I love using premade gum paste (satin foods is the one I like) - but it is so expensive, and I use so much that it really adds up.

I'm looking into making my own--was curious if there are any homemade versions that you like? I've heard of Nicholas Lodge's, just haven't tried it.

Would love to hear your input on what to try, and what to stay away from.

Last time I talked to Alan at globalsugarart.com he suggested I try Nicholas Lodge's gumpaste recipe. I love it. He also gave me Nicholas Lodge's glue recipe. They are both great. Alan said he has taken 3 classes from Nicholas Lodge, I'm so jealous.

Thanks jo-ann, I'll have to try it out. I think it would definitely save money. I've never heard of the glue recipe--will look it up- thanks for the info!

I just mixed up a batch of Nicholas Lodge's last week. It was so awesome! I really made a great batch, not too dry, so everything cut out so crisply, no jagged edges. It was so white too.

What kind of gumpaste does Alan Dunn use? That would be worth paying a lot for! All his flowers are soft and not brittle even after they're dry. I wonder if it has glycerine in it or something.

What is the glue recipe? I'd be interested in knowing.

I saw Bakels gumpaste at a place I shop I wonder if it's any good. Has anyone ever worked with it?

The glue is just tylose powder mixed with boiling water. As soon as I get thru this wedding cake I'll find the sheet and pm you the exact measurements. It might be on Nicholas Lodge's website because Alan printed it out for me. I also know that he has recipes on his website. I don't know if he has it listed there. www.globalsugarart.com

I have made the Wilton recipe...........turned out sort of soft, but it is very workable and VERY economical!

deb

Thanks Joann,

I use Gum Tragacanth and water with a ratio of 1:4 or 1:5. It's probably about the same.
I bought the Gum Trag at the cake store and when I asked the owner for Tylose, she said Gum Trag or Gum Karya was the same thing. But I'm not falling for that crap. Geez NOW she carries tylose, I guess enough people were asking for it. I don't have to mail order it anymore.

Thanks for all of the info- One more question about the glue--

I've never used glue with my gumpaste--if you're doing figures or bows, is it used simply to bond the gumpaste pieces together?

Alan Dunn uses the paste bought from A Piece of Cake Thame (they have a website, UK based shop). leta, when you said his flowers are 'soft', do you mean that his flowers never dry?
I love a gumpaste that dries strong without being brittle, and stands up well in humid weather. I used to use the Nic Lodge recipe but found it too brittle, so after my own experimentation, came up with a formula which is strong, white, and nicely soft and stretchy. Still, I wouldn't mind trying the Piece of Cake paste.

The glue just holds your gumpaste pieces together. It's just like cement. Just use a brush with a little of the glue on your pieces and they hold. It's 3/4 teaspoon of tylose to 1 cup of boiling water. Stir with a whisk or fork every 5 minutes until completely dissolved. (Takes 15 to 20 min.) Put it in an airtight bottle and refrig. overnight to finish dissolving and to mature. Kep refrigerated.

leta, not glycerine, gelatin! Apparently the paste Dunn uses allows him to wire flowers together before the paste has fully dried. That would be handy.