Sugar Swan

An isomalt sugar swan figurine on a marbled red and purple base with heart decorations
Kim Simons
Advanced
Learn how to create an elegant sugar swan cake topper using isomalt, transfer sheets, and metallic paints. A stunning sugar art project for intermediate bakers.

Supply List

Isomalt
Airbrush colors
Detailing pen
Transfer sheets
Silicone cups
Silicone mats
3 differently sized metal heart shaped cookie cutters
Microwave
Cake tools
Torch
Edible metallic paints
Gold sprinkles
Needlenose pliers
Gloves

Instructions

  • Lay out transfer sheets. Grease the insides of metal cookie cutters with cooking oil.
    Hand holding a rainbow gradient transfer sheet above other colorful transfer sheets.
  • Place cookie cutters on transfer sheets.
    Metal cookie cutters resting on colorful marbled transfer sheets.
  • Heat up isomalt (in your choice of colors) in silicone cup until it bubbles. Use gloves to handle isomalt.
  • Pour isomalt into metal cookie cutters. Use blow torch lightly to clear bubbles. Let cool 15 to 20 minutes.
    Red isomalt being poured from a container into a metal cookie cutter.
  • Remove isomalt shapes from cookie cutters. Use blow torch and/or cake tools to help.
    Hand using a brush to help remove an isomalt shape from a heart-shaped cookie cutter.
  • Assemble heart pieces, gluing together with isomalt.
    Assembled marbled isomalt heart pieces being joined together.
  • Paint edges and center heart with jewel colors. Decorate with sprinkles.
    Gold glitter being sprinkled onto a painted isomalt heart piece.
  • Heat up more isomalt. Pour onto silicone mat.
  • Use mat to combine, mold, and cool isomalt until it’s pliable like clay. Gloves are recommended.
    Hand holding warm, pliable isomalt being worked on a silicone mat.
  • Shape pieces of isomalt into wings and tail. Shape other pieces into swan’s head, neck, and body. Let cool.
    Hands shaping isomalt into the swan body shape.
  • Detail wings with a detailing pen.
    Detailing pen being used to carve feather details into isomalt wings.
  • Glue wings and tail to head-neck-body with isomalt.
    Attaching isomalt wings and tail to the swan body with warm isomalt.
  • Heat up black isomalt. Dab onto head to create eyes.
    Applying black isomalt to create the swan's eye.
  • Glue swan to the heart piece with isomalt.
    Finished isomalt swan glued onto the decorated heart-shaped base.

Notes

• This project requires heating up and pouring isomalt, which can cause severe burns if not handled correctly. Use gloves.

Products Used

• SimiCakes: Isomalt
• SimiColor Splash: Airbrush colors
• Icing Images: Transfer sheets
• The Sweet Chalet: Jewel colors