Sugar Phalaenopis Orchid (Moth Orchid) Plant

Sugar Orchids were created by Dina, Sugar Designs NYC

Dina, Organizer, NYC Cake Decorator's Meetup, created this beautiful orchid "plant". The sugar art is made from gumpaste and is potted in a real clay pot. It would make a stunning centerpiece for a garden party. The concept is also easily adaptable to a "flower pot cake" where the cake is actually in the shape of a flower pot, or orchids arranged singly or in a spray. The moth orchid is the perfect flower for a wedding cake or any special occasion.

Dina will be conducting several hands-on classes in gumpaste flowers in March and April. For more information, contact Dina at the New York City Cake Decorators Meetup website.

Gumpaste Recipe
courtesy of Kerry Vincent, Romantic Wedding Cakes

Ingredients

• 1 egg white at room temperature
• 185-250g sifted confectioner's sugar
• 3 tsp Tylose powder/CMC (J)
• 2 tsp firm white vegetable shortening

Remove any embryonic tail from the egg white. Put the egg white in a glass bowl and break it up with a wooden spoon. Add the sugar one tsp at a time, incorporating it thoroughly each time. Only when the egg white readily accepts the sugar can the amount of sugar added be increased.

When the sugar reaches the soft peak stage, add the tylose powder and mix until the gumpaste is no longer sticky. Warm the shortening in the palms of your hands and knead into the gumpaste. Double wrap and store in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to use.