The Kitchen Novice

Fondant cake decorating is one of the best ways to learn how to decorate a cake. Fondant is a highly versatile substance that can be affixed to cakes. As it is edible and easy to mold, many people will learn how to work with fondant before they learn how to pipe. This is due to the fact that unlike piping, there is some room for error in fondant cake decorating. Piping is a lot less forgiving, and errors usually result in the waste of icing.

The first thing that you need to remember when learning fondant cake decorating is that the fondant is a stiffer substance. When working with fondant, you need to be careful not to bend the fondant too quickly, this can result in it breaking and needing to be reworked. As fondant tends to stiffen over time, you will need to work with your fondant at an even, but quick pace. This will ensure that your fondant does not get too stiff to work with. If you prepare your fondant mixture properly, it should remain pliable until well after you have finished decorating your cake.

There are several ways that you can acquire fondant for cake decorating. First, you can make it yourself. There are many recipes for fondant, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages. The real benefit to making your own fondant is that you can the exact color and texture that you desire. Many cooking supply stores will sell colorants that are suitable for use with fondant.

If you do not have the time to make your own fondant for cake decorating, you can purchase fondant in some baking stores. This fondant tends to be stiffer than freshly made fondant, but can be reworked into a pliable state by massaging it and adding a bit of water if necessary.

When fondant cake decorating, it is important to remember that you will be applying the fondant to the cake differently than you would with piped icing. Fondant needs to be applied in sheets to the cake, or placed as a decoration along the side. If you must affix fondant to the side of the cake, you will need to use a sticky baking substance to make it stay in place. There are many types of sugar based products that act as a glue between fondant and the cake.

In many cases, you will use a mixture of fondant cake decorating and piped decorating techniques. While fondant takes the primary stage in these cakes, piped icing can add the finishing touch, as well as mask any errors you made while applying the fondant to the cake.