Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

Hi,

I am a bit new to novelty cakes so hope this isn’t a silly question. The fitness cake is fantastic and will be perfect for someone’s birthday in Feb but I have a few questions.

1. Did Paul say he used Tylose powder? I haven’t heard of this before and don’t have any. Can I do without or should I purchase some? I have a tendency to buy everything suggested and end up with stuff I don’t really need again.

2. I think Paul said he mixed the colour with vodka – is this right? Why Vodka and can it be something else so I don’t need to buy it? We don’t drink Vodka so it wouldn’t get used.

3. I have Winton Gel colours which are perfect every time for my usual baking (cupcakes, icing, macaroons etc.). Can I use these instead of the one Paul used for the wood floor?

Any help appreciated – I don’t want to do the wrong thing and need to start again

Thanks

Elizabeth

Hello ecarso10

I expect Paul did use a little tylose powder in the sugar paste to make gumpaste for models. Tylose, CMC and gum tragacanth are all sugarpaste strengtheners. They allow the sugar paste to stiffen up so when models and flowers are made they keep their shape, dry quicker and are stronger than if made from icing alone. You don’t have to use vodka for mixing up colours, pure lemon extract ( not juice) can be used instead. Vodka is used because it evaporates very quickly and doesn’t make model pieces wet and sticky. Lemon extract contains alcohol and that too dries quite quickly. Another ingredient used for mixing colours is rejuvenator spirit, a food grade alcohol like this http://www.thecakedecoratingcompany.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=7578 It can be bought in local cake decorating supply shops.
A small bottle of vodka lasts a long time and is not only great for mixing colours but also as a cleaning agent for removing marks from cake. Very small amounts is used, a good ingredient to keep in the decorating kit for the jobs mentioned.
The Wilton colours are fine to use however they will still require mixing with an appropriate medium for painting the fitness cake floor. If you use water it will make the icing very wet and sticky and take many days to dry.
As you get into cake decorating you’ll find all the things which Paul has used or substitutes are necessary to accomplish each project successfully. You’ll also learn from experience which things are a must to have.
If you need more help or information please post again, there are many experienced members on site who will always give advise or opinion.