Piping gel is a clear smooth medium used in cake decorating. Piping gel is made mostly out of corn syrup and has a hair gel-like consistency. This gel is best used to transfer a design, write on a cake and create patterns.
Instructions
1. Insert the coupler into the piping bag and push it down to the bottom. Attach the #2 tip to the outside of the coupler and secure with the coupler ring. Fill a small amount of piping gel into the piping bag with the tip attached. Twist the bag three times clockwise, hold it between your thumb and index finger and apply pressure with the palm of your hand to extrude the gel. In most instances, you will not need more than 2 tablespoons of piping gel, so be cautious of using too much.
2. Place a picture you would like to transfer onto the cake under a piece of waxed paper. Trace over the design with the piping gel, making sure to cover all lines with a small amount of gel. Turn the waxed paper upside down and transfer the design onto the cake. Using your index finger gently apply pressure tracing each line on top of the waxed paper. You will know the gel has adhered to the cake when it appears less shiny through the waxed paper. Peel the paper away gently and you will see the piping gel design you can fill in with further icing decorations.
3. Color the piping gel in a bowl by adding a small amount of gel color using a toothpick. Mix the piping gel and the gel colors well. If you use regular food coloring to color your piping gel, it will water down the gel and make it too thin in consistency. Fill the colored piping gel into a piping bag with the #2 tip and coupler attached.
4. Write with the colored gel on birthday cakes, cupcakes and even cookies. Piping gel will write much more smoothly than the typical buttercream lettering. If you wish to practice your writing prior to applying lettering to your cake, write out several practice words on a piece of waxed paper. You can scrape up the practice gel and put it back into the piping bag and write on the cake.
5. Wash piping bag, tips, spatulas, bowls and couplers clean of piping gel throughly. Piping gel is quite sticky and is best cleaned immediately with hot soapy water. Once opened, piping gel will keep for 8 months to a year in the pantry.
Tags: waxed paper, into piping, small amount, apply pressure, index finger
