Is piping gel edible? Absolutely yes. This is basically a multifunctional product that you can use as an edible glue.
Whether you love cakes or cookies full of sprinkles, chances are they used piping gel to let the sprinkles stick.
Being totally edible, the piping gel is the most ideal option to attach fondant and marzipan to your favorite cakes.
However, apart from being your trusted decoration partner, this transparent gel has a lot more to offer. So, let’s explore how you can experiment with this gel in a bundle of creative recipes.
What Is Piping Gel?
Generally speaking, piping gel is a sweet and syrupy gel that is primarily used for decorating cakes and cupcakes.
But why do we call this gel piping gel?
Well, the name comes from how it is applied. Usually, the gel is piped using an icing bag and an icing tip.
Talking about the types, there are two key categories of this gel. To be more particular, what is a piping gel made of decides what type of gel you will get.
The two key components making this gel are as follows-
- Cornstarch
- Gelatin
However, piping gel prepared with cornstarch is used for vegan recipes.
On the other hand, gelatin has animal origin. That’s why you cannot use it to decorate vegan products.
Another noteworthy difference between cornstarch-made and gelatin-made piping gel is their opacity.
Reportedly, cornstarch-made gel is a bit more opaque whereas piping gel prepared with gelatin is a little more transparent.
Nevertheless, that little difference in opacity doesn’t make any significant impact on regular cake decorations.
What Is Piping Gel Used for?
Piping gel could be the best multifunctional tool in your baking arsenal if you know all its usage. Let’s break down the versatile uses of piping gel below-
Edible Adhesive
The most basic purpose of this transparent gel is that you can use it as a glue. Being totally transparent, it goes unnoticed, unlike frosting or icing.
But how to use piping gel in cake decorating?
Suppose, you made some delicate items to decorate a cake. Piping gel is the easiest way to glue them together.
While gluing larger elements, it’s better to mix sugar paste into this gel.
Stabilizer
Do you know that piping gel is an amazing stabilizer when used in whipped cream?
Just add one tablespoon of this transparent gel to 2 cups of whipped cream and see the magic.
Not only does piping gel help whipped cream hold its shape longer but also retains its freshness even at room temperature.
Makes Buttercream Stretchier
Can you use piping gel on buttercream? Yes, you can. When you aim at making a more detailed design using buttercream, add a pinch of piping gel to it. This will make the cream stretchier which is more fun to play with.
Fruit Glaze
Sometimes, piping gel is applied on fruits to make them look shinier. Aside from giving the exterior of the fruits a gorgeous glaze, this transparent gel locks their freshness as well.
Water Effect
Do you want to bring the water effect to life? The consistency of piping gel comes in handy to prepare, for instance, an ocean-themed birthday cake.
Writing
This is perhaps the most popular use of this decorative gel. You can effortlessly write messages, numbers, and notes on cakes/ cupcakes with this gel.
Having a tacky texture, it doesn’t dry out quickly. But how to use piping gel for writing?
First, put it in an icing bag. With a little practice, you can steadily release your desirable amount of this gel to write messages on sweets or cakes for different occasions.
Check out this video to learn more about piping gel.
Is Piping Gel Edible?
Yes, it’s entirely edible. Being made of cornstarch or gelatin, piping gel doesn’t contain any harmful elements to upset your stomach.
That’s why it’s the most preferred decorative tool in the confectionery or bakery business.
Does Piping Gel Harden?
Unlike other decorative items, the piping gel doesn’t harden.
As a result, you can decorate your bakery items with more ease and flexibility. You can design with more detail without the fear of drying up the gel.
Moreover, the softness of the gel also lets you make the water feature more lively. Therefore, while you are baking a retirement cake with the design of a coffee cup, it seems more lifelike.
What Does Piping Gel Taste Like?
The piping gel has no predominant taste to alter the original food flavor. In most cases, it tastes a little sweet but nothing significant though.
Basically, it tastes like a non-flavored jelly. However, the cornstarch-made gel could give you a corn syrup flavor. So, the piping gel taste is okay to eat.
What Can I Use Instead of Piping Gel?
If you don’t have access to the premade piping gel, go with a homemade one.
To make piping gel at home, you need all the common ingredients that already exist in your kitchen. You just need cornstarch, sugar, water, and lemon juice to prepare a vegan-friendly version of the gel.
Alternatively, gelatin, clear corn syrup, royal icing, etc. also work to glue the decorative elements together on a cake.
Does the Piping Gel Need to Be Refrigerated?
Yes. Whether it’s the premade/ homemade version of piping gel, you should keep it in an airtight box and store the box in the refrigerator.
In this way, the gel will last around two/ three months.
Final Words
That’s all about piping gel, the easiest decorative tool for bakers. With this non-flavored transparent gel, you can decorate several foods such as sweets, cakes, cupcakes, etc.
However, if you are worried about whether the piping gel is edible or not, not anymore. They are absolutely edible with no toxic elements.
But if you are adding food colors to the gel, just make sure the colors are safe for human consumption to avoid any health hazards.