CSA Sugarcraft Tools & Materials 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of rolling pin is most recommended for rolling out gum paste to a thin, even thickness?
- Tapered French rolling pin
- Straight non-stick acrylic rolling pin (Correct answer)
- Wooden dowel rolling pin
- Marble rolling pin
Correct answer: Straight non-stick acrylic rolling pin
A straight non-stick acrylic rolling pin provides even pressure and prevents sticking when rolling gum paste thin.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of a cel board (also called a foam pad) in sugarcraft?
- Drying sugar flowers flat
- Thinning petal edges using a ball tool (Correct answer)
- Mixing food coloring into paste
- Cutting out fondant shapes
Correct answer: Thinning petal edges using a ball tool
A cel board's slight give allows a ball tool to thin and frill the edges of sugar petals without tearing.
Question 3: Tylose powder is added to fondant primarily to:
- Add sweetness and flavor
- Whiten the fondant color
- Increase elasticity for modeling
- Accelerate drying and firming (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Accelerate drying and firming
Tylose (CMC) is a gum-like additive that causes fondant to dry faster and hold its shape, making it behave like gum paste.
Question 4: A Dresden tool is most commonly used to:
- Cut clean straight edges on fondant boards
- Create veins and frills on sugar flower petals (Correct answer)
- Imprint basket-weave texture
- Level the surface of cake boards
Correct answer: Create veins and frills on sugar flower petals
The Dresden tool's pointed and angled ends are ideal for marking veins, frilling edges, and shaping sugar flower petals.
Question 5: Which edible lustre dust application method gives the most vivid metallic sheen on a dry sugar surface?
- Brushing dry dust directly onto the surface
- Mixing dust with clear alcohol and painting it on (Correct answer)
- Kneading dust into the paste before shaping
- Dissolving dust in water and spraying it
Correct answer: Mixing dust with clear alcohol and painting it on
Mixing lustre dust with clear alcohol (like Everclear or lemon extract) and painting it on produces the most intense metallic finish.
Question 6: When using a petal cutter for sugar flowers, which material is most important to use for structural integrity of wired petals?
- Modeling chocolate
- 50/50 fondant-gum paste blend
- Royal icing
- Pure gum paste (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Pure gum paste
Pure gum paste dries hard enough to support wired petals without drooping, making it the standard for realistic sugar flowers.
Question 7: What is the correct way to store unused gum paste to prevent it from drying out?
- Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container (Correct answer)
- Place uncovered in the refrigerator
- Dust with cornstarch and leave on the work surface
- Store submerged in vegetable shortening
Correct answer: Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container
Gum paste must be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and sealed in an airtight container to prevent crust formation and drying.
CSA Sugarcraft Tools & Materials 2
Which type of rolling pin is most recommended for rolling out gum paste to a thin, even thickness?