I did a seach but didn't come up with anything...

Has anyone put some sort of glaze on fondant to make it shiny? I was thinking of just using unflavored gelatin and brushing it on. I know that the problem with gelatin is that if you use a pastry brush, it will leave lines. I've been thinking about this, and wondered if a simple powdered sugar/water glaze would be shiny enough. I'm making a watermelon cake, and wanted to get the smooth, shiny look of a watermelon...although when I looked at one last night it wasn't all that shiny so maybe I wouldn't need it...

Anyway, TIA!

crystal

Air brush it with luster dust or paint with Luster Dust.

One thing you might try is taking a ball of fondant in your hand and rubbing it over your fondant covered cake. That can polish it up and make it shiny.

hmm, thanks! I didn't want to use luster dust b/c I wanted that glassy sort of look. I'll definitely try the fondant rubbing, though! That might work!

rubbing with fondant will make it smooth but it won't make it shiny. The best thing I've found to get a real shine is to mix some glycerine with water so you get a painting consistency then brush it on and it'll dry with a lovely shine

thanks! I'll try the glycerine!

I rolled out my mmf on wax paper sprayed with Pam...gave it a nice, smooth finish...very watermelon-like!

I use confectioner's glaze, but sometimes it's not quite shiny enough. I'm going to try the glycerine and water next time (if I remember!)

What's the ratio of glycerine to water?

I'm in the same boat. I am making a Cop hat and the front strap and the brim have to look like Patent leather. I wonder how long the glycerine and water will take to dry. 

Try steaming it to make it shiny. If you don't have a steamer, I have read that someone used their iron's steam setting (for larger projects like the thread starter's watermelon) and it worked great. For smaller items, someone said that they held it in the steam above boiling water.

A

^^This^^

Or you can mix equal parts of corn syrup (which is similar to glycerine) and vodka/everclear and paint it.

Steaming or Dawn from Dinkydoodle's glaze is excellent :-)

Thanks on the steam idea. I should have said that I am very familiar with that part. There was no way for me to steam it and then put it across the hat so it's already ON the hat. Now there is no way to steam the piece without steaming the hat, itself. So it does need to be some kind of brush on. I am definitely going to try the glycerin and water. 

you can brush on gum arabic + water--you might not have any on hand--it's just a white powder costs a couple bucks from a cake deco place--but if you have any edible glitter, read the label, if it's gum arabic -- it is water soluble--just use that--just mix some with a bit of water--y'know test it on a scrap and see how you like it--michael's and hobby lobby sell the edible glitter that's made of gum arabic--the real light weight stuff in the little jars

this stuff:

http://www.globalsugarart.com/white-glitter-flakes-ounce-by-ck-p-25188.html

K8Memphis...thanks so much for that suggestion. I am going to try that!!

AI use a spray I purchased from Global Sugar Art. It's a bit expensive, but it's perfect

Hey, Delicious, which spray do you use? I use the lacquer spray from time to time. I'll spray the cake at set up and delivery. It's like $50 retail, but I like it.

AThat's the one! "Confectionary Arts International Lacquer Spray"

For a shiny coat on the buttons that I put on my pink cupcakes; I did the mixture of half Corn Syrup and half Vodka.  Used one of those little 10 cent craft paint brushes and painted it on.

Small project, small cost, easy to do.      

http://cakecentral.com/g/i/3158790/a/3436443/jumbo-cupcakes-smbc-gold-painted-fondant/

AWhen I don't steam my cakes (usually for the reason that I don't want to weaken a 3D fondant structure with water) I just paint on pure clear alcohol (vodka or rum. It especially works well with black fondant and gives it a great leather - like look.

That's what I do, just brush it with alcohol and it stays shiny.

Lots of great suggestions here. As I said I was going to do, I used the suggestion for the egg whites and shortening..it worked GREAT..buttttt. I did notice that the mixture created small lumps so if you use this, just make sure you wipe the brush before applying it. 

Just a note...straight Vodka was good until it dried completely. I love the look of the leather, but it will NOT give a "patent leather" look that lasts! 

Making a "cop hat" that looks like fabric. Any suggestions for that texture AFTER it's hardened??