Gel icing can be used in many ways to decorate cakes and cookies. It's perfect for cakes that have an aquatic theme because it's clear and resembles water if tinted blue. It glistens and adds liveliness to your cake when contrasted against or mixed with a cream frosting. It's great for writing messages directly on the cake or making intricate designs on wax paper, drying and transferring them. Making gel icing yourself is easy, saves money and enables you to customize colors. It stores well, and, if tightly sealed and refrigerated, can keep for several months. Here's how to make it:
Place 2 tbsp. cold water into a saucepan. Add 2 tbsp. unflavored gelatin, but do not mix. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes.
Put the saucepan over low heat until the mixture is clear and the gelatin has dissolved. Do not boil.
Add 2 cups light corn syrup to the clear gelatin mixture. Once the entire mixture is heated through, remove from heat and let cool.
Slowly add food coloring and mix thoroughly until desired color is achieved. You can also separate and make smaller batches of different colors. Keep it clear, stored and refrigerated in tightly sealed containers if not using the icing right away.