Page 34 - FourWaysGardens Issue 10 2021

SiMPLe TOOLS easy to transport to show off to friends and family. Unlike the
The great part about succulents is that they only require simple more complicated designs of traditional flowers, they can
tools to achieve the same impact as complicated sugarcraft. easily be piped directly onto the cake or piped well in advance
Once your icing assembly line is set up, you should not need and refrigerated or frozen until you need them. If you are
fabric icing bags as these are usually used to insulate the icing transporting them, it’s best to do so in a covered cardboard box
from the heat of the hand in bigger scale kitchens. At home, you as they will crust over if left out at room temperature, not to
can use disposable bags that can be tossed when you are done mention it makes them far less fiddly to handle.
– which makes cleaning up much easier.
We have long adored the geometric curls, glorious textures and
To make sure that you properly control the speed and extrusion extraordinary colours of succulents. Knowing the simple piping
of your icing from your bag avoid overfilling it. Much like holding techniques behind making them takes them from being an
a pencil in the correct place gives you control over lettering, indulgence we dream of right to our tables. This modern, arid
holding your bag in the palm of your hand gives you control over aesthetic is hot in the icing and gardening worlds, turning regular
your creation. Personally, I find that 100g of icing per bag fits cupcakes into the perfect prickly treat for your next picnic.
perfectly in my hand and gives me pinpoint control.
For more summer secrets, follow Grace on
When it comes to the precision of your final product don’t Instagram@ grace_stevenschef, or visit her
underestimate the importance of keeping your hands, tools website at www.gracestevens.co.za.
and work surface clean and organised. Trust me, nothing is
more disappointing than accidentally piping the wrong colour
directly onto a cake or turning around to find half of your
succulents hanging squished to your sleeve. Keeping your tools
clean makes for clean work and immaculate results.

SELECTION OF SUCCULENTS
When deciding what type of succulent to pipe, remember to
be patient with yourself while you are learning. If you are a
beginner, rather choose a succulent that requires one nozzle and
one colour. If you are more advanced, you can experiment with
realism – I often use a good reference picture or a real specimen
to push my colour matching skills. Try to achieve the perfectly
balanced green by experimenting with the tonal value and
adding black or brown.

ARRANGEMENT AND TEXTURE
During a class, I had a very nervous student who had tagged along
with a friend. Once she piped her first succulent, her reservation
melted quicker than buttercream in an African summer and she
left beaming enthusiastically about the bouquet of succulents
adorning her cupcake.

To get the most out of your succulent arrangement use
succulents that vary in texture to create dimension. If you are
more advanced and want to add flowers, make selections that
won’t compete with the textures in the succulents so that the
eye can easily follow the design of your cupcake.

TRANSPORTING YOUR CREATION
Succulents are a perfect place for beginners because they are

Fourways Gardens • 32 • November 2021