At this time of year, we are surrounded with candy, but did you know sugar is the key to many artistic creations? Most sugar art adorns cakes and desserts, but it can also be shaped into delicate, edible sculptures. I thought it might be fun to see sugar artists’ work. Let’s go…
Sugar Work: Sugar Artist Creating a Freestanding Fish Sculpture
Sugar artists utilize many tools as they work, including scissors, knives, a blow torch, a fan or dryer, silicone molds, and multiple pots and pans for melting large amounts of sugar, also known as isomalt. Protective gloves are a necessity due to the risk of burns from the 330-degree liquified sugar.
Sugar Artist Detailing a Blown Sugar Animal
Types of Sugar Work: Blown Sugar Animals
Blown Sugar Mice
Poured Sugar Topper & Base
Poured Sugar Freeform Latticework
Poured Sugar Molded Ice Cubes & Barrel
Pulled Sugar Candy Cane Bow
Pulled Sugar Fruit Candy
Pulled Sugar Lollipops
Spun Sugar Cotton Candy
Spun Sugar Dessert Nest
Spun Sugar Straw
Wafer Paper Butterflies & Poured Sugar “H”
The paper, ink and glitter are edible. Wafer paper is often used to create leaves and feathers. It also enables photos to be placed on cakes as decorations.
Sugar Paste Rose
Sugar Art: Butterfly on a Flower
Coral/Abstract Cake Topper
Lace Dessert Topper
Bedroom-Themed Dessert
Sheep Candy Treat
Sculptural Dessert Topper
Fish Sculpture
Edible Glass
Yes, you read that correctly. This champagne glass is made entirely of sugar, so you can enjoy your drink and then eat the glass! How cool is that?
Halloween-Themed Sugar Art: Birthday Cake
The spider is made from sugar paste.
Wedding Cake
The spheres, tear drops, gems and cake topper are all sugar.
Dragon Wedding Cake
The flowers and dragon’s body are modeling chocolate. The spines down the dragon’s back, horns, eyes, teeth and claws are sugar.
Monster Cake
The teeth, tongue and mouth interior are all sugar.
This completes our exploration of sugar art. As you can see, sugar can be much more than the simple crystals you add to your coffee or tea. Hungry for more? Halloween Wars is a show featuring teams consisting of a pumpkin carver, cake artist and sugar artist competing for $50k. You will be amazed by their creations. I hope you have enjoyed seeing sugar as an art form. Please let me know your favorites in the comments.
Thanks for Reading, Happy Halloween, and Happy Crafting!
Time flies. It’s hard to believe I launched this blog in 2018. Today I thought it might be interesting to find out the most popular posts as voted by you, the readers. Below is a list of the Top 10 posts in ascending order:
Number 10: Decorating Easter Eggs
Dyed eggs are a staple of any Easter celebration. To read more, please click here.
Number 9: Collages: Old School vs. High Tech
Collages can be created by two different methods: 1) “Old School” Traditional, or 2) High Tech. To read more, please click here.
Number 8: Table Décor – Designs for All Occasions
Welcome to part two of table décor. Last week we reviewed the basic elements used in decorating tables. Today, we will see table designs for most occasions celebrated throughout the year. To read more, please click here.
Number 7: Fun with Photo Editing
Wouldn’t it be cool if you could simply change a gloomy sky to a gorgeous day with a wave of your arm? We might not have that ability now, but we can certainly achieve this monumental task through the power of photo editing. To read more, please click here.
Number 6: Inspiring Cake Design
A well-designed cake sets the tone (e.g., romantic, playful, humorous), or complements the theme (e.g., fairytales, natural wonders, hobbies, holidays) for every celebration. To read more, please click here.
Number 5: Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice
In Autumn, as the leaves begin to turn, pumpkin flavored items begin popping up everywhere, from coffee shops to fast food restaurants and even the local pub. To read more, please click here.
Number 4: Halloween: Naughty or Nice?
There are all sorts of Halloween themes and characters to help us celebrate this imaginative holiday. To read more, please click here.
Number 3: One Craft Leads to Another
Because we live in such a beautiful world, it comes as no surprise that we are inspired to create using every color of the rainbow. To read more, please click here.
Number 2: Inspiration: Lost & Found – Part 1
Sometimes it feels like inspiration is impossible to find. It hides in plain sight, masquerading as mundane items in our daily lives. To read more, please click here.
Number 1: Blogging Vacation
Throughout the summer, I usually take a break, by posting every other week. This year there were so many inspirations to share I simply kept going. To read more, please click here.
And there we have it – the top 10 posts from 2018 through 2023. There are always new ideas to explore, and I’ll be sure to include more of your favorites. Your opinions are greatly appreciated, and I look forward to so much more in the future. If you have any suggestions for posts, please let me know.
A well-designed cake sets the tone (e.g., romantic, playful, humorous), or complements the theme (e.g., fairytales, natural wonders, hobbies, holidays) for every celebration. Let’s find out more…
What Lies Beneath:
As the saying goes: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Cake decorating focuses upon the exterior, while the inside is often overlooked. These cakes conceal design surprises to wow your guests.
Ice Cream Dream
Over the Rainbow
Checkmate
Just Roll with It
Nature’s Candy:
Sweet, colorful cake decorations really do grow on trees. Fruit may be sliced, dipped, powdered, or pureed, but the results are guaranteed to be beautiful and delicious.
Peaches & Cream
Modern Art
Creamy Temptation
Textural Wonder
Layer Upon Layer
Little Details:
Whether they are delicate or bold, smooth or textured, real or surreal, little details make all the difference. These cakes are almost too pretty to eat. … Almost!
Let’s Play
America’s Sweetheart
Couture Fashion
High Profile
Rev Your Engines
Home Sweet Home
Gardener’s Delight
Five Star Cakes:
These camera-ready celebrities take center stage to entertain via storytelling, visual impact, and evocative sculptural details.
Love Blooms
Perfect Balance
What’s Your Poison?
Mermaid Tales
Sweet Dreams
At the Crossroads
Hawaiian Getaway
Beyond Here Thar Be Monsters
I never realized how frightening a cake could be! Is anyone else disturbed by this menacing creation? It looks like it may eat us instead of the other way around. Yikes!
All Sewn Up
My grandmother had a sewing machine just like this one. From the needle and thread to the folded fabric and the dresser it sits upon, it is incredibly realistic and entirely edible. Yum! Maybe I’ll take up sewing after all.
There are so many talented people designing cakes to wow an audience. It seems there is nothing they can’t do. I hope you have been inspired by these photos and will give cake decorating a try. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments. Until next time…
White icing, piped details topped with maraschino cherries and chocolate shavings make this Black Forest cake outstanding, but the real showstopper is the chocolate latticework wrapped around the sides.
I have a confession to make – researching and writing this post made me hungry for dessert. Before you continue reading, I suggest having a treat ready to eat, or grab the car keys and run to the bakery. Okay, now let us explore cake decorating.
Icing Piping Bags
Cake decorating bags can be filled with a variety of icings and each metal tip creates different designs, from flowers, to ribbons, stars and many more. Piping bags can also be used for fillings in pastries and donuts.
Piped Flowers
The piping bags shown in the previous photo produced these unique floral motifs.
Buttercream Roses
Piped buttercream frosting is a colorful and flavorful choice for cake decorating.
Owl Fondant Cake
This adorable owl cake is decorated with fondant, which is made from sugar paste, rolled out into sheets, and then cut into any desired shapes.
Glazed Icing
Confectioner’s Sugar drizzled over this cake is quick and easy. The clustered cherries hint at the fruit filling hidden with this single layer cake.
Marzipan
Marzipan is made from almond paste and is a favorite candy treat, which adds a bit of whimsy to cakes as well as cupcakes.
Modeling Chocolate
If you always wanted to try sculpture, here is your chance to create a beautiful art piece and it’s edible too! While smaller decorations can be made with fondant or gum paste, modeling chocolate is much stronger, enabling the creation of larger figures, such as the Disney characters shown above.
Rainbow Layer Cake
An easy way to add color to any cake is by using rainbow colored layers.
Orange Cheesecake
This cheesecake has a translucent topping and center filling made from orange juice concentrate and sugar. An unexpected block pattern is only revealed when sliced.
Red Velvet Cake
Rich red crumbles hint at the alternating layers of moist chocolate cake and cream cheese icing hidden within this decadent dessert.
Strawberry Shortcake
Fresh fruit garnishes and a little powdered sugar are all you need to top off this summertime favorite.
Chocolate Tarts
Most people love chocolate and this dessert does not disappoint. Chocolate whipped cream is sandwiched between the layers of cake and is also piped on top, garnished with chocolate shavings and raspberries.
Marbleized Cake
A marbleized effect is achieved by piping chocolate frosting over vanilla and then running a knife or spatula through it.
Fondant with Piping & Roses
This lovely wedding cake has pink and white fondant, with piped icing details and fresh-cut flowers.
Star Wars Theme Cake – (Fondant & Modeling Chocolate)
Special occasions present perfect opportunities for themed cakes. Any child would be thrilled to have Yoda at his or her birthday party. A few “big” kids would love it too!
Mosaic Fondant Cake
This cake and display tray have been covered with chocolate fondant for a seamless look. Multi-color fondant sheets are cut into circles of various sizes and individually placed in an intricate mosaic pattern.
Modeling Chocolate Lego Cake
The figures and Legos are modeling chocolate, while the white icing is fondant. Isn’t it amazing how realistic the Lego blocks look?
Designer Cakes
These wintry snowmen are decorated with modeling chocolate, piping, and macaroons. Sprinkled granulated sugar resembles the snow and ice.
Designer Cakes
Want to know the secret to making large decorations like the giraffe, the zebra and the turtle’s head and legs? Rice cereal treats are covered with fondant to seamlessly blend with the cake.
Designer Textured Cakes
Both of these cakes offer incredible color and texture. On the left, the ombré effect of the piped roses leads the eye toward the sparkling glass bride and groom topper. Piping, stamping, gum paste, and candy making techniques have been beautifully combined in this unique garden gazebo.
Designer Bold Colorful Cakes
Bold colors are certainly eye-catching. The first, known as a topsy-turvy cake, is wrapped in fondant and decorated with geometric and floral cut fondant. The floral cake has been hand-painted with edible inks, creating the look of stained glass.
Designer Pastel Floral Cake
This floral cake is a real labor of love. Each gum paste flower, leaf and butterfly is made by hand and set in place to create the cascading garden. As the design nears completion, iridescent edible inks are brushed on to provide depth and realistic details in this incredible wedding cake.
I hope you are inspired to give cake decorating a try. A visit to your local craft store will give you additional ideas, and you will see an amazing selection of the candies, pre-mixed fondants, and gel icings, as well as tools of the trade and specialty pans to make your next dessert a masterpiece.
