How to make Homemade Piping Gel – Two Recipes Gelatin & Vegetarian
This homemade piping gel so simple, quick and easy to make you will never have to go without it ever again. It has become an important aspect of cake decorating form glue to sticking flowers. In this post, I share with you two recipes one with gelatin as well as a vegetarian with lots of possibilities.
Homemade Piping Gel – Two Methods
If you are a cake decorator then you must have used piping gel. You can find it any cake decorating store. When I started cake decorating it was not very easily available and when I got it the shelf life was always an issue.
So I had to find a way to make my own. I found many recipes online and have gone thru quite a few recipes to find what works for me.
Homemade Piping Gel – Two Methods
What do we Use Piping Gel For?
- Piping gel is often used to give cakes the glass effect such as stain glass cakes.
- When you need to create water for a swimming pool cake or the water for the waterfall.
- When working with wafer paper flowers. Piping gel works best to stick wafer paper to wafer paper.
- As glue when working with sugar cookies. I use piping to get the too sick fondant to my cookies.
Homemade Piping Gel – Two Recipes
The Source of This Recipe
I won’t say that this is my original recipe – more like adapted from those found online. I’ve gone thru a couple of piping gel recipes and come up with this ratio of gelatin or cornstarch that work best for me. I hope you will find it useful too.
The Difference Between the Two Homemade Piping Gels
The main difference, of course, is one is made using gelatin and one is made with cornstarch. Which means one is vegetarian and the other is not. But as you can see there is also a slight difference is color.
This one is made with gelatin and as you can see this one is more transparent as compared to
Homemade Piping Gel with Gelatin
This one is made with cornstarch and it’s a bit more opaque. While it’s not a huge difference I think it’s worth mentioning.
Homemade Piping Gel with cornstarch
The Consistency of Piping Gel
Understanding the consistency of the piping gel is very important. It’s soft consistency and does not dry hard. It will dry but not like royal icing so please do not mistake it for royal icing.
Using This Homemade Piping Gel
- You may need to add hot water to bring to the piping gel to the consistency you need.
- Below is the piping gel consistency when made. It would work great to create water or waves where you need it to hold share.
- But if you need it as glue this might be thick so add a few tablespoons of hot water and mix thoroughly.
Homemade Piping Gel to make waves or water
Storage and Shelf life
- I find that it’s best to store piping gel in a little glass jar like the ones I show you here.
- I always keep it in the fridge to increase its shelf life.
- In general piping gel has a short shelf life – I’d say about 2 weeks. So I always make a small batch and prefer to make it often.
Homemade Piping Gel – Two Methods
Caution
If you are using any recipe it best to first do a test to see if it’s the right one for the project on hand.
Whatever recipe you use be it the one with gelatin or with cornstarch if you do not make it the same way I have it may not work for your project. Please test it to see if it can create those waves or that waterfall you want and make adjustments.
As you can see in the images above this how it looks when I made it. I hope it works for you too.
Homemade Piping Gel – Two Recipes
Homemade Piping Gel with Gelatin
I personally prefer to use this recipe though it is a bit more expensive than the second recipe. It dries better than the second recipe and I personally think the gelatin and corn syrup is tastier. If you are a vegetarian then you probably need to see the second recipe below.
Ingredients
- Gelatin – 2 tbsp
- Water – 2 tbsp
- Light corn syrup – 2 cups
- Clear vanilla or almond extract
Method
- Dissolve gelatin in the water for 2 minutes.
- Place in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds or in a double boiler and melt the gelatin.
- Place the corn syrup and extract in a saucepan over low heat. Once the corn syrup is hot add in the gelatin mixture.
- Stir well to combine.
- That’s it – your piping gel is ready.
- This gel will thicken as it sits.
Some Progress Pictures
Homemade Piping Gel – Two recipes
Homemade Piping gel with Cornstarch
The benefit of this recipe is that it is cheaper. I personally do not like the taste of strong lemon but it does go nice and smooth so you get a nice glass effect.
Ingredients
- White granulated sugar – 1/3 cup
- Cornstarch/cornflour – 1 tbsp
- Lemon juice – 1/4 cup
- Water – 1/4 cup
Method
- Dissolve the cornstarch in half the water.
- Place the sugar, remaining water on low heat and stir until all the sugar has dissolved.
- Add the lemon juice, cornstarch mixture.
- Stir until thick and opaque.
- The cornflour should cook until it becomes opaque (see image below).
- Switch off the flame.
- Store in a glass jar or container.
- Once cooled use as desired.
- If necessary add hot water to bring to the right consistency.
Important – Cook this Homemade Piping Gel until cornstarch looks like this. Almost translucent.
Homemade Piping Gel – Two Recipes
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Homemade Piping Gel – Two Recipes
Homemade Piping Gel - Two Recipes - Gelatin or Vegetarian
Print Pin RateDescription
Equipment /Tools
Ingredients
Ingredients - Homemade Piping Gel with Gelatin
- 2 tbsp Gelatin
- 2 tbsp Water
- 2 cups Light corn syrup
- Clear vanilla or almond extract
Ingredients - Homemade Piping Gel with Cornstarch
- 1/3 cup White granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch / cornflour
- 1/4 cup Lemon juice
- 1/4 cup Water
Conversions - Switch between Metric & US for other measurement options
Instructions
Method - Homemade Piping Gel with Gelatin
- Dissolve gelatin in the water for 2 minutes.
- Place in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds or in a double boiler and melt the gelatin.
- Place the corn syrup and extract in a saucepan over low heat. Once the corn syrup is hot add in the gelatin mixture.
- Stir well to combine.
- That's it - your piping gel is ready.
- This gel will thicken as it sits.
Method - Homemade Piping Gel with Cornstarch
- Dissolve the cornstarch in half the water.
- Place the sugar, remaining water on low heat and stir until all the sugar has dissolved.
- Add the lemon juice, cornstarch mixture.
- Stir until thick and opaque.
- The cornflour should cook until it becomes opaque (see image below).
- Switch off the flame.
- Store in a glass jar or container.
- Once cooled use as desired.
- If necessary add hot water to bring to the right consistency.
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Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
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Dana
Thank you so much for this recipe. I don’t find piping gel here in my place so have to always make my own. Your recipe works perfectly every single time.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Dana. Yes, I had to make this recipe because I could not find any near me too. I only know the ingredients but no recipe was found anywhere. So I had to figure it out myself. Glad you find it useful too.
Ivy
Thank you, Veena. You are a Godsent. I love your blog, it is my goto place for all recipes. I love how you explain them so well. I’ve made this recipe more than once and never have to buy piping gel again. I hate the store brought because it has a weird smell and a very shot shelf life.
PS – your Death by chocolate cake was a huge hit this week with my customers. I made it for tasting
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Ivy. So happy you are enjoying my blog. Yes, the piping gel does have a shot shelflife so homemade makes it more affordable.
Yes, the death by chocolate sure is a huge hit here too.
Dawn
Hi Veena:
I would like to use the piping gel as water on cupcakes. If I bake/frost the cupcakes tomorrow, may I leave them out overnight to serve at a party the next day ? Also, may I frost the whole cupcake with buttercream first, then spread the piping gel on half of the buttercream, or would it be better to put the piping gel directly on the plain cupcake ?
Veena Azmanov
Hey Dawn. You can leave cupcakes out overnight unless they have a perishable filling like fruit curds. I suggest adding the piping gel on the buttercream or it will be absorbed into the cupcakes. Also, make sure the piping gel is not too thin consistency.
Reba
Thanks for the recipe. Can you give me some guidelines on how I can use this piping gel to give a shiny coat over a fondant covered cake?
Veena Azmanov
Hey Reba. I do not use piping gel to make fondant shiny, perhaps you can if you diluted it with warm water.
If you looking for the shiny effect like on my wine bottle cake – I have used cornstarch and vodka
Thanks
Sharmistha Mondal
Hi Veena,
Thanks a lot for the recipe! Can you please tell me if I can use this piping gel on buttercream frosting? Or will it get soaked up by the buttercream?
TIA
Veena Azmanov
Not sure what you using it for but yes, you can use it on buttercream frosting depending on how thick you make it. If it’s too runny.. it will soak into the buttercream
Andrew
I made this last week for a waterfall cake. Thank you so much. They ran out of piping gel at the store. I didn’t know you could make this at home. Thank you so much for sharing.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Andrew. So happy you found this tutorial and recipe useful. Thank you so much for coming back to write this feedback. Have a wonderful day.
Sim
Is this gel same as neutral gel used to make gel cakes
Veena Azmanov
What I have here is piping gel used for cake decorating Sim. The gel used for cakes is similar just not so thick in consistency. If you want to glaze fruits on tarts and such you will need to add more water or keep it thicker. Consistency is key.
Sharon
Hi Veena, I am a bit confused.. what’s the difference between piping gel and confectioners glaze. Are they the same?? I googled but I’m not getting the right answer.
Veena Azmanov
Confectioners glaze is not the same as piping gel. Confectioners glaze has alcohol in it – you can read more here. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-things-you-need-know-confectioners-tim-bryant
Sonny
Thank you for sharing this. I do not find piping gel here so have to make my own.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Sonny. So happy you have success with this recipe and find it useful. Thanks for coming back to leave this feedback. Have a wonderful week.
Cena
I replaced the lemon juice with dole pineapple juice, it tastes really good.
Veena Azmanov
Awesome! That does sound so delicious.
Vicky
Can we make chocolate gel with starch?
Veena Azmanov
I think if you add cocoa powder with the cornstarch to the piping gel it will work but I have not tried.
Mary
i’m trying to make a Moana cake and want to use the gel for the sea. some earlier posts say the gel was absorbed..would a buttercream crumb coat avoid this?
Veena Azmanov
Ideally, it should work Mary. I have used it on fondant very successfully. It also depends on how you make it. If you keep it too liquid it will soak in and too stiff might get clucky. Hope that makes sense
Michelle Flory
I put buttercream icing on cake then coated it with homemade gel. Later I put fondant decorations around cake & they all melted.I made a cake last week with a river & fondant fisherman in water & grass &fish were fine. What did I do wrong?
Veena Azmanov
Michelle Piping gel is very slippery! It like jelly.. so if you want to stick fondant decorations you have to us it like glue. Just a slight smear with the brush or things will slip. I you want to us it like river you can just make it thick so it hods it’s shape. Then manipulate it with a brush
Amber
How long does the cornstarch recipe take to thicken? Mobs is opaque, but jkot thick at all and I followed the recipe exactly. Thank you so much for your time and expertise!
Veena Azmanov
Hi Amber. You do want it to thicken until it’s really opaque not white. Just as you can see in the pictures I shared. You want it thick and if necessary add a few tbsp of water to bring to consistency.
Wendy
Veena, thank you for sharing these recipes. I have a question about the gelatin. Will kosher gelatin (made with fish pectin) work?
Veena Azmanov
Yes Wendy. I have made this with Kosher gelatin and it works fine.
Epcibha
Hi Veena thank u for the piping gel recipe…jus a doubt is it same like the mirror glaze?can it be poured on the cake
Veena Azmanov
NO this is not the same as mirror glaze, you cannot cover a cake with this. If you want mirror glaze you can use this recipe Mirror Glaze
Epcibha
Hi Veena . thank u for the recipe..is it same like mirror glaze..can u pour on the cake after icing
Veena Azmanov
NO this is not the same as mirror glaze. You can use this recipe for mirror glaze.
Kathryn
Hi, I tried my piping gel on a cake to act as a lake. The back absorbed the liquid, is there a way around this?
Veena Azmanov
Yes it is soft liquid so if you place it on fondant it will get absorbed. You can try using by placing a piece gumpaste first. dry it off so it nice and stiff or perhaps royal icing. But have not tried it. Ideally it’s sugar and liquid so it’s bound to get absorbed.
Memarc
Hi veena, i tried your recipe but we don’t have corn syrup and gelatine so i use agar agar and granulated sugar. And as of now looks fine…. I will let you know when it is complety sit. Thanks.
Veena Azmanov
Ah I didn’t know it would work with Agar Agar or not.. so happy to hear it’s fine. Thanks for sharing.
Rachana
Thank you Veena for sharing your recipe. Can i replace gelatin with agar powder?
Veena Azmanov
I have not tried agar agar yet Rachana.. I’m thinking agar agar may make it stiffer… Try and let us know if it works.
Michael Persico
Here’s a solution for the cornstarch one and the discoloration. You can use potato starch one to one in recipes and it looks like liquid glass. So it makes it look the same as the gelatin but also keeping it vegan
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Micheal. Thank you so much for sharing. Love this tip.
Vince Jay
Hi Veena. Pls can you really tell me the difference between corn syrup and glucose syrup? (from your own point of experience)
Veena Azmanov
he he.. know what you mean.. well, form us simply… Corn syrup and glucose syrup are more or less the same in terms of usage. corn syrup is usually more liquid while glucose in thicker so you have to use a few tsp of water to dilute. Often we use one for the other and it works like in this recipe or in fondant recipes.
ochuko igugu
Thanks for the recipe. Pls can i replace the corn syrup with glucose syrup in the first recipe
Veena Azmanov
I have not tried it with glucose syrup so not sure if it will work. Let me know the outcome if you try.
Odelya
Hi, thanks for sharing. I want to make one of them, but I need the pool to be on top of a cake which I frost with vanilla cream. Not butter frosting but similar (made of heavy cream and pudding), can I spread it on top of the cream??
Thanks
Veena Azmanov
yeah I think you can… I’ve not done it but if you make it thick should be ok.
Effy
I want a recipe for gumpaste. Also I have a problem.. When I add red colour to the gumpaste it turns pink. How can I get proper red(Christmas red).. Please help me..
Veena Azmanov
Add a dab of brown to deepen the red <3
Kathryn Wiebe Arbez
Can i make this ahead and put in fridge before using it to decorate?
Veena Azmanov
Homemade Piping gel has a short shelf life. I would say two weeks.
Shon
Hey Venna,
Can food coloring gel be added to this recipe and at what point is it added?
Veena Azmanov
You can add the gel any time in the process while its still warm
Ritika Surana
Me as Jain want to know is gelatin pure vegetarian
Shim
Hi! I only have high fructose corn syrup here. Can i use that as substitute? Thanks
Veena Azmanov
I think you can use glucose too but I have not tried it yet.
Sushmita Dela Cruz Primero
Can i use a high fructose corn syrup?
Jenn V
Hi Veena!
I am LOVING your tutorials! So glad I found this site!
Question on your piping gel recipe: how much vanilla extract do you use & when do you add it? Thanks in advance!
Jenn
Veena Azmanov
You can add it at the end or in between – either is ok.
Maria Luisa Reyes Sebastian
Thanks a lot veena for sharing your recipe. This is a big help for me. Salamat.
Leslie Lai
Thanks a lot Veena for this recipe.
Vera Fletcher
How long does this last mean does ut go off x
Weng Ladaran
Thank you Veena for sharing the recipe. This is really what i need =)
Aparna Sirothia
Thanks a lot. Very nicely explained tutorial .
Lynette Smith
thank you for your tutorials I love them.!
channu
madam can we use this piping gel as a protective coating all round the cake/cookie as we use gumpaste instead of buttercream.I want to go for low fat cream.So asking this question
Veena Azmanov
Not sure I understand your question. But this is to be use as glue, to make water effects and such. You can also do stained glass effect. BUt no it is not frosting or filling so do not use it as that.
Julie Graves
you can buy 'KARO Light Corn Syrup' from Tesco [£3.50] it will be in the international food isle [America] BUT, having googled for a substitute you can use GOLDEN SYRUP and if i'd've known that I would have used it..
Wendy
Golden syrup is golden. Corn Syrup is clear. If you use golden syrup the gel will not be clear.
Veena Azmanov
Yes, I have used corn syrup not golden syrup? Sorry what is your question? Feel free to ask again.
Susan
instead of corn syrup, try using glucose syrup. I’m in New Zealand and have found corn syrup in a specialty store, 4oz for about $7.00, so I’m going to try with glucose syrup.
Marie Loveland
could you please tell what corn syrup is, I live in England and want to know what to use, thank you for your time
Marie Loveland
could you please tell what corn syrup is, I live in England and want to know what to use, thank you for your time
Pauline Sciberras
Thanks
Lorainne Flour Power Grimm
Love this
Maureen Sullivan
Can I use this to make a lake then put fondant kayaks on it or will they dissolve? thank you
Anonymous
Can I use glucose gel in place of corn syrup?
Anonymous
Hi I was wondering is there I can use something to replace corn syrup with- glycerol, honey….?
Anonymous
What can i use to replace the lemon if i do not want to use it?
Anonymous
Hi I had a question…can we add food colouring to the piping gel? and when do we add it? When it is hot or after it cools down..Thanks a ton for your help 🙂
Bouty
Hi,
You can add the food coloring when it is still hot. it makes it easier to mix as it is still at a runny consistency. once it cools off, it thickens more. you can still do it when it is cold, just mix well. Also, go one drop of coloring at a time. one drop goes a long way; it does not take much.
hope this helps.
Anonymous
hiya – I wanted to ask about Piping Gel… how soon do I need to put this on the cake? will it last over night/ few days? or smudge the fondant – I will be transporting the cake in the car for a few hours? any tips…pls thx u
mindbrewblog
Hi Veena, I google searched for piping gel for cakes and found your recipe. Is it really this simple? I'll try it this week and let you know. 🙂 Thanks a bunch 🙂
Gauri.
Anonymous
Because the recipe says corn SYRUP not oil
Veena Azmanov
Why are you using corn oil? It's corn syrup…!
Sorry you probably misread..
Try again..
Waggy
what is 2 cups in grammes please
Yasmin Atcha
Hi just wanted to ask if I can use china grass powder as I cant use gelatin and the only suitable for vegetarians are in a sheet so not sure how many to use?
shalu
Thanks for the piping gel info.I used to get confused about the recipe but now i am sure i can make one..
Sejal
Hi veena is piping gel and neutral gel are same.
Veena Azmanov
Hi Sejal… not sure what is neutral gel..!! Not heard of it.
If you see the recipe – for piping gel perhaps check the list of ingredients for neutral gel and decide how similar they are
Thanks