Icing, Icing, Baby Trivia Quiz

Answer: Buttercream

Buttercream may also be made with other fats such as margarine or shortening but most dessert chefs prefer butter. Typically, the ratio of sugar to fat is 2:1 and the flavorings added will identify the dessert such as chocolate when making chocolate cake.

Answer: Meri-White

The use of Meri-White enables the frosting to keep its shape when applied onto the dessert, particularly during the presence of elevated temperatures on a hot day. Frosting is basically made from sugar and water or milk with the option of adding butter, egg whites, cream cheese and flavorings.

Answer: Spatula

A kitchen spatula is a device with a wide flat blade usually made of plastic that is used for spreading food. In the absence of a spatula, a knife will do the trick.

Answer: Almonds

Marzipan is made by combining ground almonds, sugar, egg whites and vanilla extract. When making a fruit cake the marzipan layer serves to trap the moisture in the cake, preventing it from going stale too quickly.

Answer: Fondant

Fondant is a french term which means "melting" and in this context refers to the consistency of the dough as being soft and hence the ability to easily roll it with a rolling pin to the desired size. Other than to cover cakes, sugar paste icing is also used to make moulds and various cake decorations.

Answer: Chocolate

Ganache is commonly use when making chocolate cakes and usually a two to one ratio of chocolate to cream is the norm. One such recipe is the use of Belgian chocolate and double cream which makes for a good alternative to buttercream.

Answer: Glycerine

Royal icing is also used for making gingerbread houses since its consistency provides a good means for sticking the houses together. Other uses include providing detail such as swirls and lettered messages on cakes. Glycerin is a sugar alcohol compound.

Answer: Piping

Piping is done using a piping bag which needs to be filled with the icing that is smooth and consistent, and free of air bubbles. Squeezing the bag will allow the icing to come out in thin straight lines, somewhat like spaghetti. Piping skills is an art and requires practice in order to decorate in a nice fashion.

Answer: Gum Tragacanth

Tragacanth is a natural gum that is acquired from the dried sap of various species of Middle Eastern legumes. The gum is added to icing sugar and water, and combined until the mixture binds, kneaded until pliable and allowed to sit until it becomes firm.

Answer: Vanilla

Vanilla is a flavor that is obtained from orchids and was originally cultivated in Mexico. A basic vanilla icing consists of icing sugar, butter, a little bit of milk and a touch of vanilla.