Does anyone have experience working with Mexican Paste?

I took a class at ICES with Kim Morrison on making a tea cup and saucer and she used Mexican Paste. I bought some but am really struggling with it.

The texture seemes different from gumpaste: rubbery and yet when driy it cracks and looks like elephant skin.

I'm even having difficulty rolling it thin.

Any help would be appreciated

a cake store site i use says simply that it is less elastic than the usual gumpaste. not that helpful, and i havent used it my self, but i can imagine the frustration! i hope someone with experience can get back to you
xx

Hi, I have used Mexican paste. Most of the time I use it when I need to use Patchwork cutters. They recommend Mexican paste for their cutters. Here is a link from their site,

http://www.patchworkcutters.co.uk/POM/pom_mexican1.asp

HTH.

Nannie - I have always had trouble with paste that I have bought pre made. I always make it myself now and rarely have any problems. I can't remember who told me - but someone said if you buy premade paste they add ingredients to it to keep it from hardening while it is in the packaging.....which is the opposite of what you want it to do. Can you make some yourself and see if that works? I hope you can figure it out!

I have used mexican paste and have had no trouble. You can by the mix at Global Sugar Art that is what I use and it has worked well

The "mixes" are ok - it is the PRE made paste that I feel has issues.

this is the global sugar arts mix

do you treat it like gumpaste? add crisco if hard, cornstarch if sticky?

I had a bit more luck with the second one but it did seem to dry out faster than gum paste so was a bit less forgiving

thanks everyone for your advise

Yes, it is just a version of gumpaste. Cornstarch & crisco like you are working with gumpaste. I know you will get it! (are you ready to go back to convention yet?? I am. )

I can't go back till I finish trying all the things I learned