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How To Make An Isomalt Butterfly

I'm using isomalt sticks, melt them in the microwave at 50% power. You need a container that will take the hot sugar. Silicone cups are ideal. I'm using Wilton cups in this demo. Be careful not to burn the sugar. Cook it just until melted. I check it every 20 - 30 seconds. Once melted, let it sit on the counter for a couple minutes until the air bubbles come to the surface. ALWAYS wear some sort of protective glove when working with hot sugar. You can easily whip that glove off, but not your skin, if you get some on it. I find it helpful to also put the silicone mold in the microwave at 50% power for about 20-30 seconds. This will warm the mold and give you a longer work/spread time. Pour one of each side of the butterfly wings. You can use Americolors to color your sugar if using clear sticks. Drop color into hot sugar, wait for it to stop sizzling and then gently stir it in.

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Taking a butterfly mat or similar silicone mold, pour some of the hot sugar on to the surface and quickly spread it to all the out edges of the mold, using a toothpick.

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If it hardens to fast, you can quickly take a small torch like a cream brulee torch, and heat it back up. You shouldn't hurt the mold if you do it quickly. Let it dry.

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If it hardens to fast, you can quickly take a small torch like a cream brulee torch, and heat it back up. You shouldn't hurt the mold if you do it quickly. Let it dry.

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Gently release the sugar from the mold and you now have two butterfly wings.

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Have a container of the melted sugar ready to dip. Taking the two wings, dip each one just a bit down at the center of each wing where it would touch the body, into the hot sugar. I would say dip it around 1/8" into the hot sugar. Taking the two wings press them together in the middle and the sugar will compress and make a body. Do this directly on the silicone mat or a silpat mat if you have one. At this stage you could add some stamens if you like for antennas.

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Isn't it GORGEOUS!!! I put the vein side down when I put them together. Here's one on a cake, you just attach it with a small amount of hot sugar.