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Home › Recipe

Updated: Mar 12, 2020 · Published: Mar 28, 2017 by Elizabeth Marek · This post may contain affiliate links · 34 Comments

How To Cook Isomalt

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Isomalt - The Perfect Edible Medium

Isomalt is the perfect thing for making beautiful clear candy decorations for your cakes, candies and desserts! Isomalt is similar to using sugar except that it doesn't turn a yellow color when it is heated to high temperatures. It also stands up to humidity better than sugar so it's a great choice to use as a decoration.

How to use isomalt to make shiny edible gems, jewels, crowns crystals and more! The most amazing edible medium and easy to use

What Is Isomalt?

Isomalt is a sugar substitute (usually found in sugar free candies) and is GREAT for using as edible decorations. Isomalt is probably not something you've heard of unless you are a cake decorator or pastry chef but you don't have to be an expert to use it!

Can You Eat Isomalt?

can you eat isomalt

So like... can you eat it?

I get that question a lot.

Isomalt is actually made from beets and is safe to eat. The reason why some people think it's not edible is that your body does not actually digest it. It passes right through you (literally) so if you eat a LOT you can get an upset stomach but you'd have to eat more than a golf ball sized piece for it to do any damage.

Where Do You Get Isomalt?

There are basically two different types of isomalt you can buy. Sometimes you can find raw isomalt granules at cake supply shops or you can buy them online. The kind that is raw and still needs to be cooked to the proper temperature.

Raw Isomalt Crystals

The benefits of buying your own raw isomalt and cooking it yourself is that it's a lot cheaper BUT if you don't do it correctly you could end up with a big clumpy mess so be sure to follow my recipe for cooking clear isomalt if you want to make it yourself. Once you cook it you can then pour it into small puddles or silicone ice cube tray and let it cool. Once cooled you can store it in ziplock baggies and you'll have isomalt on hand any time you need some!

Then there is pre-cooked isomalt that all you have to do is melt it down in a microwave. Our first tip for working with isomalt is buying it Ready-To-Use from Simi Cakes & Confections! Their ready to use isomalt can be popped in the microwave in 20-30 second intervals and boom it is ready to pour, pull or cast! SO convenient. Simi Cakes isomalt is exceptionally clear and definitely affordable. One of the best things about isomalt is there is never any waste so you really get your money's worth.

Simi Cakes Pre-made Isomalt

Equipment For Working With Isomalt

To work with isomalt you will need a few tools! You can find any of these items at most grocery stores or you can have a glass of wine and add it all to your online cart in one swoop like I did *grins*

isomalt tool kit

Simicakes makes a beginners isomalt tool kit that really is perfect if you want to just start making cool stuff right away but I'll also list them out separately for you. *note: this list contains affiliate links which does not affect the price for you.

  1. Small Blow Torch - A must have for clearing up the surface bubbles, gluing together pieces and re-heating sections to keep working with them. Who doesn't enjoy making fire??
  2. Silicone Mat - Inexpensive and easy to find, this is a must have for working on top of. Silicone is heat resistant so the isomalt wont stick to it (unlike your dining room table).
  3. Silicone Bowl - I am notorious for stealing these bowls from my friend Sidney at cake shows. You can never have too many! They are perfect for melting down small amounts, coloring or letting it cool so you can pop out the leftovers and store it to use later. For very small pouring, sometimes I use silicone cupcake liners but you have to be careful not to fill them too full. pouring isomalt
  4. Gloves - I actually prefer using nitrile gloves that I buy at my local pharmacy. I get the size small for a tight fit and it protects my hands from getting burned from little drips. If melted isomalt lands on your skin and you try to wipe it away, you'll take your skin with it. When you have gloves on, all you have to do is take off the glove if you get a drip on you and you won't get a burn.
  5. Airbrush Color - This is optional but great for adding color to your isomalt. I prefer to buy it clear and color it as I need it rather than buying pre-colored isomalt.
  6. Cake Gloss - You'll need to spray your finished pieces with some glaze to seal it from humidity, otherwise they will get cloudy and white. Spray them right after you make them. I love the cake gloss from swank cake design because it's a very fine spray and isn't very yellow.
  7. Candy thermometer - You'll only need this if you're going to be cooking your own isomalt from raw granules but I am including it just in case because you definitely can't make your own without it. Edible Isomalt Crown

Things To Make With Isomalt

Ok so I bet you're super excited to actually MAKE something with isomalt now huh? I don't blame you, it's pretty freaking awesome to work with! Before you start melting and torching, check out this great video on the basics of working with isomalt from Simicakes

Shiny Isomalt Gems - One of the first things I ever made with isomalt was shiny gems! I was obsessed! I made sooo many! To make the gems you can use hard candy molds which look like plastic but are actually acrylic. Don't put isomalt in plastic molds, they will melt!

Isomalt Diamonds

Isomalt Crystals - The geode cake trend is still super popular! SO popular that I invented some crystal molds so I could make this kintsugi wedding cake tutorial. The cake was so popular it went viral!

kintsugi cake

Edible Crown Tutorial - Isomalt is such amazing stuff! It can be poured into molds and shaped so easily while it's still warm. I used isomalt and molds to make this edible candy crown!

edible crown tutorial

Glitter Eyes - I loved making these edible glitter eyes for all kinds of different types of sculpted cakes! They look just like shiny eyes you find on beanie boo toys.

glitter eye tutorial

Edible Eye Tutorial - The one thing I probably make the most of with isomalt is realistic eyes for my sculpted cakes! People always ask me if they are edible which is kind of an odd thing to ask about eyes really, haha.

edible eye tutorial

Geode Cake Topper - When I saw this cake topper at a cake show I was amazing and had to find out how it was made! This was right before the geode cake trend took off and now you see versions of this topper everywhere.

Geode Heart Cake Topper - This was a really fun take on the trendy geode cake toppers for Valentines day. So easy to make and no special molds required.

geode topper

Blown Sugar Bubbles - If you want to learn a whole bunch of awesome techniques for using isomalt, check out our online tutorial from the amazing Sidney from Simi Cakes and Confections. In this tutorial she teaches you how to use different types of molds, how to pull sugar with your hands and shape it, how to paint on isomalt, how to blow bubbles and how to make cool candles! (coming Dec 1, 2018)

isomalt techniques

Clear Isomalt Recipe

If you want to make your own isomalt from raw granules, follow this recipe that I got from simicakes. It works perfectly every time!

 

I hope this post has motivated you to use isomalt if you haven't or helped solve some issues you may have had if you have! We also have many tutorials available for Premium and Elite Members that incorporate even more ways and tips for using isomalt. Get your isomalt on!

Recipe

isomalt

Isomalt Recipe

Working with isomalt can make some amazing effects. This recipe will show you how to cook raw isomalt into clear, ready-to-use isomalt that you can then store and melt down whenever you need some isomalt!
Print Recipe Rate Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour hour
Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 cup
Calories: 17kcal
Author: Elizabeth Marek

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Raw isomalt
  • ¼ cup Distilled water

Supplies

  • 1 Candy thermometer
  • 1 nonstick pot
  • 1 silmat

Instructions

Instructions

  • In a very clean, nonstick pot, add ¼ cup distilled water to every cup raw isomalt.
  • Bring to a boil on medium-high heat. Do not stir. 
  • After the mixture is boiling, turn to medium heat and cover with a lid for 5 minutes and simmer. This step prevents crystals from forming around the edges. Do not stir. 
  • Take lid off and simmer uncovered until temp reaches 320º F (160º C). This can take up to an hour. Be patient. Do not stir. 
  • Once cooked you can pour into puddles on a silmat, let cool then break into chunks to use later.
  • Isomalt can be reheated in the microwave by starting with 30 seconds and then moving to 15 second increments. 

Video

Notes

Use extreme caution when making isomalt! Wear latex gloves and have a bowl of ice water in your work area ready for any accidents. Isomalt can cause 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns if touched to skin while hot. Hot isomalt will stick to your skin, so make sure you have the gloves on before you start working. In the event of getting isomalt on your hands, quickly peel off the gloves and put your hands in the ice water to cool the affected area. Continue to keep your hands in the water for at least 5 minutes. Call your doctor and get medical advice immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1teaspoon | Calories: 17kcal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Isomalt is the perfect thing for making beautiful clear candy decorations for your cakes, candies and desserts! Isomalt is similar to using sugar except that it doesn't turn a yellow color when it is heated to high temperatures.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ann Shamberg says

    May 04, 2018 at 4:14 am

    1 star
    I hate to tell you, but this is NOT a recipe FOR isomalt. You just tell everyone HOW to use RAW ISOMALT and use it in it's clear form, not make it from SCRATCH!

    Reply
    • The Sugar Geek Show says

      May 23, 2018 at 1:15 pm

      I'm not sure what you mean. This is a recipe on how to prepare isomalt. I understand that it's not making isomalt from scratch. That's not something you can do without a chemistry degree. I hope that clears things up for you.

      Reply
  2. Lauren says

    June 28, 2018 at 6:49 pm

    5 stars
    So easy this way!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      March 10, 2019 at 3:44 pm

      Did you use the raw or the one that is ready to go?

      Reply
      • The Sugar Geek Show says

        March 11, 2019 at 10:21 am

        This is how to cook RAW isomalt and turn it into ready-to-melt isomalt. There is no need to cook ready made isomalt. Just melt it and use it.

      • Udara Mendis says

        September 09, 2019 at 9:33 pm

        Hi, I made isomalt sails following the instructions in the packet which is 2 cups isomalt and 1/4 cup water. However it comes out perfectly but later when I rest the sail on the cake it starts to collapse, it tend to fall from sides and also melt and shatter down as time goes on. Could you please tell me a way to avoid this from happening? Anything I can add?

      • The Sugar Geek Show says

        September 10, 2019 at 12:21 pm

        Sounds like the isomalt was not cooked to the proper temperature

  3. Dwi says

    May 02, 2019 at 7:26 pm

    Hi. Im really really newbie.. what is the difference isomalt vs sugar+glucose? I have tried make a bowl from sugar+glucose.

    Reply
    • The Sugar Geek Show says

      May 04, 2019 at 6:24 pm

      Isomalt is a sugar free substitue and is less likely to get sticky or crystalize like sugar

      Reply
  4. Shaunn says

    August 25, 2019 at 7:21 pm

    5 stars
    I've noticed that ready-to-nuke isomalt is becoming easier to find. My question; can it be made super sour? Can it be flavored, such as with Lorann oils? I'm thinking of Jolly Rancher sour (not regular) candies. Love super sour sweets, but JR sours aren't always easy to find. Have tried to make my own, but most sugar-based super sour candy recipes have been great disappointments.

    Thank you! Best regards for continued success!

    Reply
    • The Sugar Geek Show says

      August 26, 2019 at 10:04 am

      Yes, very easily. Just add any candy oils that you like and a little citric acid

      Reply
  5. Lisa Foss says

    September 10, 2019 at 11:15 am

    5 stars
    Thank you for this. It was very informative and helpful! Also, thank you very much for the warnings about gloves. I did not use gloves the last time I tried Isomalt. I'm a very cautionary tale.....

    Reply
  6. Cheryl A Chapman says

    September 11, 2019 at 4:58 pm

    5 stars
    Hi. Thank you for all of the awesome information. I was wondering, do do you keep your gems from getting sticky and cloudy?

    Reply
    • The Sugar Geek Show says

      September 12, 2019 at 9:31 am

      I spray them with clear glaze like PME glaze

      Reply
      • Kim says

        January 22, 2020 at 3:44 pm

        My problem is finding any kind of idomalt.. raw or other. Not to be found in stores !! Very disappointing as I was planning on using for upcoming grandsons cake
        Any ideas how to get any? Not sure online ordering will
        Arrive on time

      • The Sugar Geek Show says

        January 22, 2020 at 3:57 pm

        If you can't find isomalt then try my lollipop recipe. https://sugargeekshow.com/recipe/lollipop-recipe/

  7. Barbara says

    December 10, 2019 at 3:14 pm

    Can isamalt be used in place of royal icing to glue together the roof of a gingerbread house

    Reply
    • The Sugar Geek Show says

      December 10, 2019 at 6:30 pm

      Absolutely, just wear gloves and be careful 🙂

      Reply
  8. Eeman A says

    April 23, 2020 at 2:30 pm

    Hi I’ve been trying Isomalt so many times but as soon as I take it from here it becomes so hard to work with if I want to shape it, I seen a video you was shape it and work with it as Fondant please can you Tell me how to get my Isomalt to be pliable. Many thanks
    Eeman

    Reply
    • The Sugar Geek Show says

      April 23, 2020 at 3:20 pm

      If you want isomalt to stay pliable then you will need to consistently apply heat to it. This is merely a recipe to make the isomomalt.

      Reply
  9. Tashera Young says

    July 04, 2020 at 9:32 am

    I tried this twice and both times my isomalt came out brownish. Why does this happen ?

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Marek says

      July 05, 2020 at 8:21 am

      It could be that you are not using distilled water, your pan is not super clean or you are over-cooking your isomalt and not stopping the cooking with the cold water

      Reply
  10. Sue says

    July 08, 2020 at 3:47 pm

    Do you have to use a non stick pan for the isomalt, or can you use a heavy stainless steel lined copper pot?

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Marek says

      July 09, 2020 at 10:17 pm

      You definitely can use a copper pot 🙂

      Reply
  11. Mark Vrabel says

    August 01, 2020 at 12:49 am

    Could you use isomalt as a sugar replacement in BBQ sauce? Artificial sweeteners will not caramelize and come out looking like flat paint, not very appealing.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Marek says

      August 02, 2020 at 5:46 pm

      Good question! I'm not sure about that!

      Reply
  12. Di says

    October 27, 2020 at 5:35 am

    I used the microwave to melt the isomalt . Making a window in a cookie. No bubbles perfect. But it is not setting

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Marek says

      November 14, 2020 at 10:46 am

      Did you start with raw isomalt? If so then it needs to be cooked to the temperature listed first before you can start melting it with the microwave.

      Reply
  13. Betty says

    November 07, 2020 at 7:35 pm

    Where can I buy your crystal mold?

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Marek says

      November 08, 2020 at 1:17 pm

      http://www.simicakes.com

      Reply
  14. Tara Cappis says

    November 26, 2020 at 2:01 pm

    Is isomalt powder the same as the crystals? Mine that I got seems to be really fine powder

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Marek says

      November 28, 2020 at 12:59 pm

      I am not sure, I have never seen powder before. Does it have any instructions with it?

      Reply
  15. Maria Watkins says

    December 03, 2020 at 4:48 pm

    I am going to make Lollypops with the isonalt, do I have to put oil on the round molds?

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Marek says

      December 04, 2020 at 11:37 am

      No oil is required

      Reply
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