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How to Use Fondant - A Guide For Beginners
The cutting of a cake is a key tradition of many celebrations such as birthdays, weddings and graduations. Because of this, cakes are essential to a lot of events. They are the focal point of any dessert table and are often decorated as such. With so many ways to decorate a cake, it truly is a form of art, with cakes often decorated to reflect the theme of your party.
Cake decorating can unlock a whole new world in the presentation of your baked goods. Although it may be overwhelming for beginner cake decorators, there are many ways to master your cake decorating skills. It's a skill that allows you to create incredible culinary creations that are both delicious and aesthetically appealing.
One of the most useful cake decorating skills to master is learning how to use fondant. We'll take you through all the different ways you can use fondant, including covering cakes, creating fondant shapes, as well as using fondant moulds as the perfect foundation for creating intricate shapes.
Quick Links
- Why We Love Pre-Made Fondant
- The Basics of Working With Ready Made Fondant
- Colourful Cakes: How To Colour Fondant
- How To Cover A Cake With Fondant
- How To Use Fondant Moulds
- How To Use Fondant To Make Shapes: Fondant Cutters and Stamps
- Modelling Fondant: How to Make Fondant Shapes and Models
- How To Make Fondant Glossy For A Luxurious Shine
Why We Love Pre-Made Fondant
While you can make your own fondant, pre-made fondant is perfect for beginner cake decorators wanting to explore their decorating opportunities. Pre-made fondant helps you to save time and effort, allowing you to jump straight to preparing the fondant for decorating your baked creations. You can even shop for coloured fondant like the Colour Mill Decorators Dough or use food colouring to colour the fondant how you wish!
The Basics of Working With Ready Made Fondant
Before diving into learning how to use fondant, you should first master the basics of working with fondant, including how to prepare your work station for your cake decorating experience.
Prepare Your Workstation
Wipe down your bench or mat before working with your fondant. You want a nice clean base to ensure no crumbs stick to the fondant. Lightly dust your workstation with cornstarch or powdered sugar - this prevents your fondant from sticking to your bench. As always, wash your hands before working with your ingredients. You may also wear food-safe gloves if you wish.
Roll Out Your Fondant
Before rolling your fondant, make sure it's softened and ready to work with. Knead the fondant to make it a little more flexible - now you're ready to roll. Starting from the centre of your ball of fondant, roll it with a rolling pin, forward and backwards. A helpful tip is to slightly turn your fondant occasionally to prevent it from sticking to your bench. Roll until it reaches your desired thickness - if you want to cover your cake with a fondant layer, then you may want to roll it a little thinner than you would if you were making fondant cake decorations like flowers.
Storing Your Fondant
Are you left with excess pre-made fondant? There's no need to throw it away! If stored correctly, your fondant can last for weeks! Pack your rolled fondant into an airtight container, or wrap in plastic wrap and store at room temperature.
Colourful Cakes: How To Colour Fondant
Food colouring helps you to create a variety of different coloured fondant for your cake. Roll your fondant into a ball, then using a toothpick, add dots of food colouring in several spots. When colouring fondant, it's a good idea to use food-safe gloves to keep your hands clean of the stains. Knead colour or flavour into your fondant ball. Continue kneading until colour is evenly blended - add a little more colour or flavour if needed.
How To Cover A Cake With Fondant
Before covering your cake with fondant, you will need to apply a layer of buttercream to the cake and allow it to chill in the refrigerator for some time. This gives the fondant something to stick to. Then, once your fondant has been rolled out, you can begin the process of covering your cake:
- Gently lift your fondant off your bench or mat, supporting the middle to prevent cracks or holes.
- Place your fondant over your cake, gently guiding it around the sides of your cake.
- Starting from the top down to the sides, smooth out any air bubbles with a fondant smoother.
- Using a knife, remove any excess fondant from the base of your cake.
- Add cake toppers and candles for the perfect finishing touch.
Cartoon Cake Project
The Cartoon Cake Project is a great one to try - follow the steps to learn how to cover your cake with fondant and create this fun look! Get the full instructions on our project sheet and video below.
How To Use Fondant Moulds
Fondant moulds make it easy to create intricate shapes and are sure to be a beginner baker's best friend.
- Much like how one would prepare their workstation when rolling fondant, you also need to prepare your fondant moulds in a similar manner. Dust over your moulds with cornstarch or powdered sugar.
- Press your fondant into the mould, ensuring it reaches every edge and crevice. You can use a rolling pin to flatten the fondant a little more.
- Remove the excess fondant using the back of a knife or by hand to create a nice flat surface.
- Flip your mould over and softly tap or flex to loosen your designs. Gently bend your mould back to remove your fondant designs.
- Using a knife, clean up the edges of your fondant designs.
How To Use Fondant To Make Shapes: Fondant Cutters and Stamps
With fondant cutters and stamps, beginner cake decorators are able to create a wide range of different cake designs. Once you've rolled your fondant out flat, you can then press your cutters into the fondant, removing the excess to reveal your fondant shapes. Check out our fondant cut out project for a step-by-step guide on using fondant cutters.
Slumber Party Cake Project
For beginner bakers looking for their next challenge, try out our Slumber Party Cake Project. Using moon and star fondant cutters, you can create the perfect cake toppers and decorative details. The key detail of this cake that sets the theme of 'slumber party' is, of course, the sleep mask created with fondant. To recreate this sleep mask, follow these simple steps:
- Roll out your fondant so it's nice and thin, then cut two small strips around 1 cm wide. Cut one edge flat and cut the other edge into angled edges.
- Fold the remainder of the fondant in half and using the round cutter, slightly offset the edge of the fondant to cut out the sleeping mask shape.
- Unfold and smooth out. Then, stick the fondant sleeping mask shape onto the front of your iced cake. You can use edible glue to secure your creation in place. Finally, add your thin strips to the edges of your sleeping mask as its straps.
Modelling Fondant: How to Make Fondant Shapes and Models
Mastering working with fondant tools will help you finetune even the smallest fondant details of your cake decorations. They will aid you in learning how to use fondant to make shapes. Most fondant tools are available in sets, providing you with different sized tools for a range of uses. With these tools you can cut, shape and sculpt so many different fondant designs, including flowers, stars, or sculptures of characters, as seen with our Incredibles Cake Project.
Try more fondant modelling projects with our Fondant Giraffe Cake Topper Project and Fondant Hippo Cake Topper Project.
The Incredibles Cake Project
Try fondant modelling with the awesome Incredibles Cake Project! This project is a great one to try out fondant modelling, as well as cutting fondant shapes and covering your cake with fondant.
Want to create a luxurious cake with a classy glossy finish? Believe it or not, you can use a household garment steamer to give your fondant that perfect shine. Once you've successfully covered your cake with your fondant, hold your garment steamer at safe distance from your cake, letting the steam run over it and rotating the cake as you go. Make sure to conduct a test patch first and be careful of the heat of your steamer. The result is a nice, glossy cake ready for you to serve!
Learn How to Use Fondant and You'll Be Able To Decorate Cakes Like a Professional In No Time
Cake decorating is an art form in itself, and mastering all the ways to decorate a cake will have you prepared for any party theme or celebration that comes your way. At Spotlight, you can shop from an incredible range of ready-made fondant, as well as all the fondant tools a beginner baker needs to decorate their baked creations. Shop the full baking range, instore or online at Spotlight!
Looking for recipes and cake decorating inspiration? Check out our collection of free cake projects, ready for you to download!
