How To Make Coral As Mentioned On The Ultimate Cake Off Show

Sugar Work By labmom Updated 21 Aug 2013 , 12:16pm by kkmcmahan

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labmom Posted 13 Sep 2009 , 11:49pm
post #1 of 22

I watched the first ultimate cake off show.. don't understand the judging on it, because one of the cakes was far superior than the other in details and work, but having said that, does anyone remember about what the one who won, said about the easy way to make coral.. powdered sugar and something else and then microwaved????? not sure what the other ingredients were. I hope that someone else might have watched and noted that hint.

I checked and they are not showing the episodes on the tlc website or hulu.
Thought I would tape it and then watch again...
thanks for any help.

21 replies
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letsgetcaking Posted 14 Sep 2009 , 12:35am
post #2 of 22

I didn't see the show you are talking about, but I did find this info online. It looks like they heated isomalt (a sugar subsitute) with food coloring and water. Here's a link to the blog I found it on:

http://food102.blogspot.com/2008/09/isomalt-garnishes.html
LL

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ibmoser Posted 14 Sep 2009 , 1:00am
post #3 of 22

I'm thinking it was royal icing that they put in the microwave? Can't remember exactly, and I didn't record that episode icon_cry.gif . I'll see what I can find tomorrow.....

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myslady Posted 14 Sep 2009 , 9:57am
post #4 of 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by ibmoser

I'm thinking it was royal icing that they put in the microwave? Can't remember exactly, and I didn't record that episode icon_cry.gif . I'll see what I can find tomorrow.....




You are correct. I read that it was nuked royal icing also.

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G_Cakes Posted 14 Sep 2009 , 10:28am
post #5 of 22

I had a great link from yummy arts on how to do it but could not find it, but if memory serves me correct.

To make coral what they did was take a bowl of crushed ice (can also be done on baking sheet) and pour the melted isomalt onto the crushed ice.

then they put some more ice on top of it.

once it has hardened you can remove it from the ice and presto coral.

hth

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soledad Posted 30 Sep 2010 , 2:09am
post #6 of 22

G-cakes can you do this with regular sugar?... I need to make some coral decorations for a wedding cake this saturday, Oct 2nd.
Thank you icon_smile.gif

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Sassy74 Posted 30 Sep 2010 , 2:33am
post #7 of 22

I've tried microwaving RI...didn't work. All I got was semi-burnt, semi-runny RI. I didn't have any idea how long to do it, what to do after etc. so I'm sure I screwed it up somehow lol !

I'd love to know if anyone discovers it!

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G_Cakes Posted 30 Sep 2010 , 2:47am
post #8 of 22

I dont recommend doing it with regular sugar as chances are it would not turn out correct (color etc)
would go with isomalt and you should be fine

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joy5678 Posted 30 Sep 2010 , 3:04am
post #9 of 22

Buddy on Cake Boss did this by using the isomalt. He used deep measuring buckets and filled them up with ice then poured the isomalt over it. Really looked great. You might be able to pull up the episode. I think he made it for an Aquarium event. Hope this helps.

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BlakesCakes Posted 30 Sep 2010 , 6:33am
post #10 of 22

They made royal icing coral/rock sugar by adding royal icing to hot sugar syrup. The royal icing erupts and hardens into a coral-like texture.

You need to remove it immediately from the pan or it turns to edible concrete.

Rae

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Apti Posted 2 Oct 2010 , 6:09am
post #11 of 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlakesCakes

They made royal icing coral/rock sugar by adding royal icing to hot sugar syrup. The royal icing erupts and hardens into a coral-like texture.

You need to remove it immediately from the pan or it turns to edible concrete.

Rae




Wow. You're good.

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UpAt2am Posted 2 Oct 2010 , 6:20am
post #12 of 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by G_Cakes

I dont recommend doing it with regular sugar as chances are it would not turn out correct (color etc)
would go with and you should be fine




i've made lots of coral using regular sugar as part of a typical candy making recipe. when it gets close to the hard crack stage, get lots of containers/tupperware/buckets and fill with crushed ice (i use the stuff from the door on my fridge). the reason i tell you to wait is b/c you don't want the ice to start to melt and leave puddles on water in the bottom. once at hard crack, remove and color as wanted (i'm usually wanting 4 different colors, so i have four different bowls). then immediately pour over ice. it will harden right away as it melts the ice. remove sugar coral and place on drying racks to drain completely. sit on counter until you need it...do not put it in the fridge for an extended period of time!

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LisaPeps Posted 2 Oct 2010 , 8:17am
post #13 of 22

This is a how to from a book I own

1lb granulated sugar
7 fl oz cooled, boiled water
1 oz royal icing

Pour the sugar into a saucepan, add the water.
Heat to 280 F, brush down the sides with a pastry brush and water so you don't get crystals on the sides. Add colour whilst heating if required.
When the mixture reaches 280 F immediately remove from the heat and stir in the RI. Place a tight fitting lid on to the saucepan as soon as the icing has blended into the sugar and return to a low heat.
After a few minutes the sugar will rise to the top of the saucepan. As soon as this occurs, remove the saucepan from the heat (do not leave the solution on the heat for too long as the sugar will discolour) As soon as you have removed the pan from the heat, turn the sugar out onto a metal tray. Break up the sugar pieces, as required.
Store in a cool dry place.

You could try doing this is the microwave by heating the sugar in bursts, I think it'd be easier on the hob though.

Taken from Making Sugar Fairies by Cecilia Morana

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Sweet-Gigi Posted 23 Feb 2011 , 5:45am
post #14 of 22

I just saw this episode and they said they used powdered sugar and egg whites.
However, I was looking online to try to find out how much and how long in the microwave, etc. Anyone have any ideas on how to make this kind of coral? It was "puffier" and looked very real compared to the smooth shiny coral or royal icing coral...

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cashley Posted 23 Feb 2011 , 6:06am
post #15 of 22

I watched the show too and it was egg whites and powdered sugar but don't know how much of each

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conchita Posted 23 Feb 2011 , 6:23am
post #16 of 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by G_Cakes

I had a great link from yummy arts on how to do it but could not find it, but if memory serves me correct.

To make coral what they did was take a bowl of crushed ice (can also be done on baking sheet) and pour the melted onto the crushed ice.

then they put some more ice on top of it.

once it has hardened you can remove it from the ice and presto coral.

hth




Yes I also say the yummyarts video on youtube and they use white chocolate. I did it and it was so much fun to make.

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prcheercoach Posted 8 Mar 2011 , 6:03pm
post #17 of 22

I just made some Isomalt Coral yesterday and it turned out Great!

You can probably use Granulated Suger in lieu of Isomalt, but Isomalt will work better.

When Using Isomalt, Take 3 parts Isomalt to 1 part Water (example: 3 cups Isomalt, 1 cup water) in a pan and boil until it reaches 350 degrees (using a candy thermometer is best) - do not stir the mixture, just let it boil.

Once it reaches 350 degrees, remove the pan from the heat and place the pan into an ice bath immediately stop the cooking process. Let is cool for about 30 sec - 1 min. While the liquid is cooling - add desired amount of Food coloring & stir as needed to ensure consistent color.

Pour the liquid into a large container of Ice. Be sure to pour liquid all over ice or as desired - as it will cool and harden quickly..... making the coral. Add water once all liquid has been poured into the ice to help chill the coral. Let it chill for a few minutes and then remove the water/ice.

Product will be wet/sticky for a few hours (it is sugar). Place on a cookie sheet lined w/ parchment paper until dry.

I hope this helps everyone who would like to experiment with Coral!!

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pvcat2000 Posted 8 Mar 2011 , 6:32pm
post #18 of 22

Susan Carberry was the one who made the coral in the yummy arts video.
I could be wrong but I think it was melted white chocolate that she used.

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Rosie2 Posted 13 Mar 2011 , 4:48am
post #19 of 22

This is an awesome thread!!
Has anyone tried the white chocolate to make coral?

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clarebeatrice Posted 19 Sep 2011 , 11:12pm
post #20 of 22

these are the best instructions for making your own coral I have come across - and I've been looking for a while

http://cakebakingmom.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-to-make-coral-out-of-sugar.html

will post a pic when I finish the cake[/url]

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danyag Posted 21 Aug 2013 , 6:06am
post #21 of 22

ASave

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kkmcmahan Posted 21 Aug 2013 , 12:16pm
post #22 of 22

Thanks, good thread.

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