Which Cake Decorating Medium Should You Use?

Sugarpaste vs Modelling Paste vs Mexican Paste vs Cold Porcelain vs Modelling Chocolate vs Flower Paste:

If you’ve ever stood in the cake decorating aisle wondering whether to choose sugarpaste, modelling paste, Mexican paste or cold porcelain, you’re definitely not alone.  In this post we aim to set out Each decorating medium has its strengths, weaknesses and ideal uses. Choosing the right one can make a huge difference to your finished cake design, drying time and stress levels.

Sugarpaste (Fondant)

Sugarpaste, also known as fondant, is the most commonly used covering for celebration cakes.

Pros:

• Soft and flexible
• Easy to roll out smoothly
• Ideal for covering cakes
• Widely available
• Great for beginners

Cons:

• Too soft for detailed models
• Takes longer to dry
• Can sag in warm conditions
• Less suitable for delicate flowers

Sugarpaste is perfect for clean cake finishes and simple decorations, but if you’re creating figurines or intricate sugar flowers, you’ll usually need something firmer.

Recommended brands:

• Renshaw Extra
• The Sugar Paste – Paul’s favourite for novelty cakes!
• Massa Ticino – Paul’s favourite for wedding cakes!
• Satin Ice

Modelling Paste

Modelling paste is firmer and designed specifically for creating figures and cake toppers.

Pros:

• Holds shape well
• Dries faster than sugarpaste
• Great for sculpting
• Less sticky to work with

Cons:

• Can crack if overworked
• Less flexible
• Harder for beginners
• Dries quickly, which can reduce working time

Many decorators mix modelling paste with sugarpaste to get the perfect balance between flexibility and structure.

Recommended brands:

• Saracino Modelling Paste – Paul’s favourite!
• Renshaw Flower & Modelling Paste
• Katy Sue Modelling Paste

Mexican Paste

Mexican paste is a favourite among professional sugar flower artists because of its strength and elasticity.

Pros:

• Extremely elastic
• Can be rolled very thin
• Excellent for realistic flowers
• Dries with a smooth finish

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve
• Dries very quickly
• Can tear if overhandled
• Not ideal for covering cakes

If you love making wafer-thin petals and lifelike floral work, Mexican paste is often considered one of the best options available.

Recommended brands:

• Nicholas Lodge Mexican Paste – Paul’s favourite!
• Beau Products Mexican Paste

Cold Porcelain

Cold porcelain is technically not edible, but many decorators use it for long-lasting display flowers and decorative toppers.

Pros:

• Very smooth texture
• Flexible before drying
• Strong once set
• Excellent for keepsake decorations

Cons:

• Non-edible
• Can shrink slightly
• Sensitive to humidity
• Longer drying time for thicker pieces

Cold porcelain is especially popular for sugar artists creating permanent floral arrangements or competition pieces. If you are looking for more guidance then one of the best in the industry is Alan Dunn who runs cold porcelain. classes

Recommended brands:

• Squires Kitchen Cold Porcelain – Paul’s favourite!
• Homemade cornflour cold porcelain recipes

Chocolate Wrap cake tutorial

Other Popular Cake Decorating Mediums

Gum Paste / Flower Paste

Perfect for delicate flowers and fine details. Dries hard and fast but can become brittle.

Chocolate Modelling Paste

A delicious alternative with a softer feel and luxurious finish. Excellent for sculpted designs but sensitive to heat. Paul often used Modelling Chocolate on his wedding cakes and was the medium used in his signature Chocolate Wrap cake designs. These designs were hugely popular with his customers and fairly easy to make.

Paul always prefers Squires Kitchen modelling chocolate.

Which Decorating Medium Is Best?

The truth is there’s no single “best” decorating medium. It depends entirely on what you’re creating.

• Covering cakes? Choose sugarpaste.
• Sculpting figures? Go for modelling paste.
• Making realistic flowers? Mexican paste or flower paste works beautifully.
• Creating keepsakes? Cold porcelain may be your best option.

Most experienced decorators use several mediums together depending on the project.