Lady Bug, Lady Bug, Fly Away Home

How to make a cute little lady bug:

3/4" ball black fondant
 pink fondant
 green fondant
Gum glue*
3/4" Circle Cutter
Scissors
#10 piping tip

*To make gum glue mix 1/8 tsp Tylose powder with
1 oz. warm water

Pinch a bit of black fondant

 and make a ¼” ball.   

Using the rest of the gumpaste,

 make an oval.

 Attach the two

 and set aside.

Roll out a small amount

 of pink fondant 

and using the ¾” cutter,

 make a circle.

With the scissors,

 cut a small “v” at one end of circle. 

 Press a line from “v” to other end of circle. Moisten the black ladybug

 with gum glue, and attach the pink ladybug wings. 

Roll a small amount

of green fondant very thin. 

Cut 5-6 dots from the green fondant

 using the small end of #10 piping tube.   

Place green dots  pink circle.

2015 All Rights Reserved

Jacque Benson

This material may not be reproduced without permission from the author.

Gingham Flower Topper Tutorial

Looking for a fun way to create a summer styled cake? When I think of summer, gingham comes to mind.
So I incorporated my love of summer gingham checks with fondant and flowers and ....here it is!

 SUMMER GINGHAM FLOWER TOPPER

Supplies:

Fondant- 1 lb. white

                ¾ inch ball of electric yellow

                8 oz. neon or electric Pink

                4 oz. neon or electric Green

                 ½ inch ball of black            

Orange petal dust

Bright green petal dust

Fondant Roller and Mat

Small stripes or gingham stencil

2 Clean Foam make-up wedges

Ruffled Heart cutter 2”

Heart cutter-1”

Gum glue

PME Wheel cutter

3” Leaf cutter

¾”, 1” and 3” circle cutter

Small blossom cutter

#2, 10 piping tube

Small scissors

Button

Roll out yellow gumpaste

 into thin layer.

 Cut a circle using a ¾” cutter. 

 Using the large end of

the #2 piping tube, 

make a slight indention

 in the circle.  

 Turn the piping tube over

 and make two or four holes

 in the center

 to create a button.

 Set aside to dry.

Flower

1. Roll out white fondant into a rectangle approximately 3”x 12”.

2. Lay stencil over the fondant 

and press into the fondant

 by gently rolling over the stencil.

Using the wedge foam applicator,

 apply a layer of orange petal dust

 over the fondant.

Lift the stencil, 

and wipe it clean 

with a paper towel.

 

Lay crosswise over the 

stenciled fondant 

and repeat process.

3. Cut 5 ruffled hearts,

 lightly cover with plastic wrap

 and set aside.

 4. Roll out pink fondant approximately 5”x 12”. 

 Using your ruffled heart cutter,

 make an very light indention for a guide, 

then moisten the inside of the heart with gum glue.

Lay the patterned heart petal 

over the moistened fondant.  

Using a ruffled cutter or a PME wheel cutter 

and cut 1/8”away from the edge of heart petal,

creating a pink border. 

Repeat with the remainder of the petals.  

 Cover and set aside.

For smaller petals, roll out white fondant

 into a rectangle approximately 3”x 10”. 

 Press the clean stencil over the

 fondant in a diagonal. 

 Using the wedge foam applicator, 

apply a layer of of orange petal dust

 over the fondant. Lift stencil.

Repeat steps 3 – 4,
this time using a 4”x12” rectangle
of pink fondant.

Cover and set aside.

Thoroughly wash and dry stencil.

For the leaves, roll out white fondant

 into a 5” x 4” rectangle. 

Repeat steps 2-4 with green petal dust 

and green fondant using the leaf cutters.   

Cover and set aside.

To assemble flower:

Cut a 3” circle from white or pink fondant and moisten. 

Pinch the heart petals, 

as shown,

 then press into the

 center of the circle.   

Continue process,

overlapping the petals.

 Roll out a small amount of 

pink fondant and cut a 1” circle. 

Moisten with gum glue.

 Pinch the smaller heart petals, as before, 

then press into the center of the circle. 

Continue process, overlapping the petals

Roll out pink fondant and cut a flower,

 using the blossom cutter. 

Moisten the back and place 

 in the center.

Moisten center top with gum glue 

and place button in center of flower.

Attach the leaves, using gum glue,

 to bottom of circle.

Place cotton or 1” strips of rolled paper towels to give petals some lift. 

Set aside and allow to dry.

When ready, place on top of cake.

Jacque Benson. All rights reserved 2014
This tutorial and photography is the property of Jacque Benson- copyright 2014- and used with permission from the author. This material may not be used, copied or printed without expressed permission from the author, Jacque Benson.

Tips for Making and Rolling out Gingerbread Houses

This is the first in a series of three Gingerbread House Tutorials. Here are a few baking tips for your Gingerbread, along with a few patterns for your convenience.

Gingerbread House Recipe

• 1/3 cup soft shortening
• 1cup brown sugar, packed
• 1-1/2 cups dark molasses
• 2/3 cup cold water
• 7 cups flour
• 2 tsps. Baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. allspice
• 1 tsp. ginger
• 1 tsp. ground cloves
• 1 tsp. cinnamon

Mix shortening, brown sugar, and molasses thoroughly.  Stir in water, Blend all dry ingredients; stir in. Chill dough.

A few tips for rolling out gingerbread:

Once your dough is chilled, it is easier to manage. Cut dough in half.

Cut parchment to fit an 10X15” jellyroll pan.  Spray pan and paper with a light coat of nonstick spray.

Form dough into a rectangle, then roll out on a floured silicone mat.

Roll with equal pressure from the center of the dough to the ends.

Flip the rolled dough onto the paper lined jellyroll pan; Make a 10X15 solid cookie by rolling the dough to 1/8” thickness. 

Place your pattern on the dough and score with a pizza cutter.

For the porch pillars, just roll out dough into two 1/2" diameter logs.

Using a toothpick, score a light indention or two on the logs to create a bit of interest.

Keep your cutter clean while working.

Trace pattern pieces, leaving all dough in place to prevent dough from spreading or changing shape while baking.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake gingerbread  7-8 minute just until edges begin to brown slightly.

Remove from oven and and lightly roll hot gingerbread to flatten our any humps from baking.

Re-score on scored lines while gingerbread is still  quite warm

Work quickly and carefully.

If the dough cools too much the pieces will crack, however dough can easily be cut while hot. Nest carefully place the parchment paper with the scored gingerbread onto a baking rack to cool completely.

When cooled, remove from the parchment paper and allow the bread to set for a 24 hour period to harden.  Allow to harden at least one day before attempting to piece house together.  ***  Below are a few patterns just to get you started. Cut your patterns from cardboard or foam core and assemble with tape beforehand, especially if you are adding elements to your structure, such as a porch, vestibule, gables or any other addition you want to create. This step makes it easier to envision your assembly when constructing with gingerbread and sugar and well worth the extra time.

If you label your cardboard pieces, you will find it much easier to identify how your pattern should be placed. Be creative and have fun!

PATTERNS

 

 Gingerbread recipe shared from ICES, New Mexico chapter.

Jacque Benson—October 2007 In the next tutorial, a few easy tips for constructing your house.

This tutorial and photography is the property of Jacque Benson- copyright 2012- and used with permission from the author. This material may not be used, copied or printed without expressed permission from the author, Jacque Benson.

Best Banana Cake Recipe

This is a very delicious moist Banana Cake. Very easy to do!
Hope you enjoy!

note: any tutorial published on this website cannot be republished
on any other site without permission from the author.