Half-Half or 50/50

If you are a frequent cake decorating forum visitor, you will see this term frequently - Half half or 50/50. It simply means a paste which is a mixture of half (50%) fondant and half (50%) gumpaste (gp).

The usage of this paste includes making figurines, gumpaste flowers, drapes or any cake toppers that need extra strength. Even though it is called 50/50, it doesn't mean you have to stick to the 50/50 ratio all the time. In the case where more strength and less drying time are required, increase the gp % to above 50%, i.e. 60%, 70%, etc. Please take note that I am referring to Ready Made Gumpaste for this whole discussion here. Homemade gumpaste is not as strong so please use FULL GP when it comes to decorations that need extra strength.

See this cake which I made for a male magazine, the number '5' was a 50/50 mixture.

Does the half-half take a shorter time to dry up or is it the same as in using purely fondant or gumpaste only?

Hi... Am new. Would really hope to pick up fondant here to make a cake for my kids! Can I use 50/50 receipe to mould the cute animals or ballerina princess in the "Gallery"? Are they supposed to turn hard n dry? Or remains soft? How do I keep them afterI completed the deco? In fridge or just normal room temp?

Thank you

HI hammy,
Thansk for joining. Depends on the size, I normally just use 100% fondant for animals if more of the body of the animal is going to lay on the cake. If if involve standing up, you will want to opt for half/half for stability. Ballerina, as for all other human figurine, I will use half/half or fondant + CMC. Completed figurines will need to dry completely. Sotre just at room temperature and not fridge as the moisture in fridge will turn the figurines soft. Hoep it helps.

hi all, i'm new too, to the forum as well as baking and decorating world.
may i know what is CMC?

CMC stands for Sodium Carboxyl Methyl Cellulose. This is a manmade gum that normally kneaded into fondant to strengthen fondant and fasten the drying time. It is normally used for making figurines. Not too suitable for making flowers as it sets too fast before proper modeling can be made.

Hi Jo,

I was told by my local cake supplier that we could use Citric Acid to let the fondant dry faster and harden. Can it replace CMC / Gum tragacanth? If yes, how do we use it, as it is in fine granules form?

tks

Citric acid can dry fondant? Never heard leh ...... Though it will make the fondant wetter ?????

Ya lo. was surprised too.....they dont sell cmc / gum trag, that's y she suggested this alternative instead........