Sugar paste vs modelling paste

[Mishy1234]

I'm in the planning stages for DS2's birthday cake and hope to adapt one of Debbie Brown's cake designs (spaceship) to make a Meg and Mog cake.

The decorating instructions call for sugar paste for the cake board and some of the cake, but modelling past for the others. I plan on buying pre-coloured sugar paste, but can only see the modelling paste in limited colours (not all the ones I need). The book implies that you make modelling past by adding MC powder to sugar paste. However, it's not totally clear if you can only do this if you're making your own sugar paste and if it's a modification of the process.

So, firstly does it make a real difference using modelling paste rather than sugar paste when making figures? If so, can I just add MC powder to ready made sugar paste or would I have to make/colour my own?

You need modelling paste for figures as it dries harder, but you can just add powder to sugarpaste.

ready made sugarpaste I mean

You can add the cmc powder to ready made sugar paste, I use 1 tsp cmc per 250g sugarpaste but when colouring little bits I just add a pinch or 2 to the paste I am using. If you need to colour any sugarpaste use paste colours rather than liquid as it takes a lot of liquid to get any decent colour and then you end up with a sticky mess which tastes really revolting.

Ooh I left this page open so long I didn't refresh and missed Wem posting.

That's great, thanks so much for your help.

Another question!

How far in advance do you make your figures? Can they be done at the same time as the rest of the cake, or do you prefer to do them sooner so they can dry completely?

I would do the figures asap and let them dry as much a possible.

Ok, thanks.

Did you get your name from the Smitten Kitchen blog? By complete coincidence I made blueberry boy bait yesterday! It does live up to it's name and my 2 boys (3 if you count DH) went crazy for it.

I can't believe I haven't discovered the Smitten Kitchen blog before now and am itching to get hold of her book when it comes out.

No, my name has been my favourite pudding since I went to visit an aunt in American when I was little. Not seen the Smitten Kitten blog, will look it out.

Ah, I see! The version I made was more of a cake than a pudding. It would be interesting to know if they are similar when you get the chance to take a look at the blog.

www.smittenkitchen.com

There are a huge number of recipes there, although mostly in American measurements although she does have a conversion page.