Rock Sugar

Rock sugar is named for its porous, rough, rocklike appearance. It adds an unusual decorative touch to showpieces. Once it has hardened, it can be broken into irregular chunks or cut into precise shapes with a serrated knife. It is amazing to see how the white mass of sugar rises up in the pan — resembling milk about to boil over — once the royal icing is incorporated. The eruption (swelling) and recrystallization occur as a reaction to quickly beating in the egg white and sugar in the icin