Hi, I recently moved to Hawaii and I'm wondering if there is anyone on here from Hawaii? I'm having some problems with my royal icing, which I think is due to the high humidity here. I'm originally from Washington, and had no problems with my royal icing drying before. It stays completely wet, even after several days. I even tried freezing it, which was not successful, any helpful hints? I'm terrible at gumpaste flowers, and without my Royal Icing I'm complete lost! Thanks to everyone. I hope to hear from someone out there who lives in Hawaii.

Sarah

Sorry to hear of the problem. I would think it is most definately the humidity there....but wow, what a place to have that problem.....is there a bakery around there that you can ask them what they do? I am sure they could help. ALOHA!

tcturtleshell lives in Louisiana and swears by cornstarch will help in the thickening process.

ha ha m0use~

SarahJane,
Yes, I'm in Louisiana & it is VERY humid here all year long! I put cornstarch in my royal icing after it is mixed together. If you need more later then put a little of it at a time in your icing. If you have anymore questions just ask! ~TC~

Thanks for the tip. That is very nice to know, but how do I know how much cornstarch to add? As far as bakeries in my area, I went to the one bakery in town and they make cakes but don't decorate them, just ice them w/ a border and then you could put a topper or crown or something on them. I thought that was kind of wierd, why go to a bakery if you have to put your own decorations on it???? Anyway, I found a place on the internet of a lady in this area who does beautiful cakes, but so far she hasn't replied to my email. Anyway, I'm rambling. Thanks you so much for your help. I posted this same problem a few weeks ago on the Wilton webthing and not one person responded. Thanks so much. SARAH

PS. I've only been in Hawaii for 7 months, but it really is awesome. If anyone is thinking of taking a vacation, this is a really beautiful place to be.

Aloha & Mahalo Nui Loa (Goodbye and Thankyou Very Much)

Hey Sarah,

I don't put the cornstarch in the royal icing until I try the royal first to see if it's thick enough. That way you won't get it too thick. I put a little in a piping bag & start making a flower. When it's too thin I put it in a small bowl. I only thicken up abuot a cup or more at a time. It is hard to stir, that's why I only do small amounts at a time. I add 1 to 2 t. cornstarch. I stir it up good w/ a spatula. If it's thick then I put it back in the piping bag & go from there. I always color my icing before I use the cornstarch. Because sometimes coloring thins down the royal. If it's not thick enough after adding 1 to 2 t. of cornstarch I then add a 1/2 to 1 t. of cornstarch at a time. Stir & check it. It is a little time consuming but it's worth it! My flowers come out so shinny & they harden in about 12 hours or over night. If you get it too hard just dip your spatula under running water. Let the water run off the spatula back into the sink. Then just drop a few drops of water back into the royal. This way you don't make it too thin & have to go through the thickening process again. you could also use a dropper for this but you don't even want a whole drop. Just a small tiny drop. If I can do anything else for you let me know! ~TC~

I LOVE Hawaii! Which island are you on? I can't wait to come visit again! I've been 22 times now, but not since 1996. I miss it!! I hope to get there for my honeymoon! Was hoping to have our wedding on the beach in either Maui or Kauai, but don't think we can afford to get there soon enough.

I'm sorry, I don't have any information for you, though.. You might try posting a more general question about how to deal with high humidity or royal icing not hardening. That might get more response than the topic, "Hawaii".

I think some people dry their royal icing in the fridge or freezer.

~AngelWendy

Hi! I lived in Hawaii for 3 years. I lived in Mililani for one year then moved to Honolulu, on Hickam AFB. LOVED IT!! We left in 99 because my kids were starting middle school, and the local schools um... left something to be desired. I hung out on the North Shore at Sunset Beach quite a lot, body boarded at Barbers Point quite a bit, watched the whales at Bellows, went to the Paradise Cove luau about 9 times (when people came to visit, and did they ever!, that was the luau I took them to. Have some inside tips regarding that), went to Maui for the whales every February... loved every second and tried everything! I have some GREAT restaurants to recommend, great stuff to try... loved it. Now I'm in Germany and am loving that too. I totally believe that your life is what you make it.

Um... as far as the icing is concerned, I was the only decorator at the Hickam Commissary, and I also did some cakes from home, but I didn't use royal icing, just plain old buttercream. I actually didn't think that it was very humid at Hickam, but it was in Mililani. I would definitly try the cornstarch addition. It seems like a great addition for the humidity. You can e-mail me privately regarding Hawaii if you want. Have a great time! Aloha!!

Thanks "tc" those directions are very helpful. My kids came down with the stomach flu and I've been doing things a lot less pleasant than making cakes Once things settle down I'll be right in the kitchen trying out those royal icing tips. I'll let you know if I'm successful. As far as Hawaii, I'm on the "Big Island" and I really love it. I'm also worried about the schools here, but my kids are still small, so I'll jump off that bridge when I get there. Thanks to everyone! Sarah

Sorry to hear about your kids being sick. That was never my favorite sickness for my kids to have either! Hope their feeling better!

Do let me know how you did w/ the cornstarch. Like I said I use it all the time.

Never been to Hawaii but would love to go!!! Do they have mosquito's there??? Louisiana is beautiful to me BUT I can't enjoy it so much anymore because I am a mosquito magnent!! I go outside w/ the dog at night & I come back in itching like crazy!! Ahhh!!

Get those kids better & I hope you don't get it!!
~TC~

Thanks, for your kindness I think it was just a 24 hour thing. They're feeling better. And there are tons of misquitos!!! We have citranella candles and little misquito "rings" all over the place. You've got to take the good with the bad. It's because we're kind of "up-land", we have a lot of flowers and trees and it rains in the evening a lot. If you go down towards the water and in town, it's not so bad. Anyway, thanks to everyone. SARAH