Fondant Cake Decorating: It's Play-Doh for Grown Ups!

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 56 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #16 in Food, #160 overall

Decorating with Fondant

Fondant is referred to by many as "Baker's Play-Doh" because of it's clay-like consistency and molding capabilities. It is a creamy confection that can be used as a filling or a covering for cakes, cookies, candies, and other sweets.

The standard fondant recipe consists of water, sugar and glucose. However, there are many other variations of this recipe including Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Quick Pour, Rolled Buttercream and Marshmallow. Fondant creations are not only visually appealing, but a treat for the taste buds as well!

Fondant can be used for Wedding Cakes, Birthday Cakes, Cookies, Cupcakes, Petits Fours, Pastries, Candies, etc.

For beginners, there are many ready-to-use fondants and simple shape cutters on the market to help you get your feet wet in fondant decorating.

For those more experienced with working with fondant, there are so many exciting things you can do to make your fondant creations stand out from the crowd! This includes trying out different fondant recipes and creating custom shapes and designs to accent your masterpiece.

Whichever group you fall into, this page will help you fill your fixation with fondant by providing a photo gallery of fondant creations, How-To tips, fondant tools and decorating gadgets, ready-to-use, tinted fondant, useful books, recipes and much more.

Fondant cake image provided courtesy of Linzi's Cakes

The Basics of Decorating with Fondant 

rolling fondant
  • Trim and smooth out your cake before applying. The cake will need to be completely flat. You can even use a fondant smoothing tool or glider to achieve the desired affect.
  • Using frosting, secure the cake to your board so that it will not move around while you are icing it.
  • Apply a buttercream base to smooth out any imperfections in the cake such as crumbs or low spots. The fondant will stick to the buttercream.
  • Let the cake sit in the refrigerator so that the surface will slightly harden. It will make applying the fondant easier. *It is recommended to let the cake cool for atleast 24 hours before applying fondant.
  • Knead the fondant until it becomes the consistency of clay and use a rolling pin to flatten it out to about 1/4" or so. Dust the rolling pin and work surface with confectioners sugar to prevent sticking. The size of the fondant should be slightly larger than your cake to allow it to fully cover.
  • Apply the fondant to your cake with the shiny side facing up. Using your hands or a smoothing tool, smooth out the fondant starting from the center and working your way out. This will remove any bubbles. Trim any excess fondant from the bottom of the cake.
  • Decorate with fondant shapes, paint, stencils, ribbons, etc. To attach dried fondant shapes to a fondant cake, make the following recipe: 1 oz. ready-to-use fondant and 1/4 teaspoon cold tap water. Knead the water into fondant until it becomes softened and sticky. Brush the mixture onto the back of the dried fondant decoration and attach to cake.
  • You can purchase already tinted fondant, however, if you chose to make your own fondant and tint it yourself, be sure to use icing paste instead of liquid food coloring. Food coloring will be wet and too watered down.
  • You can add flavor to your fondant by adding Butter Flavor, Vanilla Extract, Almond Extract and many other flavor enhancers.

Step by Step Decorating with Fondant 

 



Fairy Princess Fondant Cake Image Courtesy of Special Cakes by Tracey

Celebrate with Fondant! 

Wilton Fondant Book

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 12/10/2009)Buy Now

Discover a new way to add excitement to cakes with this book dedicated to working with rolled fondant. This book makes fondant cakes easy and fun for everyone, and features more than 40 exciting cake designs, step-by-step instructions, and alternate ways to decorate every design. 120 pages, softcover.

Have you ever decorated a cake with fondant? 

Loading poll. Please Wait...

 



Monkey Love Wedding Cake Image Courtesy of kelannfuller

Tools & Gadgets 

Wilton Roll And Cut Mat

For precise measuring, rolling and cutting of fondant! Pre-marked circles for exact sizing and square grid helps you cut precise strips. Nonstick surface for easy release! This mat measures 19" x 19" with 1" square grid.

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 12/11/2009) Buy Now

Ateco 7.5" Plastic Rolling Pin for Rolled Fondant 7510

Specifically designed for rolled fondant and gumpaste. Made of a dense FDA grade plastic with a smooth finish. Made in USA. Plastic rolling pin measures 7.5" long and 1" diameter.

Amazon Price: $16.19 (as of 12/11/2009) Buy Now

JEM Fondant Smoother Set

Plastic, 2 piece set.

Amazon Price: $16.86 (as of 12/11/2009) Buy Now

Ateco 8-Piece Stainless Steel Crimper Tool Set

These stainless steel crimpers are used to emboss designs in rolled fondant and gum paste. An elastic sizing band on each crimper helps to maintain consistent crimps. Set of 8: closed vee, open vee, closed scallop, open scallop, closed curve, open curve, serrated heart, and serrated open curve.

Amazon Price: $35.99 (as of 12/11/2009) Buy Now

applying the fondant to the cake

Cakes to Inspire & Desire 

Cakes to Inspire and Desire

Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 12/11/2009)Buy Now

Readers will discover a collection of 15 truly inspirational and deceptively simple celebratory cakes, each with a modern and distinctive finish. Lavish colour photographs display a unique variety of traditional and contemporary styles from florals and frills to stripes and beadwork.

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

 



Disney Cars Fondant Cake Image Courtesy of waybeyondcakes

Decorating Tools & Cutters 

Spiral Pattern Fondant Roller, Wilton

Add more glamour to your fondant cake decorations. This roller imprints beautiful swirled texture on fondant bows, flowers and swags.

Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009) Buy Now

Wilton Fondant Decorative Punch Set

Add exciting 3-dimension decorations in fondant with this easy-to-use tool. In seconds, you can punch out fondant accents with elegant openwork shapes like diamonds and flowers.

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/10/2009) Buy Now

Wilton Fondant Ribbon Cutter Embosser Set

Produces ribbon widths from 1/4 in. to 3 3/4 in. when combining spacers.

Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 12/10/2009) Buy Now

 



Fondant Wedding Cake Image Courtesy of Sandra's Cakes

The Cake Decorator's Bible 

The Cake Decorator's Motif Bible: 150 Fabulous Fondant Designs with Easy-to-Follow Charts and Photographs

Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 12/10/2009)Buy Now

The Cake Decorator's Motif Bible presents 150 foolproof motifs to create that special cake for any occasion, from simple and fun to elegant and elaborate. Using easy-to-follow instructions and illustrated templates, the book takes the home baker through all the steps: from making the right amount of fondant or marzipan, to choosing and sizing a design and transferring it to the cake.

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

cutting out fondant leaf decorations

The Confetti Cakes Cookbook 

The Confetti Cakes Cookbook: Spectacular Cookies, Cakes, and Cupcakes from New York City's Famed Bakery

Amazon Price: $19.79 (as of 12/10/2009)Buy Now

Proprietor of the titular bakery in New York City, Strauss offers a bevy of specific, helpful tips that will enable readers to replicate her whimsical and eye-catching designs. Strauss lays the groundwork for the heavy lifting: creating artful cookies, cakes and cupcakes using fondant, frosting and gum paste.

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

 

Do you make your fondant from scratch? 

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Fondant Topsy Turvy Cake 

Faux Topsy Turvy Cake Pan 

Wilton Topsy Turvy Pan

Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 12/10/2009)Buy Now

Give your cake decorating a fun new slant. Our topsy turvy tiered cake is just the right look for wacky birthdays, wild parties and special occasions that call for something different.

Fondant Recipes 

fondant recipes
Rolled Fondant
1 (.25 ounce) package unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
1/2 cup glucose syrup
1 tablespoon glycerin
2 tablespoons shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
Rolled Buttercream Fondant
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup shortening
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
2 pounds confectioners' sugar
Quick Pour Chocolate Fondant
6 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
5 fluid ounces water
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
3 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon almond extract
Cream Fondant
2 c. sugar
Dash of salt
1 tbsp. light corn syrup
1/2 c. heavy cream
1/4 c. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Wax (optional)
No Cook Fondant
1/3 c. soft butter
1/3 c. Karo - Red Label
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
3 1/2 c. (1 lb.) sifted confectioner's sugar
Peanut Butter Fondant
1 lb. confectioners' sugar
1/3 c. butter, softened
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 c. light corn syrup
Peanut Butter
Basic Fondant
5 c. sugar
1 c. whole milk
1 c. heavy cream
4 tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. flavoring (optional)
1 c. nuts, chopped (optional)
Marshmallow Fondant
16 ounces white mini marshmallows (use a good quality brand)
2-5 tablespoons water
2 lbs icing sugar (please use C&H Cane Powdered Sugar for the best results)
1/2 cup Crisco shortening (you will be digging into it so place in a very easily accessed bowl)

 



Fondant "Funked Up" Cake Image Courtesy of Whimsy's Cakes

Cakes To Dream On 

Cakes to Dream On: A Master Class in Decorating

Amazon Price: $26.40 (as of 12/10/2009)Buy Now

Colette presents designs for cake architecture ranging from the imperial splendor of Dolce de Medici, to the elegant grace of Bride's Vintage Cameo, to the topsy-turvy daydream of Mad Tea Party.

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Colette's Birthday Cakes 

Colette's Birthday Cakes

Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 12/10/2009)Buy Now

Peters' skill with milled fondant overshadows that of most other professional bakers. She can carve fondant into tight, sharp geometries, or she can swirl it, fold it, and wave it into silken ruffles and curves that belie its solidity.

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

 



Fondant Flower Cupcake Image Courtesy of neviepiecakes

Fondant Molds 

Wilton Letters & Numbers Gum Paste & Fondant Mold Set

Amazon Price: $21.18 (as of 12/11/2009) Buy Now

First Impressions Molds Silicone Mould - Flowers - Centres

Amazon Price: $15.50 (as of 12/11/2009) Buy Now

First Impressions Molds Silicone Mould - Pearls - 12 & 14 mm

Amazon Price: $28.25 (as of 12/11/2009) Buy Now

 



Fondant Shoe Cake Image Courtesy of Linzi's Cake

Fondant Cake & Cupcake Toppers 

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

Fondant Edible Pearls 

for the perfect Wedding cake!

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

 



Fondant Baby Shower Onesie Cookie Favors Courtesy of Oh, Sugar!

More Fondant Cake Supplies 

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

 



"School's Out" Fondant Cake Image Courtesy of Whimsy Cakes

How to Decorate with Fondant 

Cake Decorating: Fun With Fondant

FYI: I am making a DVD with Robin showing how to make all kinds of fondant cakes. If you'd like to know when it's available, send me a message thru my channel page. Thanks to everybody! =) Fondant adds a special zest to cakes, pastries, and candies. See for yourself as a cake decorator creates fun with fondant. Recipe from the episode: Chocolate Expresso Pot de Créme To see more stories, get recipes, and links to additional resources, go to: http://cookingupastory.com/

Runtime: 278
1223512 views
1304 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Kid's Birthday Cake Pictures & Complete Recipes 

 



Fondant Dress Cake Images Courtesy of Dragonfly Custom Cakes

Fondant Fun 

Love fondant? Have a tip to share? Question to ask? Post it here!

submit