My Gumpaste Always Has Cracks In It, How Can I Prevent This?
Decorating By Cakegirl74 Updated 27 Nov 2010 , 11:28am by tania9
I am fairly new to cake decorating and every time I have tried making any type of figure out of gumpaste it ends up having cracks in it that I cannot get rid of. Does anyone out there know how I can prevent this in the future?
I would really appreciate any advice. Thanks!
put a dab of crisco in your palm and work it in until smooth
also keep what your not using covered or it will dry out so quick its unreal
I have tried adding the Crisco and worked it for a long time until it soft and still I have cracks. Sometimes I have actually thought that it might be too soft. Do I have to work it even longer?
I have tried adding the Crisco and worked it for a long time until it soft and still I have cracks. Sometimes I have actually thought that it might be too soft. Do I have to work it even longer?
If you are making a ball shape for a 3-d figure, take the bit of paste into your lightly greased hands and put it on one side of your palm, take your other palm and sandwich it together using the correct pressure for the desired ball shape. You make the motion as if you are washing a plate in your hand- round and round with your right hand until the ball is completely smooth. You have to apply some pressure to it and you must keep going in circles to completely smooth it. If the gumpaste is soft and well worked, it should work. It should only take you about 20 seconds to get it right, if all conditions are correct.
Keep trying! Don't give up!
No matter what I do, I also canNOT get the cracks out of my gumpaste. I add crisco, and work it in my hands to get the warmth. Nothing. Still have cracks.
How old is the gumpaste? Try nuking the gumpaste for about 3 to 5 seconds and then rolling it.
You should be able to get the cracks out, if not, there is something wrong with your paste. I suggest looking youtube at videos of Aine2. She has great videos and you can see her technique for rolling out the paste and how quick it is and should be.
I was having problems with cracks too so now I use cooking spray (mine is canola oil) on my hands every time the gumpaste gets a bit sticky, when the gumpaste is sticky don't be tempted to add powdered sugar, use cooking spray instead.
I made a Pooh figure a few nights ago, he cracked terribly, so I squished him up and wrapped it in plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray, came back a few hours later and using the same piece of gumpaste (my colour was a fluke so I had to use that gumpaste again), I worked it til it was smooth and I made a new pooh and he only has one small crack 
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