Spun Sugar

Have you ever wondered how they make those caramelized designs on fancy desserts? Some people try to make it using a mixture of water and sugar. When you add water to sugar during the caramelizing process, you are risking the chance of crystals forming. It is best to use sugar alone. I even found a recipe online calling for vinegar and water to be added to the sugar. Vinegar is only needed if you are going to use quite a bit of artificial food coloring. As in red velvet cake, vinegar offsets the bitter taste of the food coloring. You can create different shades of spun sugar by altering the time you brown the sugar. The longer you cook it, the darker it becomes. However, overcooking it can harden the sugar. Temperature is key. However, it is so easy to make…only one ingredient. How simple is that? It’s a great way to garnish creme brulee′ or flan.

Spun Sugar

Yield: Makes 3 - 4 spun sugar baskets.

Spun sugar decorations are an easy way to make desserts fancy. You get better with practice, and it's so fun and creative!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar (or desired amount)
Liquid or gel food coloring (optional)

Instructions:

Add sugar to sauce pan over medium-high heat; add food coloring if desired and stir; allow to brown and melt on its own. Once you see the edges a bit brown, lower heat and swirl it around the pan. If you're afraid it may start to burn, stir it a bit with a wooden spoon. Set it aside to cool, just until it's about to set; return it back to the burner on low heat. If it gets too thick, turn heat hire for a short time.
Facing 2 forks together, with the tongs touching each other, dip the forks in the caramelized sugar and drizzle it onto the parchment paper in the design you desire.
To make a basket or ball, hold a wooden dowel or handle of a long wooden spoon, mid air or over the edge of the counter with paper towels or newspaper on the floor), horizontally; drizzle the caramelized sugar over the dowel with a back and forth motions. Strips of spun sugar will hang over both sides of the dowel. Remove the spun sugar by sliding it off one side of the dowel. Gently form into a hallow ball. If anchoring the dowels, you may use two.
Serve immediately atop your favorite dessert, or along side. Do not serve on very humid days.

3.1

© Copyrighted 2009 - 2016. Wilkins Publishers. All rights reserved. All content, photos and images are copyrighted by us or their respective owners. You must obtain permission by their owners before using any of them.

Gluten Free Recipes Admin