Ornaments from fruit: photo. Cake decoration with fruit

Since the times when the decoration of dishes with vegetables and fruits was sacred and religious sense, it was not one century. Today, this practice has become an art to give a ready-made dish an aesthetic and elegant look. With the help of various techniques culinary specialists and confectioners create unique masterpieces that amaze the imagination. However, anyone can try their hand at creating a culinary creation at home, you just have to be patient. In this article, you will learn how to decorate the dishes yourself with the help of various techniques and surprise the guests with their skill.

Decoration of dishes from fruit: a bit of history

The history of the development of cooking is several thousand years old. Since the time of the Roman Empire, the approach to decorating dishes has been seriously transformed under the influence of cultural and spiritual changes in people's minds. At that time, the cake looked more like bread, flavored with honey, molasses or dried fruit, and not the culinary product that we used to see on the shelves of the confectionery shops.

The first real decorations for cakes were created in the UK in the XIV century during the reign of Elizabeth I. It was then that these desserts were prepared for royal receptions, paying special attention to their appearance. As the first attempts to decorate the cake used pasta based on almond flour, known today as marzipan. At the same time, the table decoration with fruit and vegetables was actively developing.

Especially popular was the design of desserts in the 17th century, when wedding cakes became fashionable. So, the groom's cake was made to decorate in dark tones, using black chocolate. A confectionery for the bride was traditionally made airy, decorated in light colors with the use of cream.

Fruit decoration with own hands

Today, almost every hostess can give a festive look to the cake at home. And for this it is absolutely not necessary to own special techniques and techniques.

Ordinary biscuit cake with butter or sour cream can be decorated with a sliced kiwi or banana. Unusually it will look like a combination of orange and strawberry slices. In terms of decorating dishes, everything is limited only by the imagination of the cook. You can fix your masterpiece with a special sugar solution or fruit jelly.

Very juicy fruit and chocolate look. To do this, just cut the sliced oranges, strawberries or other fruits to your taste on the cake and pour them with melted chocolate and cream. Such decoration of cakes with fruits, photos of which today, perhaps, everyone saw, will become the main highlight of any feast.

Recently, various design techniques of decor of dishes have gained great popularity. For example, this way of decorating from fruits, like carving. Thanks to this technique anyone can learn how to create unique compositions that will not leave even the most demanding gourmet indifferent.

What is carving?

This art has come to modern cooking from China. The very word "carving" comes from the English "curving", which means "hand carving". This word is called figural cutting of fruits and vegetables to decorate different dishes and desserts.

Carving schools are available in any metropolis. In just a few lessons you will learn how to create your own spectacular culinary masterpieces with the help of special tools. However, you can learn the art of carving for fruits and vegetables yourself. The main thing is to show imagination, creating ornaments from fruits. Simple floral and floral motifs will be an excellent addition to the festive table.

Tools for carving

To master this technique, you will need special tools. The usual kitchen knife can not give fruit such elegant form, as specially sharpened blades. So, here is the list of the basic tools for carving:

• Thai knife with a pointed form. With this tool, the basic elements of carving are performed.
• Noizetny knife to create a hollow of a circular shape. Also used to create fruit balls.
• Kabovochnye knives are used to give fruits and vegetables forms in the form of petals and leaves.
• Knife for fluting, which is used to create grooves and various patterns.
• Serpentinore for chip removal.
• Spirals for carving, giving a spiral shape to future products.

In addition to these tools, culinary and manicure scissors, tweezers, awl and even scalpels of medical alloy are often used. As materials, any fruits and vegetables that can be shaped are used. If you decide to try your hand at carving, then you will definitely get the necessary set of tools.

Basic techniques

The tricks that are used in home carving are fairly simple, but still require a certain skill. From fruits, you can create elegant floral arrangements for decorating cakes and desserts.

One of the techniques taught to beginners is the creation of chrysanthemum. To do this, you can use the usual apple, which you need to first cleanse the skin. Pre-fetus is fixed on a horizontal surface. Then, moving in a spiral, you need to gently pick off the leaves of the future chrysanthemum with manicure or culinary scissors. In this case, you can control the length and thickness of each lobe.

Create elegant roses can be made from a pear, cutting it into thin slices and folding like petals of a flower. In this case, it is not necessary to clean the fruit from the peel, which will give a special look to the finished product. You can fasten the rose at the base with a toothpick or caramel.

Unusually decorate the cake is possible thanks to the noisette knife, with the help of which fruit balls are made. For this, a watermelon or melon is usually used. The fruit should be dense enough to keep the balls in shape.

To create leaves for flowers you can use strawberries. The shape of this berry in a cutting resembles a leaf. It remains only to give the desired shape and make grooves with a knife for cannulation.

Each master carving has his own techniques, which are accumulated as a result of many years of experience. Therefore, do not despair if the first time you do not succeed in creating your plans. Be patient and train by creating ornaments from fruits. Photographs of carving masters will help create beautiful compositions at home.

How to keep fruit decor?

Any culinary creation quickly loses its appearance. Therefore, the only drawback to decorating fruit is its fragility. Dessert with fruit colors should be immediately served on the table, otherwise it will lose its shape and freshness. However, there are some tricks that will help to save life such decorations.

If the fruit composition is made in a horizontal plane, then you can pour its jelly, which is sold in any supermarket. Thus, the effect of glass will be obtained, and the cake will be able to stand in the refrigerator for several days.

A bulk fruit composition can also be stored with a simple recipe. To do this, you need to cook sugar caramel, heating on low heat 10 tablespoons of sugar with 1-2 tablespoons of water. The resulting mixture should be applied to the fruit in a warm form with a brush. When the sugar coating has cooled, it will create a protective layer on the fruit in the form of a frozen candy.

In addition to the above methods, you can use a special glaze for carving, which is sold in culinary stores. It allows you to keep the composition without caramelizing, leaving a natural look and taste of fruit.

Cake decor of marzipan

In addition to decorating from fruits, you can give the cake a festive look with products made of marzipan. Traditionally, this product is made from almond flour, mixed with water and powdered sugar. The resulting mass is kneaded to the state of elastic plasticine, from which it is convenient to sculpt various figures. This almond dough can be stained with food coloring, which will create any bright compositions. Marzipan is stored in the refrigerator for a long time. At the same time, its taste does not change at all.

Decoration for chocolate cakes

In order to decorate the cake with chocolate, it is not necessary to be a professional confectioner. It is enough to buy a tile of your favorite black or milk chocolate and melt it in a water bath or in a microwave oven. The resulting mass can be given any shape, pouring it out with a thin trickle onto the parchment paper. When the chocolate figures are frozen, they can decorate a ready-made cake.

Very beautifully combine chocolate figures with fruit sliced, giving desserts a piquant and very mouth-watering look.

Cake decoration

Using a pastry syringe, any cake or cake can be turned into a work of art. Traditionally, an oil-based cream is used for this. To make it, you need 200 grams of butter, 0.5 cups of powdered sugar and 5 tablespoons of condensed milk. All the ingredients are required to mix with a mixer until a thick cream is formed that is able to keep the shape. Before use, it is recommended to hold it for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. Thanks to the various nozzles that are attached to the confectionery syringe, you can give the cream any shape. As a rule, confectioners apply it to the side of the dessert, and from above decorate the cakes with fruit. Photos of masterpieces of culinary experts from all over the world will help the beginner to create his own unique dessert.

Tips for Beginners

• If you decide to understand the art of decorating cakes, then stock up on the necessary tools - a set of tools for carving, parchment paper and a confectionery syringe.
• Try to experiment with color and a combination of tastes. Over time, you will find the perfect combination of fruits.

• Be sure to fix fruit jelly or caramel. So your creation will last longer.
• Try to create different ornaments from fruits. The photos of the culinary products given in this article will help you to get inspiration for creating your own masterpiece.