My Recipe For Ready To Roll Icing Food

ROYAL ICING

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, water, meringue powder and cream of tartar; beat on low speed just until combined. Beat on high for 4-5 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Tint with food coloring if desired. Keep unused icing covered at all times with a damp cloth. If necessary, beat again on high speed to restore texture., To decorate, place icing in a pastry bag. For border decorations and dots, use a #3 round pastry tip. For small detailed decorations, use a #1 or #2 round pastry tip.

ROLLED FONDANT

Steps:

• Combine gelatin and cold water; let stand until thick. Place gelatin mixture in top of double boiler and heat until dissolved.
• Add glucose and glycerin, mix well. Stir in shortening and just before completely melted, remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Mixture should cool until lukewarm.
• Place 4 cups confectioners' sugar in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and using a wooden spoon, stir in the lukewarm gelatin mixture. Mix in sugar and add more a little at a time, until stickiness disappears. Knead in remaining sugar. Knead until the fondant is smooth, pliable and does not stick to your hands. If fondant is too soft, add more sugar; if too stiff, add water (a drop at a time). Use fondant immediately or store in airtight container in fridge. When ready to use, bring to room temperature and knead again until soft.

BUNTING BISCUITS

Steps:

• Put the flour, butter, bicarb and sugar in a food processor, whizz until you can't see any lumps of butter, then tip into a mixing bowl. Whisk the egg, syrup and vanilla together, then stir into the bowl with a wooden spoon. Using your hands, knead together into a smooth dough.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut a triangle template from card the size you want the bunting to be. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface. Use template to cut out triangles - re-roll trimmings to get as many as you can. Line some baking sheets with baking parchment and lift on the biscuits. Use a pencil end to make 2 holes in the top of each one - not too close to the edge. Bake, one tray at a time, for 8-10 mins, remaking each hole when biscuits are just out and still soft. Cool. Un-iced biscuits can be frozen for up to 3 months, or will keep in an airtight container for a week.
• Divide the icing into as many colours as you want, and knead in food colourings to get your desired colours. Roll out thinly on a surface lightly dusted with icing sugar, and use your template to cut out icing triangles. Brush the backs of the icing with a little water and stick onto the biscuits - making holes in the icing to match the biscuits as you go. Cut out small circles from leftover icing, brush backs with water and stick onto some of the biscuits. Decorate with icing pens, if you wish, then carefully thread through ribbon or string and hang up your treats.

ROYAL ICING I

Steps:

• Beat egg whites in a clean, large bowl with mixer at high speed until foamy (use only grade A clean, uncracked eggs). Gradually add sugar and lemon extract. Beat at high speed until thickened.