Hydrangeas are fun to recreate in edible frosting for cake decorations.
Hydrangeas are a simple flower to create using gum paste. Unlike roses, they do not have layer upon layer of petals to perfect. Each mini-hydrangea flower is created and then bunched into a cluster to imitate a live hydrangea. Start with ready-made gum paste to take the guesswork out of your project, and use a hydrangea cutter, available at any craft or cake decorating store, to pattern your delightful delectables flawlessly.
Instructions
1. Remove the gum paste from its packaging and knead with your fingers until it is the workable consistency of modeling clay.
2. Sprinkle your working surface with a small amount of cornstarch and roll your gum paste out with a rolling pin to about 2 millimeters thick.
3. Cut out your flowers with a hydrangea cutter. If you don't have a cutter and are artistically inclined, look at a picture of a hydrangea and use a pencil or toothpick to lightly draw the flower shape on the gum paste. Use the tip of a sharp knife to cut out your drawn shape.
4. Place each cut flower on the tip of a length of florist wire so that the wire acts as a stem. You may use as long or short a piece as you like. Shape the flower with your fingers until you are satisfied that it is lifelike, using your photo or live flower reference.
5. Paint each flower with your desired color or dust with decorative dust. Real hydrangeas can be white, pink, lavender or varying shades of blue.
6. Bunch the finished flowers into a lifelike hydrangea cluster and secure the wires with an additional bit of wire. The flowers should be close together while maintaining their individual integrity and form a ball.
7. Place the flowers on a piece of wax paper in a cool dry place and allow to dry. Thin gum paste dries quickly, and it is hard and brittle when ready.
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