If it's generally accepted that Wilton fondant blows monkey bombs in the taste department. Why in the world don't they change the secret formula? You know Wilton must have some of the best baking minds in the world sitting around in their super duper top secret test kitchens. Would it be so hard for them to figure out that oh, this just might not taste very good?

LanaC, I have written Wilton on this very subject..........all they would say is they would forward my suggestion to their product development department.......maybe if more people wrote in.

deb

I read somewhere that the problem with Wilton fondant is that it's not flavored. Maybe the idea is that we add the flavoring to make it taste better? I don't know, I stick to MMF these days!

There are a few of Wilton's products that baffle rational people like us

- Wilton Fondant (ever wonder what Elmer's Glue tastes like?)
- Wilton Tilting Turntable (Tilting your cake right onto the floor)
- Wilton Ribbon Cutter & Embosser ("Embosser" yes, "Cutter" no)

i spent years trying to stay away from fondant because i thought it was supposed to taste bad... if i only knew then, what i know now...

Just thought I would copy and paste the response I got from Wilton after giving my opinion of the Fondant/Gumpaste Class:

""Thank you for visiting the Wilton web site and for taking the time to
share your suggestions for Fondant & Gum Paste. Customer feedback is
vital as we work to improve our curriculum.

The new course was designed to be beginner level fondant and gum paste,
and we will try to better communicate this with future advertising to
avoid any disappointments in class. We are also working on more
advanced classes, so please do stay tuned to more new courses from
Wilton.

Best regards,

Ms. Shawn A. Broda""

I guess they realized that folks thought this was more than a basic class. Sounds like someday they will have more advanced classes - maybe with more folks writing them, it will someday happen.

deb

Wilton Fondant is only good for covering cake boards in my opinion. I use my coupons and buy it for that reason. I personally use satin ice now. It taste soooo much better than wilton. It is a little sweet, but at least people eats it and it is not just peeled off!!

MomLittr....how was the Wilton Fondant/Gumpaste class? I was thinking about taking it next month, but not sure how much gumpaste they cover. I would like more gumpaste than Fondant.

I totally agree about Wilton dropping the ball where fondant is concerned. Have also contacted them. Amazing. I think Wilton is a good place to learn the basics.....but too many times, I think they're just about making the almighty dollar~ at all costs. I think they take advantage of their "students" by suckering them into buying alot of unnecessary equipment and product. Just my personal rant~ !

KMS, it is a basic fondant and gumpaste class as they said. You only learn 3 gumpaste flowers along with some basic fondant work (drapes for one). I did learn a couple of things I had not done before, but nothing earth shattering. If you enjoy the classes, this one is not too bad. Just be sure to have a coupon to buy the kit with (expensive).

deb

I have read many posts that do not have good things to say about fondant. I wondered why, because I thought the stuff tasted pretty good and my taste testers did too. I was making the fondant from scratch. Then I tasted the Wilton brand....oh, yuck. No wonder! My brother fed it to his hives of bees...they did not seem to mind the difference. Now, when someone says they will not eat a fondant covered cake, I suggest that they try the homemade version. They usually change their mind.

I think the problem with Wilton fondant is not only the taste, but the texture as well. It's gross. I had read a while back that they are "re-formulating" their recipe. Whatever that means.

I whole-heartedly agree that Wilton does try and soft sell all of their stuff. I let my students decide if they like the fondant or not, but I always offer suggestions to avoid the Wilton fondant. (I know, I know....sales isn't my strong suit.) I hate watching people spend money on something edible that doesn't taste good. It defies reasoning.

Angie

LOL!

And their fondant is expensive too, if you think about it. Of course, no rational person is going to buy their fondant w/o the coupon, but it's $22 for 5 lbs. w/o it! It's more expensive than SATIN ICE!

I'm taking the fondant/gumpaste class now - next week is the last night. I wanted to learn the drape also and we did last week. The carnations are giving me fits though. They looked so easy when the instructor made them

As far as the Wilton fondant, nothing molds any better in my opinion. I've tried bows with SatinIce, Pettinice and Rolled White Chocolate fondant. The Wilton ones were far better. However, I bet if gumpaste was added to the other types of fondant, it might have made them work better.
And when putting flavoring in it, don't use too much like I did once. Now we're talking yuck!

what is mmf?

Marshmallow Fondant

About the fondant/gumpaste class....
Depending on your instructor, you could learn more, or less....I start the class next week and have been e-mailing the instructor. She said if there were other flowers we wanted to learn to just let her know and she would try and fit them in. She has been learning all different kinds and practicing them so she is gonna bring them all in and let us take a look and learn how to do them as well....I thought waaaay cool!!!

I've never used Wiltons fondant-I make MMF- so I can't add my 2cents in but the reason I make MMF is because of the negative comments Ive read. I love MMF.

I haven't used the turn table and after reading the experiences from y'all w/ it I won't purchase one.

I did buy the ribbon cutter & embosser and it worked great for me. I used it for my present cake in my pictures.

ah! Thanks. Learn something new every day.

Fondant tastes yucky to me any way it's made (but love it for looks!) - but Wilton is particularly bad. I really think it has less to do with flavoring, and more to do with the fact they have to make it last and stay fresh for a very long time. I am sure the additives that are not used in MMF or homemade other fondants are part of what makes it so horrible. Even though I haven't decorated much, I've found it to be useful when I've run out of homemade fondant and still need to add a few details.