Brightly coloured blown sugar creates showstopping sweet treats when filled with mousse, ice-cream or whipped cream. The technique is simple enough although doing it well takes practice.

To get started, prepare a large silicone cookie sheet, or marble slab and a wooden straw or metal tube for blowing.

Ingredients

3 cups Granulated sugar

1½ cups Water

1/4tsp Cream of TartarFood colouring

Method

Step 1: Bring water and sugar to a boil. Add cream of tartar. Stir to incorporate. If you want to add colour, do it now. DO NOT STIR ANYMORE AFTER THIS STEP. Wash down the sides of the pan at least three times during cooking with warm water and a pastry brush.

Step 2: Before removing the sugar, take your silicone sheet or marble and lightly grease. When the sugar mixture reaches 150°C, pour it out onto your cookie sheet or marble.

Step 3: When the mixture is cool enough to handle, tear off a piece about the size of a golf ball and put it on your tube and blow. Twist the bubble and melt the end shut with a culinary torch, propane torch. Cut away with scissors.

Step 4: Fill it with mousse, ice-cream or whipped cream and serve.