Oh my. I made my first fondant cake this weekend. (pics in my photos) I know that I can't expect it to be perfect the first time, but I didn't expect it to be this much of a flop! lol I had trouble getting the fondant smooth, and I thought I'd take a short-cut since the cake was just for my family, and not bother using dowel rods for the top tier. Big mistake! My fondant cracked on the second tier and the top cake started sinking into the middle! lol I tried making chocolate fondant, I wanted to make chocolate fondant stripes on the middle tier, but I somehow messed that up and got chocolate crumbs that would not stick together, instead! So the chocolate fondant got scrapped and chocolate bc was brought in to save the day. The fondant stars that I made were left on parchment paper a little too long, and cracked when I tried to bend them to mold to the cake. My mmf got really hard, really fast--any idea what I did wrong? What a mess! I guess I should try, try again, because practice makes perfect, huh? We'll see. At least the cake TASTED good! lol
I have a couple more cakes planned for this week, but my family is already sick of cake! lol I guess I'll be sending them to work with my Hubby--I'm sure the guys he works with won't care how the frosting looks!
While I'm posting, does anybody have a really good recipe for sugar-free cake and frosting? I'm not picky about the flavors, but I'd like to try sugar-free for a family member with health issues.
Oh, and one more question--any suggestions on a SUPER EASY house-warming cake for my little brother, who just bought his first home?
That's for reading my little rant, and thanks for any help with my questions! 
You did a good job! I've just recently started working with fondant quite a bit and I'm having fun just playing around with it. You will get better and better as you work with it more.
I had problems with my chocolate fondant too. I tried to make some 'cause I needed black for my DS's birthday cake and it was very crumbly, even though I followed the directions in the recipe. I made a few things with it then it just got so dry that I couldn't even work with it anymore.
If your MMF got dry really fast maybe try a little less powdered sugar when you're mixing it up. I have found recently that I don't need to knead in the entire pkg of sugar. I pour the bag of sugar in and when I see that it is not absorbing well anymore I dump out the MMF on a crisco-greased surface and knead it, leaving a bit of the sugar still in the bowl.
Sugar-free cake... I just posted on another thread that I recently made the yellow cake recipe on the back of the Splenda baking blend pkg and it was quite good. The baking blend is 1/2 sugar, 1/2 splenda though so I don't know if that helps you.
HTH!
Melissa
Thank you!!! I'll try using a crisco-covered mat, instead of powdered sugar or corn starch, maybe that will make my fondant look a little shinier, too? Thanks!!!
Do you use shortening or cooking spray on your rolling pin, also? Do you use corn starch at all, or did I get a bad tip?
Key is don't use a whole bag of sugar - really makes a big difference. Crisco for MMF on the mat is a bit better as well. ALthough for pre-made I tend to use cornstarch.
Shortening always helps me for the countertop/roller/sometimes even my gloves...and, yes it adds shine!
When you're making the mmf, if it's looking too dry in the bowl, I add a touch more water. Also, sometimes if it's hard while trying to use it, a few seconds in the microwave softens it right up.
HTH
I use a silpat mat for rolling out fondant and it never sticks. I don't use Crisco at all, and powdered sugar and cornstarch just add to the drying effect. If my fondant starts to dry out, I microwave it for just a few seconds and knead if before rolling it out. Granted, I don't use mmf, so I don't know how this would apply to that.
Thank you all for the tips!!! I didn't realize there was so much difference between regular fondant and mmf. I'll try crisco on my mat next time, and I think I'll hold off on trying 3 tiers again until after I've practiced a bit! LOL I was elbow-deep in mmf all weekend, I definitely bit off more than I could chew with that one!
but I somehow messed that up and got chocolate crumbs that would not stick together, instead!
Had that happen to me too (but it tasted good!). I figured the next time I try it I'll put in less powdered sugar to allow for the cocoa powder.
I think your cake looks wonderful. I decided that until I get better at fondant, I will only practice on small cakes to get a feel for it and work my way up to the bigger sizes.
[quote="Sugarbunz"]
I decided that until I get better at fondant, I will only practice on small cakes to get a feel for it and work my way up to the bigger sizes.
Amen to that! LOL
It's funny, yesterday I was cursing fondant, today I'm just itching to try the new tips I've learned! LOL Think that may be the sign of a true addict?!? LOL
What is easier to put fondant on, round cakes or square cakes?
Merissa really helped me alot on my first fondant cake which was this past weekend. You can pm her or do a search. She told me to make smaller batches and mine came out perfect. I also greased my bowl very well. I used powdered sugar on my rolling pin and on my wax paper when I was rolling it out. I can't wait to do my next fondant cake. Everyone here is awesome.
Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely try doing smaller batches next time. This time I was trying to hard to get everything ready for assembly that I think I let it all sit too long and sabotaged myself! lol I'm excited to give it another try, I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment! lol
I know that I have made several fondant cakes now and each time I get different results. The first one even made me cry....lol! My second and third ones were much easier but the last one was trouble from the start! Someday I guess I will get this too. I am like you though......I always just want to try again! 
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%