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Clear glucose syrup flowing from a spoon into a glass bowl

Glucose syrup

Glucose syrup is a thick, clear confectionery ingredient measured into the cooked sugar syrup for the cake’s buttercream.

Italian name
Sciroppo di glucosio.
Form
Liquid syrup, not powdered dextrose.
For the buttercream
Weigh the syrup in grams.

A syrup that clings to the spoon

Glucose syrup is a thick, clear confectionery ingredient measured into the cooked sugar syrup for the cake’s buttercream.

Glucose syrup is supplied ready for confectionery work. Its thick consistency calls for weighing carefully rather than estimating a spoonful. Products can have different specifications, so read the label.

Use the scale before heating

Weigh the glucose syrup into the saucepan with the separately measured sugar and water. Dissolve the mixture as directed, then use a sugar thermometer for the recipe’s precise stages.

With sugar and water

In polenta e osei dolce, glucose syrup joins the sugar and water cooked for the Italian-meringue component of the chocolate-hazelnut buttercream.

Follow the thermometer

Start whipping and pour the hot syrup at the distinct temperatures given in the recipe. The hot-syrup step does not replace the requirement for whipping-suitable pasteurized egg whites.

Choose liquid glucose

Look for glucose syrup or sciroppo di glucosio in the ingredient description. A tub labeled glucose should identify the syrup form in its ingredients. Check allergen and storage information.

Close the container cleanly

Keep the container tightly closed and follow its storage directions and date. Use a clean utensil so crumbs or other ingredients do not enter the syrup.

Questions worth asking

Can I use dextrose powder by the same weight?

Keep the specified liquid syrup; powdered dextrose is a different physical ingredient.

Is the amount a volume?

Use grams on the scale, as listed in the formula.

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