Stainglass Shapes

Stainglass shapes are easy to make but they are best made several days before they are required as they harden on standing.

Draw flowers or shapes that you intend making on a sheet of paper and tape a sheet of baking paper over the top of the drawing sheet. This will become your template for making shapes.

Make the piping mixture as follows:

1 egg white
250g icing sugar
3 teaspoons lemon juice
food coloring

1. Lightly beat the egg white with a wooden spoon.

2. Gradually add sifted icing sugar and beat until you have a smooth paste.

3. Add 2 teaspoons lemon juice slowly until the mixture has a slightly stiff piping consistency. If the mixture is too runny it will be difficult to work with.

4. Cover the surface of the frosting with cling wrap to prevent if from drying out.

Use a piping bag with a 1mm or 2mm piping tip and carefully pipe the outlines of your shapes. Set shapes aside to dry.

Gradually add more lemon juice to the mixture until it is thinner and easier to spread evenly. Divide the mixture into a bowl for each color you intend using. Add a different food color to each bowl.

Pipe, or flood the colored icing inside the shape outlines. Make sure the bowls are kept covered otherwise the mixture will dry out.

Leave the sheets to dry overnight.