Fun and Original Character Cakes. Maisie Parrish

you who are familiar with my work will know that I often feature animals on my cakes. This collection takes the animal theme one step further, giving you creatures bursting with character for all occasions, which I am certain you will have fun making. From chocoholic bunnies to carol singing penguins and newly-wed cats – there are brightly coloured animal-themed cakes here for all the major celebrations in life, all of which are guaranteed to be conversation pieces at any party. And if you are short of time to make an entire cake, it’s so simple to select your favourite characters and apply them to a pre-bought cake for quick and stunning results.

       You will find my techniques are basic and simple to achieve, so when you have mastered them, you can elaborate with as much detail as you like. All the models start from a simple ball and grow and develop from there in many different ways. But the most important thing is that I have tried to show you how to put humour, movement and life into your work, which is the key to the success of these cakes.

       Take the time to read the book carefully before you start and make sure you have all the equipment you need for things to go smoothly. And remember … everything starts with a ball!

      Enjoy.

      Maisie

       Sugarpaste

      All the models in this book are made using sugarpaste (rolled fondant) in one form or another. This firm, sweet paste is also used to cover cakes and boards. Sugarpaste is very soft and pliable and marks very easily, but for modelling it works best if you add CMC (Tylose) or gum tragacanth to it to bulk it up (see Sugarpaste for Modelling, opposite). This section gives you the lowdown on this wonderful medium, revealing everything you need to know for success with sugarpaste.

       Ready-Made Sugarpaste

      You can purchase sugarpaste in the most amazing array of colours; just take it out of the packet and away you go. Of all the ready-made pastes on the market, the brand leader is Renshaws Regalice (see Suppliers, page 126), which is available in white and 14 other exciting shades. This paste is easy to work with and is of excellent firm quality.

       Tip

      Very dark colours, such as black, dark blue and brown, are particularly useful to buy ready-coloured, because if you add enough paste food colouring into white to obtain a strong shade, it will alter the consistency of the paste and make it much more difficult to work with.

      Ready-made packaged sugarpaste is quick and convenient to use. Well-known brands are high quality and give consistently good results.

       Making Your Own

      While the ready-made sugarpaste is excellent, you can, of course, make your own at home. The bonus of this is that you can then tint your paste to any colour you like using edible paste food colour (see page 10). This can then be dusted with edible dust food colour to intensify or soften the shade.

      Sugarpaste Recipe

      * 900g (2lb) sifted icing (confectioners’) sugar

      * 120ml (8tbsp) liquid glucose

      * 15g (½oz) gelatin

      * 15ml (1tbsp) glycerine

      * 45ml (3tbsp) cold water

      1 Sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water and allow to ‘sponge’. Place over a bowl of hot water and stir with a wooden spoon until all the gelatin crystals have dissolved. Do not allow the gelatin mixture to boil.

      2 Add the glycerine and glucose to the gelatin and stir until melted.

      3 Add the liquid mixture to the sifted icing (confectioners’) sugar and mix thoroughly until combined.

      4 Dust the work surface lightly with icing (confectioners’) sugar, then turn out the paste and knead to a soft consistency until smooth and free of cracks.

      5 Wrap the sugarpaste completely in cling film or store in an airtight polythene bag. If the paste is too soft and sticky to handle, work in a little more icing (confectioners’) sugar.

      Quick Sugarpaste Recipe

      * 500g (1lb 1½oz) sifted icing (confectioners’) sugar

      * 1 egg white

      * 30ml (2tbsp) liquid glucose

      1 Place the egg white and liquid glucose in a clean bowl. Add the icing (confectioners’) sugar and mix together with a wooden spoon, then use your hands to bring the mixture into a ball.

      2 Follow steps 4 and 5 of the above recipe for kneading and storage.

      Sugarpaste is such a versatile modelling medium, it can be used to create an almost endless variety of cute characters.

       Sugarpaste for Modelling

      To convert sugarpaste into modelling paste, all you need to do is add CMC (Tylose) powder or gum tragacanth (see page 25) to the basic recipe. The quantity needed will vary according to the temperature and humidity of the room, so you may need to experiment to get the right mix depending on the conditions you are working in. As a guide, add roughly 5ml (1tsp) of gum tragacanth or CMC (Tylose) to 225g (8oz) of sugarpaste and knead well. Place inside a polythene bag and allow the CMC/gum to do its work for at least two hours. Knead the paste before use to warm it up with your hands; this will make it more pliable and easier to use.

      Throughout this book I have used the combination of sugarpaste and CMC (Tylose) powder, and find it works very well. I personally prefer it to gum tragacanth. If you do add too much CMC (Tylose) to the paste it will begin to crack, which is not desirable. Should this happen, add a little white vegetable fat (shortening) to soften it and make it pliable again.

       Colouring Sugarpaste

      Whether you choose to make your own, or to buy ready-made sugarpaste, the white variety of both forms can be coloured with paste food colourings to provide a wonderful spectrum of colours.

      Solid Colours

      1 Roll the sugarpaste to be coloured into a smooth ball and run your palm over the top. Take a cocktail stick or toothpick and dip it into the paste food colour. Apply the colour over the surface of the sugarpaste. Do not add too much at first, as you can always add more if required.

      2 Dip your finger into some cool boiled water, shaking off any excess and run it over the top of the colour. This will allow the colour to disperse much more quickly into the sugarpaste.

      3 Dust the work surface with icing (confectioners’) sugar and knead the colour evenly into the paste.