Using Fondant for the First Time? Start Here!
Thinking about adding fondant decorations to your next cake or covering your cake with fondant? Here are my top tips for beginners who are working with fondant for the first time!
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BEFORE YOU BUY ANY FONDANT
Keep these things in mind:
Think about your cake design and consider decorating your cake with fondant accents especially if this is your first time working with fondant one of the easiest ways to get started with fondant is to start off with adding fondant accents to a frosted cake.
Covering a cake with fondant can be challenging so I don't recommend it if you've never worked with fondant. If you're determined to cover a cake with fondant you should consider practicing on a Styrofoam cake dummy.
Watch tutorials on how to do what it is that you're trying to achieve with fondant. The internet is an amazing resource and there's most likely already a video specifically about the fondant decoration that you're trying to create. There are so many full-length fondant tutorials on YouTube. Shorter videos posted to other social media outlets offer a ton of inspiration, but they usually don't provide enough detail and step-by-step instruction to follow along with success. Detailed video tutorials on Fondant techniques are so beneficial for people who are working with fondant for the very first time.
Have the right tools handy! A lot of success in cake decorating has to do with having the correct tools and knowing how to use them. This is so important when decorating with fondant. Thorough tutorials should list all of the tools you need and ideally where you can buy them. There are some essential fondant tools like rolling pins and cutters that you should consider adding to your cake decorating toolbox. I cover these in more detail in a video below.
Choose a fondant brand that's easily accessible. Take a look around the cake decorating aisle at your favorite grocery or hobby store. What brands of fondant do you see? If you see a lot of stock, this is where you'll want to buy your fondant, not online! For beginners, I don't recommend purchasing fondant online for two reasons:
You’ll want to be able to buy more fondant quickly in case you run out of fondant and need to buy more and what better place than your local store that you know for sure already has that stock.
You never know in what condition your fondant ordered online will arrive at your doorstep. Buying in person allows you to inspect the packaging before making a purchase!
SUPER HELPFUL TIPS FOR USING FONDANT
Keep your work area clean!
Fondant attracts dust and hair so it's very important to keep your hair pulled back and your work surface clean. Oh, and don't forget to wash your hands! Speaking of hands….
Wear gloves...
Consider wearing gloves when working with fondant especially when you're coloring fondant. gloves help to keep your fondant clean in addition to keeping your hands free of food dye/. I like to use black nitrile gloves that fit snugly to my hands.
Non-stick surfaces are key!
Fondant can be sticky! The best way to keep fondant from sticking to your surface is to lightly dust your work surface with corn starch. If you don't have corn starch, powdered sugar can be used as an alternative. A small amount of solid white vegetable shortening or coconut oil can be used on your hands to prevent the fondant from sticking to them. Thiis will work on bare hands and on gloved hands.
Cover your fondant when not in use
Fondant can dry out if left uncovered. When the fondant pieces are smaller, they dry out even quicker. It's important to keep any unused fondant wrapped tightly with plastic wrap or within an airtight container when it's not in use. Otherwise, your fondant may begin to wrinkle or crack when handling. When this happens, keep in mind…
Mist your fondant if it is too dry
If your fondant becomes wrinkled or cracked as you're actively working with it, you can use a finger pump spray to lightly mist the fondant with water to hydrate it. Remember your fondant should always be smooth and pliable.
Don’t be afraid to refrigerate your fondant cake
While researching, you may come across some information that suggests that you should never refrigerate a fondant cake or a cake with fondant accents. Well, I am here to tell you that that is not accurate. You can (and in some cases should) refrigerate a fondant cake. The key is the temperature of the refrigerator. To avoid the dreaded “sweat” (condensation), be sure that the cake is stored in a cool refrigerator rather than a cold refrigerator.
Now that you know what to keep in mind to help you avoid the most common mistakes you can now move forward with confidence in decorating your first cake with fondant!
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