usually has a dull but bright appearance. You can make it shiny by spraying it with a small amount of nebulized seed oil (which will be absorbed), with vodka or with steam, so as to smooth the surface and at the same time melt the cornstarch or sugar you added to smooth it.. You can also color it with food coloring gel ("piping gel") which will remain sticky, you can sprinkle it with "liquid glitter" (which will give it a bright but not shiny appearance) or you can use "icing sugar icing" it will dry over time.
- To make the sugar paste stick, add a layer of jam or jelly diluted with water.
