The Sweetness Of Sugarcrafting

Any serious cake decorator will tell you about sugarcrafting - the art of making sugar flowers, leaves and stems for cake decoration. It is one of the hardest cake arts to conquer, requiring a steady hand, delicate tools and determination. It also helps to have a comprehensive how to book on the ready. Luckily there is a brand new one , written by famed British cake decorator, Alan Dunn. This is the must have book in any baker's library.

Alan Dunn's Sugarcraft Flower Arranging (IMM Lifestyle Books 2018) is the definitive cake and flower arranging book for hardcore cake enthusiasts. Mr. Dunn has been creating amazing sprays of gum paste flowers and leaves for over twenty-five years. His website has several how tos along with merchandise to sell. Access to his tutorials is $12.45 a month, but it lets s home bakers view and study his tutorials (Mr. Dunn is like a UK version of Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro)on everything from shortbread cookies to icings. It can be a bit expensive to join which is why buying the book is a better choice. It  is divided in three sections : flowers, sprays and arrangements and cakes. Home bakers not only know about sugar fauna but also about h9ow to arrange them in realistic displays..Mr. Dunn gives the recipe for how to make the gum paste(he also gives the name of ready made gum paste sticks which makes decorating that much easier) along with pictures of all the tools needed - and there are many.)  What was needed however was a recipe for a cake - even a simple vanilla one. He does recommend using a fruit cake which is great for British tastes -not so much for the Americans,

The pictures and hows tos are stunning. Every known flower and leaf is in the book. Looking at them, you feel cheated by creating cakes with just rosebuds and buttercream leaves. The exotic Madagascar stephanotis is featured along with the South American Masdevallia orchid and the South African Brunia head seeds.There are the much wanted roses, always in demand. Mr. Dunn explains in in detail how to create them. For novices there is the dischidia,  a delicately leaved vine that doesn''t require the same amount of work as a bloom or the North American winterberry, a cousin of holly, that a round ball tinted deep red. I loved the flower arranging section. Mr. Dunn dosn't make it all about the cake. \The sprays and arrangements would look lovely on a table or even a coffee table. These are the sugar flowers and leaves but thanks to his masterful hand , they even make the real deals pale in comparison. The book is a godsend for those freelance bakers who include wedding cakes in their repertoire. There are beautiful sugar bouquets in many lovely color combinations. cascading down cakes .Any couple would love a three tiered masterpiece  topped with silvered roses or deep violet anemones.

Alan Dunn's Sugarcraft Flower Arranging is the perfect book for the hardcore cake decorator.It shows how simple sugarpaste can be turned into magnificent buds and blooms. Home bakers must have this book in their library and try their hand at coping Mr. Dunn's masterpieces.