If you've ever watched "Ace of Cakes," you know what fondant is, more or less. It's part of what makes those fabulous cakes on tv look so fabulous. But outlandish and radical cakes are not just for tv viewers or people willing to pay a load of cash anymore. You, too, can make cakes using fondant!
First of all, what is fondant exactly? Well, it's a substance made from gelatin and food-grade glycerine. The glycerine is what makes the sugar pliable and dough-like. Fondant can also be created with powdered sugar and marshmallows that have been melted down. However it's made, it is then rolled out and used to cover a cake.
Fondant can also be used to create accessories to decorate a cake. Once rolled out, it can be manipulated into many different shapes and forms. This is especially useful for themed parties. Fondant decorations can turn an ordinary cupcake into an extraordinary one!
Here is how to cover a cake using fondant:
Prepare cake by adding a light covering of buttercream icing.
Before you roll out the fondant, knead it until it is a pliable consistency. Is your fondant too sticky? Add a little bit of confectioners' sugar. Lightly dust a smooth work surface and your rolling pin with confectioners' sugar. Roll out the fondant so that it is sized to your cake. (More is always better. Too little and you won't be able to cover the cake. Excess can always be removed at the end.) To prevent the fondant from sticking, you must continually lift and move as you roll.
Gently lift the fondant over your rolling pin.
Shape the fondant to sides of cake using the Wilton Easy-Glide Smoother (or whatever brand you prefer). You can use your hands, but can possibly leave impressions and ruin the smooth surface. Beginning at center of the top of the cake, move the Smoother outward and down the sides. If an air bubble happens to appear, insert a pin and smooth the area again. Trim off excess fondant using a spatula or sharp knife.
Decorate your cake however you please and get ready to impress guests or whoever you're giving the cake to.
Need a fondant recipe? Click here.
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