1.   Around his neck is a silver rhinestone collar made of gum paste, a sugary compound that hardens like porcelain.

2.   Also known as candy clay, gum paste is a pliable mixture bakers use to sculpt flowers and other decorations.

3.   Gum paste is thick and malleable, ideal for realistic reproductions of fruits, flowers and other forms.

4.   One of the most useful tips I picked up from my time with Sylvia Weinstock was the use of sugar dough, also called gum paste, for decorating.

5.   So the cake hit the freezer and, after conferring with Ben, we threw the gum paste into the microwave.

6.   Then the flowers and the ribbons and anything made out of gum paste.

7.   Two layers of my cake were still too warm to work with and the gum paste was as hard as rock.

8.   We also offer a short tutorial on using gum paste, or sugar dough, to add a little extra dazzle to your holiday cakes.

9.   Wednesday night and Thursday morning, I made the cakes and gum paste.