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Sculptable frosting

Published by Meaghan on · 62 Comments

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sculptable frosting

 

Some of you may already know this, but every now and then my friend, Cheryl from Sew Can Do, and I like to switch things up a bit and swap posts. Cheryl is all fabric, I’m all sugar. But sometimes we even like to switch that up a bit, too (though I take baby steps into her world, since needle and thread aren’t my friends like they are hers. Seriously, just check out her etsy shop and the crazy cuteness.)

 

When I spotted these sculptable frosting figures she created, I knew I had to try my own (look for future posts with that experimenting). And these also inspired my casual dabbling with fabric, which I shared with you on Tuesday. Wouldn’t these toppers be so perfect for those cupcakes?  So now, I’m handing things over to Cheryl of Sew Can Do!!

 

SCULPTABLE FROSTING BY CHERYL OF SEW CAN DO

 

Hey Everybody!  It’s Cheryl, from Sew Can Do, coming to visit the decorated cookie with a new tutorial I’ve created: Sculptable Frosting.
sculptable frosting
With this frosting you can cut and sculpt all sorts of fun shapes and designs, like those made with modeling chocolate or fondant, but with all the flavor and a softer texture of a buttercream frosting.  If given a few hours to firm up, sculpted shapes will hold up well and can be stored a few days in an airtight container.  Yummy right?  Here’s how to make some:
sculptable frosting
You’ll Need:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon real vanilla extract
3-4 cups confectioner’s sugar
Food coloring gels (I use Americolor)
Sculpting Tools – small rolling pin, small paintbrush, nesting circle and flower shape fondant/small cookie cutters, butter knife, waxed paper, standing mixer with paddle attachment
Beat butter & cream in mixer until smooth.  Adding a cup at a time, blend in the confectioner’s sugar to create a dough consistency.  Add vanilla and beat to combine.
sculptable frosting
 Scoop out frosting to form a mound of “dough” (roughly 1lb):
sculptable frosting
Separate frosting into portions for various colors desired and, using a single drop of color at a time, knead food coloring gel into frosting until color desired is achieved.  If frosting seems sticky, add a small amount of confectioner’s sugar until smooth.
sculptable frosting
Dust a sheet of waxed paper with confectioner’s sugar and get ready to start sculpting!
To make my snail & mushroom vignette (great as a cupcake topper), use rolling pin to roll out some green frosting about 1/4 inch thick and use a large circle fondant cutter to make the base:
sculptable frosting
Next grab a piece of white frosting and roll with hands to make a rounded mushroom stem that is about 3/4 inch wide and 1 1/4 inches tall.  Stand up and push down slightly so base is a bit wider than the top:
sculptable frosting
Roll out the red frosting to 1/4 inch thick with rolling pin and cut a medium sized circle. Carefully place on top of stem and allow gravity to help mold the cap shape.
sculptable frosting
To make the snail roll a piece of pink frosting with hands to be about 1/2 inch wide and 1 1/4 inches long and flatten:
Pull up 1/3 of the strip and press down on the short side with the end of the paintbrush to create the antennae, smoothing & pinching with fingers to shape as desired.
Roll out some blue with hands until it is 1/4 inch thick and several inches long to make the shell piece.
Coil shell and trim outer end flat with knife:
Place shell on the snail’s back. Add snail & mushroom to base.  Remove any excess confectioner’s sugar with paintbrush:
sculptable frosting

 

Or how about a mini birthday cake made entirely of frosting?  Simply change the color of the base circle to make a “plate”. Take a bit of white frosting and flatten about 3/4 inch thick, and use a small circle fondant cutter to create the cake shape:

Roll out a bit of pink frosting 1/4 inch thick and cut with a flower cutter and then flatten slightly with the rolling pin to make the shape more uneven and drape over the top of the cake piece to “frost” it.

 

Add a small piece of white to make a candle and a tiny tapered piece of red for the flame and the cake is complete.  Perfect for those kids who only want to eat the frosting off the cake – now they’ll eat the whole thing!
 sculptable frosting

And if you really want to get whimsical, how about a little garden gnome?

sculptable frosting
Roll out pink, white and red frosting to 1/4 inch thick.  Cut a medium circle and taper slightly with hands on lower half to make a face shape:

Use knife to make a triangle with the red that is slightly wider at the bottom than the pink circle.  Use the cutter to round out the bottom to make the hat shape:

Place hat over top of circle and curve to fit.  Cut flower from white to create a beard and place over lower half of face:

Use end of paintbrush to make eye holes and then fill with small dots or blue.  Create a mouth with paintbrush in same way and fill with a small strip of red for a nice smile.

 

Add a pink circle nose and a strip of pink with a pointed end to either side to create ears and place over a large circle of green under the beard for the gnome’s body and this little guy will be nice and sweet:

Add creations to decorate cakes, cupcakes, brownies or use as stand alone sweets.  The possibilities are endless and incredibly tasty.  Hope you enjoy them!  Thanks for letting me stop by Meaghan!

Thanks for visiting, Cheryl! And a REMINDER to ALL: This is a guest post by Cheryl of Sew Can Do. I did not create this super cool sculptable frosting. Rather than leave your questions in the comments here, your best bet to get any questions answered is to visit Cheryl at Sew Can Do.

 

meaghan

ABOUT MEAGHAN

Hi! I’m Meaghan, owner, photographer, fun food creator, video editor, and writer for The Decorated Cookie. My site is about decorated cookies, marshmallow art, and other easy, fun food crafts for every occasion and holiday. You’ll also find lots of everyday food and crafts for kids and grown-ups. Read more...

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  2. Kirstin says

    Does anyone have experience using this on a whole cake? I want the fondant look for my wedding cake, but lets face it – fondant’s not very good!

    Reply

    • meaghanmountford says

      I agree about the fondant! If you click over to Cheryl’s site and contact her, I’m sure she can give you better info, but I’d say this would likely not be good for covering a whole cake. I’m not sure you’ll be able to roll out a large enough piece or have the elasticity. For all of fondant’s taste flaws, dang, it’s so good for smooth surfaces!

  3. Jodina says

    Love your tutorial and have to try this out but would love to know how long this will last due to all dairy products. Thanks

    Reply

    • meaghanmountford says

      Hi Jodina! Good question. I’m not sure myself… this was a guest post from Cheryl of Sew Can Do, but if you follow the link to her site, there is contact info on her blog. She’s super nice, and I’m sure would be able to answer your question! Thanks for visiting! 🙂

  4. brenda Jarmusz says

    How long is this icing good for and what’s the proper handling of this icing as in can you leave at room temp or freeze or does it stay refrigerated. I love this recipe and can’t wait to try it. Thank you.

    Reply

    • meaghanmountford says

      Hi Jeanette! This was a guest post by Cheryl at Sew Can Do. I’ve never made it or tried it myself, though it has gotten rave reviews. If you click on the link to her site, I’m sure she’d be able to help you! 🙂 Thanks, meaghan

    • meaghanmountford says

      So so awesome Amanda! And whatta cutie. I have a 5-year old girl… very fun age, they say the darnedest things!

  7. April says

    I’m so excited about this! My son and daughter are turning 5 and 4 next month, and they are having a joint Lego party – this will be perfect to make their cakes! Thank you!

    Reply

    • meaghanmountford says

      Hi Carolyn, This was a guest post by Cheryl of Sew Can Do. If you click the link to her site, I bet she can answer all your questions. I don’t think you can actually cover a cake with it, but she would know more! 🙂

    • meaghanmountford says

      Moly, probably not, but I’ve never tried this. This is a guest post by Cheryl of Sew Can Do. If you click the link to her site you can ask her directly. Thanks!

  11. Mayaluna says

    Hello! I was wondering if you are able to use just regular food coloring instead of americolors to change the color of it. Or will it ruin the concentration?

    Reply

    • meaghanmountford says

      Hi Mayaluna, this was a guest post by Cheryl of Sew Can Do, so I’m not sure, I’ve not tried it myself. But if you visit her blog, I’m sure she can help you. Thanks!

  12. Lisa says

    Has anyone triedto freeze this? I want to make my designs ahead of time, (incase I mess up!) so I’m just wondering how long I would have and if I could just pop them in the freezer? Thanks!!

    Reply

  13. jamie says

    For the marshmallow fondant spray with water to keep it from cracking. Also It might be too dry if its cracking. Maybe use more crisco when you are rolling it out.

    Reply

  15. Tammy Bills says

    I tried this and it tasted very good. Much better than fondant and it would sculpt great but I could not get it to spread to put over a cake. Great for sculpting and taste great.

    Reply

  17. Tama Feigley says

    I’m using this on my nephews birch bark wedding cakes. I’ve experimented so far placing the the sculpable icing directly onto Butter Cream icing, it worked great! Sculpted and then hand painted the bark curls with Wilton icing color.

    Reply

  18. Amanda says

    I’m planning on using this to help decorate for my son’s minecraft birthday party…I’l let you all know how it turns out!

    Reply

  19. Camryn says

    Hi! This looks amazing! I’m excited to try it for my brother’s birthday! How much frosting does this recipe make? Could I double it and be able to cover a whole cake? Or should I triple it?

    Reply

    • meaghanmountford says

      Hi Camryn, I haven’t tried this myself. It’s a guest post from Cheryl at Sew Can Do, but if you visit her blog, I’m sure she’d be able to answer questions! I don’t believe this would work to cover a cake, just for the decoration, but she would know more :).

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