• For the cream topping, whisk up the cream to form soft peaks. Once that's done add your whipped cream to your piping bag with a star nozzle, do this with a spoon or spatula.
• Fill the bag half to two-thirds full and then unfold the top of the bag. Do not fill the bag too full.
• To prevent the frosting from squeezing out the top of the bag, twist or roll down the top of the bag tightly against the frosting
• When piping, hold the bag so the tip is at the angle indicated for the technique. Then, gently squeeze to force the frosting out, using even pressure while guiding the tip. Do not loosen your grip on the twisted end or the cream will begin to push up and out of the top of the bag.
• To create the pink icing effect, you will need to 1M nozzle. Start at one edge of your cupcake and move from left to right, to right to left in a continuous motion until you are at the opposite edge.
• For the cream coloured topping, so spoon the icing out onto the cupcakes, dividing it equally between them, and then use a palette knife which you've dipped in hot water to spread it out .
How to make gum paste flowers –
• Take a piece of your gum paste and knead it until it's easy to shape.
• If it feels sticky or too stiff to work with, this is where you can add a little butter to soften it up a bit.
• Dip a tooth pick into one of the gel colours and dab into the middle of the gum paste. Start off with a small drop, you can always add more if you wish to darken to colour along the way.
• Knead thoroughly until the colour is fully immersed and the gum paste ball is all one even colour.
• Now you can roll out your gum paste. You can do this on a clean and dry work surface.
• Gum paste can be rolled until its very thin to make impressive realistic flowers but you may want to keep it a little thicker until you get the hang of it.
• With the flower shape cutter, stamp out some flowers
• Cut out how many flowers you desire and then wrap up the remaining paste in some cling film so it doesn't dry up, and you can reuse again at a later time.
• Transfer your flowers onto the thin piece of foam
• Take the rounded end of your moulding tool and press straight down on each petal
• Once you have done this, transfer to flowers to the thick piece of foam.
• With the round ended moulding tool, gently press the flowers centre. This should curve up all the petals slightly, creating a more ‘flower-like' effect.
• Well done! The flowers are shaped and ready to dry. Once dry they can be keep for months in air tight containers
• To add the small circles in the centre of the flower, you'll need some small round sprinkles, a glass of water and a clean paint brush.
• Gently brush the centre of each flower with a tiny amount of water
• Then press some of the sprinkles into the middle.
• Once the water dry's, this will keep the flower centre sprinkles in place.
• You can make as many variations of the flowers as you like, different colours and different coloured sprinkles.
