Pme Snowflake Plunger Cutter ... A Cake Artist's Toy Of Torture

Decorating By NYAcupcake Updated 30 Dec 2013 , 12:02am by glow

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NYAcupcake Posted 13 Dec 2013 , 9:27pm
post #1 of 54

I was SO excited to use my brand new PME Snowflake Plunger Cutter. Until I found that for every snowflake that came out perfectly, about 5 came out horribly...or didn't come out of the cutter at all. I tried so many things...dusting cutter with confectioner's sugar, dusting fondant with cs, adding tylose to my fondant. After about 2 frustrating hours, I finally got about 25 decent (not perfect) snowflakes. Anyone have any tips on making this cutter a bit more user-friendly?

I eventually turned the cutter over with the fondant in it, and basically pushed and scraped the edges with my fingers to cut it out the excess (a LOT of excess). Then I placed it back down and used the plunger to imprint the design into the snowflake.

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Daisyblue002 Posted 13 Dec 2013 , 9:39pm
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I was thinking of getting one of these, so thanks for the heads up. My snowflake cutter doesn't have a plunger or open back, so I have to prise out every icicle bit with a pin. I find that giving the cutter a very liberal dusting with cornflour, rolling out the fondant thin and letting it sit for 5-10 mins to firm up a little helps.

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Godot Posted 13 Dec 2013 , 9:40pm
post #3 of 54

AUse gumpaste. The instructions recommend it and the cutters were developed for gumpaste.

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MBalaska Posted 13 Dec 2013 , 10:10pm
post #4 of 54

NYAcupcake & Daisyblue002:   Don't give up!    If I can use them, anyone can..............seriously.:smile:

 

I bought the PME snowflake cutters for a friend who wanted a snowflake wedding cake.  I watched the Global Sugar Art video by Pastry Chef Allen T., then made my first gumpaste.  It was a slow process but do-able.

gumpaste snowflakes on SMBC

 

**(I'm not much of a decorator, more of a candy maker & baker, so it's not fancy at all)

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Bt3138 Posted 14 Dec 2013 , 5:29am
post #5 of 54

AHello, use corn starch and make your fondant thick.

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auzzi Posted 14 Dec 2013 , 5:34am
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Godot Posted 14 Dec 2013 , 6:00am
post #7 of 54

ARoll your gumpaste very thin. When you think it's thin enough - roll it some more.

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johnson6ofus Posted 14 Dec 2013 , 6:32am
post #8 of 54

Some say thick, some say thin...

 

I say DUST IT, DRY IT (a bit).... and plunge! I LOVE these cutters. Keep trying till you get the "feel" for them. I really do love them (no stock in PME either). :)

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Godot Posted 14 Dec 2013 , 6:39am
post #9 of 54

AAlso, are you sure that they're 'real' PME cutters and not cheap, illegal Chinese copies?

There's a huge difference in quality and performance.

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gscout73 Posted 14 Dec 2013 , 9:31am
post #10 of 54

I love-love-love my PME snowflake cutters. I've used fondant, gum paste 50/50 mix and Mexican paste and always was satisfied with the results. It's unfortunate you had so much trouble. Don't give up on them. Just remember to dust.

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Daisyblue002 Posted 14 Dec 2013 , 11:15am
post #11 of 54

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBalaska 
 

NYAcupcake & Daisyblue002:   Don't give up!    If I can use them, anyone can..............seriously.:smile:

 

I bought the PME snowflake cutters for a friend who wanted a snowflake wedding cake.  I watched the Global Sugar Art video by Pastry Chef Allen T., then made my first gumpaste.  It was a slow process but do-able.

gumpaste snowflakes on SMBC

 

**(I'm not much of a decorator, more of a candy maker & baker, so it's not fancy at all)

MBalaska your snowflakes look fantastic. The plunger has got to be better than what I'm using at the moment, so will definitely give them a go.

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melanie-1221 Posted 14 Dec 2013 , 2:30pm
post #12 of 54

I have gone rounds with these as well. First I bought the cheapo ones on ebay from China, those were useless.

Then I bought the PME ones, big difference but still not fun.

I found that dusting the cutter and the fondant with some confectioners sugar and let it dry a few minutes. 

Then I press in the cutter ( no plunger yet) and wiggle a bit , pick up the cutter, the snowflake should be in it, then I press the plunger into it with my finger in the middle to make the imprint, then pop it out. 

 

If that makes any sense. Mine come out like this.Snowflake Cupcakes . Snowflakes done with PME cutter.

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NYAcupcake Posted 14 Dec 2013 , 10:25pm
post #13 of 54

Thanks for these GREAT tips. I really appreciate it. I added tylose to my fondant so it was essentially gumpaste. Maybe since I live in FL the humidity didn't help me any ;)

I will def not give up. I have too many Xmas orders to deal with!! :)

 

Thanks again!!

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NYAcupcake Posted 14 Dec 2013 , 10:33pm
post #14 of 54

Absolutely PME cutters bought from a reputable cake decor place.

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Godot Posted 15 Dec 2013 , 7:26am
post #15 of 54

ATylo plus fondant equals modeling paste, NOT gumpaste.

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howsweet Posted 15 Dec 2013 , 8:33am
post #16 of 54

AYes, fondant with tylose is much easier to work with.

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Godot Posted 15 Dec 2013 , 8:43am
post #17 of 54

AIt is easier to work with, but it's not gumpaste.

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-K8memphis Posted 15 Dec 2013 , 2:25pm
post #18 of 54

i use fondant + cornstarch + flavored oil because it's more fun to eat than gumpaste especially on cupcakes where one would expect to eat the whole thing but i use this on tier cakes too --

 

i knead in enough so that the fondant is dry enough that it cannot stick to the plunger but it has not crusted - and i roll it thick to thin depending --

 

but that's a pretty intricate plunger too --

 

if i had a problem with it--and my fondant was nice & dry -- i'd shoot it with a brief spray of oil

 

my favorite snowflake is piped white chocolate--because they melt like real snowflakes! ha!

 

 

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NYAcupcake Posted 15 Dec 2013 , 5:00pm
post #19 of 54

I used Tylo as it makes the fondant more similar to gumpaste than just fondant alone. I will do gumpaste next time for sure though! Thank you!

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NYAcupcake Posted 15 Dec 2013 , 5:01pm
post #20 of 54

Quote:

Originally Posted by -K8memphis 
 


Yes, that is what I really want to ace for next Xmas is chocolate snowflakes! So pretty and delicate!

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NYAcupcake Posted 15 Dec 2013 , 5:03pm
post #21 of 54

 

I'm still happy with the results. :) Thanks to all of you for your helpful comments...they are so appreciated! I've only been doing cakes since July. So I LOVE to learn from all of you!

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NYAcupcake Posted 15 Dec 2013 , 5:06pm
post #22 of 54

Quote:

Originally Posted by -K8memphis 
 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by -K8memphis 
 


I agree....that is why I didn't want to try gumpaste in the first place. It's for a holiday party and I didn't want anyone to spit out their snowflakes. HAHA!

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-K8memphis Posted 15 Dec 2013 , 5:17pm
post #23 of 54

well you rocked it--those are beautiful

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howsweet Posted 15 Dec 2013 , 5:36pm
post #24 of 54

AThey turned out great! True, it's not gumpaste.

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MBalaska Posted 15 Dec 2013 , 10:20pm
post #25 of 54

NYAcupcake:  well done.....beautiful!

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NYAcupcake Posted 16 Dec 2013 , 3:58am
post #26 of 54

Thank you so much! :)

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kiwimiriam Posted 16 Dec 2013 , 4:09am
post #27 of 54

They look great!!

I'm also having 'fun' with my snowflakes as well.

I have some more to make tonight, and it's a slow process of using a toothpick to gently ease the end/tips out and then they pop out.

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NYAcupcake Posted 17 Dec 2013 , 9:19pm
post #28 of 54

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwimiriam 
 

They look great!!

I'm also having 'fun' with my snowflakes as well.

I have some more to make tonight, and it's a slow process of using a toothpick to gently ease the end/tips out and then they pop out.


Yes, I used either a thin pointed fondant tool or an Xacto. But boy oh boy was it a special treat when they plopped out on their own :)

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Annabakescakes Posted 18 Dec 2013 , 6:49am
post #29 of 54

Funny, I have the cheapo Chinese cutters off of Ebay, and I have never had a problem with them. I use fondant with tylose, or just fondant. If one doesn't pop right off, I depress the plunger and pick it off with my fingers. I do rub the cutter on a mat to get all the little nasty edges off that don't belong, then pop them out.

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MBalaska Posted 18 Dec 2013 , 7:25am
post #30 of 54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Annabakescakes 

".........I do rub the cutter on a mat to get all the little nasty edges off that don't belong, then pop them out.

with the gumpaste they popped out every time.  I had to use toothpicks to clean out the outer perimeter of the cutter, in the tiny crevices, but not the insides.

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