Sugar Work | How to Spin Sugar

When it comes to serving dessert, wow your guests with a little spun sugar. Here is another technique for decorating with caramelized sugar. It can get a little messy but it is worth it.

You will need the following equipment:

• small stainless steel pot suitable for the amount of sugar you are working with
• bowl of ice water that your stainless steel pot can easily fit into
• approximately 1 cup of sugar (or more, depending on how much you want to make)
  
• wooden spoon
• 2 chopsticks
• tape
  
• 2 forks or a cut wire whisk (see photo below)
  
• sheet pan
• 1 large piece of parchment

Set up:
1. Overhang each chopstick on the countertop, approximately 6" apart. Secure with tape.
2. Place the sheet pan on top of the chopsticks to weigh them down.
3. Place the large piece of parchment on the floor directly underneath the chopsticks. This catches excess sugar and helps with the clean up.


Prepare the caramelized sugar by following the same instructions posted here: How to Make Dry Caramel. Remember to use caution when working with molten caramel.

When the caramel is cool enough to form a fine thread, hold the forks (backs facing each other) and dip them into the caramel. Alternatively, you can use a cut wire whisk. Using a quick flicking motion with your wrist, drizzle the caramel so it drapes over the two chopsticks. Repeat this step over and over again until the desired amount of caramel has been spun.


Once the caramel is spun, it is cool enough to handle. You can pick it up and wrap it gently into a loose ball or shape it as you see fit. In humid conditions, spun sugar can melt easily so use it quickly or store in an airtight container. Once again, be careful and have fun.


For a few additional pictures, click here.

Tagged as: [ basics caramel decorations howto recipes spinning sugar techniques ]