What is gum paste similar to?

Gum paste is most similar to pastillage because both are used primarily in cake decorating for creating intricate decorations that harden as they dry. Both of these materials are made using sugar and other ingredients that allow for a strong yet malleable consistency. This quality makes them ideal for making figures, flowers, and other detailed embellishments that can stand up on their own once set.

Pastillage typically dries more rigidly than gum paste, allowing for architectural decorations, while gum paste retains a bit of flexibility, which can be useful for certain applications. The similarity in their applications—especially in decorative techniques—demonstrates their shared purpose in sugar crafting.

In contrast, marzipan is primarily used for its almond flavor and texture, royal icing is mainly a hard icing used for piping and flooding, and buttercream is a creamy frosting used for cakes, making them less aligned in function and composition compared to gum paste.