This stuff is just more tempermental than I think I want to deal with. There has only been 2 times out of about 12 times that Ive tried it that the stuff has come out perfect. Im not really doing anything different.

I envy those of you who say you NEVER have a problem with it. What brand MM are you using and what brand shortening? How do you do it EXACTLY. You have to have some secret that I dont know because this is just making me go mad!

Ok, the last times I did it I added water while I melted it per instructions on the recipe. THIS time I got advice to not add any water while melting, just use the crisco. My recipe calls for 1/2 cup of crisco. I took just about that amount and greased the inside of the bowl with it. Melted the MM, it all looked good. When I was kneading it at first it looked pretty normal. After about 5 minutes it started to get really elastic-y. Like, it would snap back after pulling it. Ive never had that happen before. I let it sit for about an hour while I baked my cookies. Went back to knead it again and mix in my colors and this is what I got.


PS
I used the jet puff brand MM and the walmart brand shortening.

Don't use Jet-Puffed! I think that's probably your problem. For MMF, it's always best to go with the cheap brand of marshmallows.

I will tell you how I do it and have never had a problem this way. Get a microwave safe bowl and grease it. Add a bag of mini mm. Heat at 30 seconds at a time until melted. Grease spoon and stir (add color now if wanted). Grease your counter and hands, put about a half bag of icing sugar in a pile, then pour your mms on top and start kneading. I have never used that much shortening. Once kneaded put some shortening around and wrap with saran wrap and let it rest. It is so easy and like I said I have always come out with a great batch. Also it is so fast you can make alot of batches at once. Hope this helps!
TL
Also if it needs more icing sugar you can add to it.

Argh. Some people swear jet puffed it fine and some say its not. I shouldnt have got it this time though, my gut told me not to get it but the store brand was out.

EDIT:
Can I use the large MM for this? The local mini store has some bags of the large MM. Otherwise its 30 minutes to the closest grocery store. Maybe Ill go buy some of them when my son gets up from his nap if you guys think that will work.

I too find that Jet Puffed does NOT work I just use the store brand. I use large or mini MM's .... it doesn't seem to matter.

I think you might be using too much Crisco. My recipe just says to grease the bowl.

16 ounces white mini-marshmallows (use a good quality brand)

2 to 5 tablespoons water

2 pounds icing sugar (please use C&H Cane Powdered Sugar for the best results)

1/2 cup Crisco shortening (you will be digging into it so place in a very easily accessed bowl)


In the photo on the website there is a picture of the jet puffed. lol

http://whatscookingamerica.net/PegW/Fondant.htm

Can I still add corn syrup to it???

I ALWAYS USE STORE BRAND AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM....I ALSO USE STORE BRAND SHORTENING

Nope...I use this recipe http://www.cakecentral.com/cake_recipe-1949-5-Marshmallow-Fondant-MMF.htm (I hope that link works!!)

I think it's important to use mini marshmallows. Start with 16 oz. of Kraft. The amount of sugar will vary depending on humidity, etc. Start with 1 lb.

Important to note the Crisco in Peg's recipe is for "greasing" - the bowl, counter, spoon, hands, etc. You don't add it into the marshmallow! HTH

The half cup of shortening is just to grease the bowl, countertop and your hands. Only use what you need for greasing. Do not actually add it into the fondant. That should help!

I have tried mmf and have always made more of a mess than a good product. I guess I will have to try again with this recipe. I have been using Michele Foster's recipe

I only use jett puffed mini marshmallows. I add 2 tablespoons of water to the MM, stick it in the microwave for a minute. Stir. Nuke it longer if needed. Stir. SLOWLY add up to 6 cups of powdered sugar...always name brand, never cheap stuff. I put crisco on the counter top, and my hands. As I'm kneading, I put more on my hands as needed. I knead until I can't do it anymore. I smear crisco all over it thinly, wrap it up, and let it sit for ten minutes. Then I knead it again. Sometimes I have to nuke it for 10 seconds to warm it up, but never longer. I have NEVER had it look like yours! The worst I've had is when I added too much sugar and it was too dry to use.

I actually learned how to do MMF from Youtube. The first time I made it I thought I would give up because it was so sticky, but now I know better, and always grease my hands and work surface.

I went ahead and found the Youtube video...HTHS

I use cheap mm's - cheap powdered sugar, and 2 T. water, 1 t.vanilla - grease the bowl before melting, grease my hands - microwave & stir till melted, start adding sugar till I can't stir anymore, then dump it on the counter and knead till it is not sticky. I do this everytime, and it has never failed me. (and have been making it for over 2 years like this)

Do NOT overcook the MM's - it will not work right if you do. Sometimes I use the whole 2 lb. of powdered sugar, sometimes I don't - it just varies on the humidity of the day.

I think you're thinking too hard about it!

LOL! Maybe I am.

Well, I went to the local mini mart and grabbed a bag of what looked like 3 year old MM's. The clerk assured me they werent but I wasnt expecting much out of it.

I used Rhonda's recipe and this is what I got:

**Insert singing angels here***

HAHLLELUJAH!!!

Maybe you read about adding a 1/2 cup of Crisco here: http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-101181.html

I tried it...I added Crisco in with the marshm. and it worked great. I used Jet Puffed and found it to be so much less sweet than Wal-Mart's brand.

YES! That is where I saw it! I remember that thread now. LOL. I saw the topic and I was like, yep, thats me.

I gave up on MMF a long time ago. It never turned out the same (and I even used Rhonda's recipe). I switched to Michele Foster's fondant recipe and it has worked for me every single time... no issues. I suggest giving it a try if you continue to have issues with the MMF. It's no more work to make Michele's fondant and it is a superior product in both flavor and workability.

The quality and freshness of both the marshmallows and powdered sugar matter very much, I learned from experience
Also grease all bowls and your wooden spoon very generously. Grease your hands several times. Knead in the powdered sugar about 1/2 c at a time
I'm a novice/amature/play around with it at home baker, and I've never had a bad batch (other than when I used stale marshmallows and old powdered sugar!!)
So quick and easy to make! hth!

So i just attempted to make chocolate MMF. I don't think i did too bad. The only problem is that it is pretty sticky. I kept adding crisco to my hands, the counter and a little rubbed on the MMF. Right now, i wrapped the MMF in plastic and placed it in the fridge. I am hoping that it helps.

Do you guys have any tips for me in case this doesn't come out?

Thanks in advance!

So i just attempted to make chocolate MMF. I don't think i did too bad. The only problem is that it is pretty sticky. I kept adding crisco to my hands, the counter and a little rubbed on the MMF. Right now, i wrapped the MMF in plastic and placed it in the fridge. I am hoping that it helps.

Do you guys have any tips for me in case this doesn't come out?

Thanks in advance!

Hi guys,

There's also a good video on Youtube that tells you how to make it in a mixer - I love that one, cuz my hubby always teases me for being the worlds messiest cake maker! I've used it 3 times so far, and three successes. I just typed in 'how to make marshmallow fondat' and it popped up....

Hi guys,

There's also a good video on Youtube that tells you how to make it in a mixer - I love that one, cuz my hubby always teases me for being the worlds messiest cake maker! I've used it 3 times so far, and three successes. I just typed in 'how to make marshmallow fondat' and it popped up....