Learn how to make fondant glue with this easy recipe. You only need 2 ingredients and less than 5 minutes to make a small batch of this edible glue and you can use it for a whole lot of fondant work. The best part is it lasts well, so you can have it ready for use anytime you want.
In my other post on the best glues to stick fondant decorations on cake, I talked about 3 common mediums or types of 'glues' that can be used to stick fondant cake decorations i.e. water, shortening and CMC glue.
This post is an extension of that post, and I am sharing here, the recipe and step by step instructions on how to make the CMC glue, also known as edible fondant glue or Tylose glue.
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What is CMC powder?
CMC stands for sodium carboxy methyl cellulose. It is a food additive added to fondant to enable it to retain the shapes of various designs it is used to form. CMC is also commonly called Tylose powder.
It comes is white powdery form and is often sold in small quantities. It is used by cake decorators when making 3D fondant shapes as it helps the fondant to dry much for firmer and hold shape in humid environment. CMC is widely available in cake decorating supply shops.
CMC is also very effective as edible glue to hold fondant cake decoration as well as gum paste pieces together. It has excellent drying and holding properties, making it the best edible glue for sticking large or heavy fondant decorations and for making gumpaste flowers.
❤️Why you will love this edible glue
- It is easy to make and quick too.
- It helps fondant and gum paste stick very well. It is particularly useful for heavier pieces of fondant and makes a much stronger glue than water and shortening.
- It is food safe and perfect for edible creations.
- It keeps well. You can actually make it in advance and keep it for a few weeks (in an airtight container).
📋Ingredients
- CMC powder (Tylose powder) - this is white in color and sold in powdery form.
- Water - use filtered water or drinking water.
- Clean container to mix and keep the glue - choose a container with lid. A small container is sufficient.
- Small brush to mix the glue - use food grade cake decorating brush. Alternatively, you can also use a small spoon.
👩🍳How to Make
Measure the CMC powder into a clean container with lid.
Next, add half of the water and mix it with a clean brush.
Add the remaining water and mix well.
At this stage, you might see lumps of the CMC powder. See the image below. I am showing this against a black background so that you can see the lumps better. The lumps are perfectly ok at this stage.
You can start using the glue immediately. Just avoid taking the lumps. The lumps will dissolve automatically after about 15 to 20 minutes. See image below. This is how the glue will look like after left aside for 15 to 20 minutes.
Give the glue one last stir with the brush. Remove brush and cover the container with its lid before storing.
And your CMC glue is ready for use. To use the glue, dip a clean brush into it (lightly) and apply on the fondant or gum paste piece to wish to use it on.
💡Expert tips
- You can make this edible glue in advance and keep it for a few weeks.
- If you notice the glue getting thicker, you can always add a bit of water to bring it back to the right consistency.
- There really is not hard and fast rule about the right consistency for the glue but you would definitely not want to add too much water or it will become too runny and does not stick well or too thick that you get lumps of it on your fondant.
- A little of this glue goes a long way. Applying too much edible glue will make your fondant soggy and take a long time to dry. Light application is sufficient to get the best out of this glue.
❤️More tips and techniques you will love
Do you like this recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐rating in the recipe card below and consider a review further down this page. I would love to hear from you. Thank you!
📖Recipe
Fondant Glue Recipe
For best results, use the metrics measurements. US customary measurements have not been tested and are only meant for guide.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon water
- ¼ teaspoon CMC powder
Instructions
- Measure the CMC powder into a clean container.
- Add 1 tablespoon of water (half of the amount mentioned in the recipe) and mix well. Using less water will make it easier to mix the powder and avoid lumps.
- Top up with the remaining water and mix well again. At this stage, there might be visible powder lumps in the glue. They will dissolve automatically over 5 to 10 minutes resting time.
- The glue can be used immediately after making. If there are any lumps, avoid them when taking the glue out.
Notes
- You can make this edible glue in advance and keep it for a few weeks.
- If you notice the glue getting thicker, you can always add a bit of water to bring it back to the right consistency.
- There really is not hard and fast rule about the right consistency for the glue but you would definitely not want it to be too runny that it takes a long time to dry and does not stick well or too thick that you get lumps of it on your fondant.
- A little glue goes a long way. Apply it lightly to prevent your fondant pieces from turning soggy.
Faghwa
Thank you for sharing your experience with us ,it is very valuable and very helpful
Theresa Harley
Is the CMC the same as tylose powder?
Thanks for a great post!
Priya Maha
Hi Theresa,
Yes it is.
Olly
Hi Priya, can this work as glue for attaching fondant to cake?
Priya Maha
Hi Olly,
This glue is not meant to attach fondant to the cake.
Amy
Does this work for adhering fondant petals to a gum paste cone?
Priya Maha
Hi Amy,
Yes, it should work for fondant and gum paste.
Rebecca
Thank you for the tutorial. Could I use this glue to stick a plaque made from modelling paste to a cake covered in buttercream?
Priya
Hi Rebecca,
This glue will only work when sticking fondant to fondant. If you want to stick a plaque made of modelling paste to buttercream covered cake, you can simply attach the plaque to the buttercream without any 'glue'. The buttercream will hold the plaque in place (provided the buttercream has not crusted and the plaque not too heavy). If the buttercream has crusted, simply apply some shortening to the plaque and attach it to the buttercream cake. This always works for me. Hope this helps 🙂
Lakshmi
Thanks for the detailed explanation.
Priya
Thank you Lakshmi 🙂