Page 16 - Dainfern issue 10 2021

LIFESTYLE

SUCCULENT SUMMER

CUPCAKES

BY J AMES CLARKE AND MAR Y BROADLEY
Tips for piping scrumptious confectionary succulents

very summer, all the the buttercream until it is spreadable that they only require simple tools
succulents in our gardens, like peanut butter. to achieve the same impact as
on our windowsills and in our complicated sugarcraft. Once your
Eplanter boxes explode into If the buttercream is too soft, and icing assembly line is set up, you
life. Summer and all the life it brings you find you have very little control should not need fabric icing bags as
should be celebrated and what over the extrusion speed – try giving these are usually used to insulate
better way than with a scrumptious it a rest for 30 minutes in the fridge. the icing from the heat of the hand
cupcake adorned with captivating Sometimes, the heat of your hands in bigger scale kitchens. At home,
cacti that look ready to soak up the can cause the butter in the icing to you can use disposable bags that
summertime sunshine? liquefy. Cooling it in the fridge helps can be tossed when you are done
the butter to re-solidify so you have – which makes cleaning up much
While the intricate-looking cupcakes better control over your form. If I’m easier.
may look prickly to pipe, prodigy piper, piping lots of succulents on a short
Grace Stevens is here to share her timeline, I’ll always use more than one To make sure that you properly
top tips on how to get pinpoint perfect piping bag with the same nozzle and control the speed and extrusion
succulents to adorn your summer buttercream and alternate using each of your icing from your bag avoid
table spreads. piping bag to prevent my buttercream overfilling it. Much like holding a pencil
from getting too warm. in the correct place gives you control
PERFECT ICING CONSISTENCY
The consistency of your buttercream It is also important to make sure your over lettering, holding your bag in the
is super important to get right or your icing sugar does not contain an anti- palm of your hand gives you control
culinary garden can quickly become caking agent or cornflour. This is over your creation. Personally, I find
a delicious but disappointing mess. If because the viscosity and expansion that 100g of icing per bag fits perfectly
you have followed the instructions of properties of the cornflour – the way in my hand and gives me pinpoint
your icing recipe but something still it reacts to pressure under your hand control.
isn’t quite right – there are a few steps – make it almost impossible to get a
you can take. proper stiff buttercream. It is far better to When it comes to the precision of your
use pure icing sugar for better control. final product don’t underestimate the
If your buttercream is too stiff, and you importance of keeping your hands,
are struggling to extrude it from your SIMPLE TOOLS tools and work surface clean and
nozzle, mix a little milk or water into The great part about succulents is organised. Trust me, nothing is more
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