Sugar sculpture
Sugar sculpture is the art of producing artistic centerpieces entirely composed of sugar and sugar derivatives. There are many competitions that include sugar sculpture, and popular television networks, such as Food Network, televise many of these events.
Sugar showpieces can be composed of several different types of sugar elements. All begin with cooking sugar, and possibly an acidic agent and/or non-sucrose sugar product to avoid unwanted crystallization, to the hard crack stage, around 300 °F (149 °C).
When all components are completed, they are welded together using a gas torch. The sugar is melted, and then joined together.
Types
Pulled sugar
The sugar has been cooked, and the now-liquid sugar is poured onto a silicone rubber mat (e.g., Silpat). Any coloring is now added. The sugar is then folded repeatedly into itself, until the sugar is, while still flexible, cool enough to handle. The sugar is then stretched out and then folded on itself repeatedly. This process incorporates air into the sugar, and gives it a bright lustery sheen. The sugar can then be sculpted by hand into various shapes, made into ribbons, or blown.