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Sugar is such a versatile food. Who would have thought that something sweet could be so malleable at different temperatures? In fact, there are three forms of sugar art used by confectioners the world over. Here are those three types of sugar art, and how each is made.
Sugar Glass
Sugar glass requires boiling water and sugar into a clear syrup. You can color it with a dab of food coloring once it reaches the correct temperature to harden into "glass." Then you pour this sugar "glass" into forms. It can be used for making edible windows for gingerbread houses, or for creating amazing edible "glass" sculptures. It is essentially what Hollywood has used for decades to create the illusion of broken glass without hurting the actors when actors jump through or are thrown through windows.
Pulled Sugar
Pulled sugar follows some of the same steps as sugar glass. Creating a syrup is essential, but with pulled sugar, you have to heat the syrup to two-hundred-ninety-eight degrees exactly, and then quickly pour the liquid sugar onto a pulling mat and don gloves so that you do not burn yourself. You will need to work quickly because pulled sugar hardens in under a minute. People have been successful in turning pulled sugar into really ornate edible pieces of art.
Molded Sugar
This type of sugar art is nothing like the above in that you never turn the sugar into a syrup. Instead, you have sugar mixed with water and a few other key ingredients that will prevent the sugar from "melting." It becomes almost a paste, and you use the sugar to fill a mold. You can create hollow shapes, much like the traditional hollow sugar eggs that were made and exchanged during the Victorian era and inspired by Faberge eggs. This type of sugar art can be used to make all kinds of shapes, and you can fill the hollow molds if you like with whatever you find interesting, fun, or unique.
Classes and Supplies Are Easy to Find
Sugar art classes are frequently offered by either cooking schools or art supply stores. Watch for the classes if you are interested in taking up this edible art form. As for the supplies, you can find the supplies in any candy making aisle of a hobby or arts and crafts store. Start with the basics for the first time you work with sugar. You can add more supplies and accessories later if you decide to keep working with sugar.