Hello All,

I have a wedding cake coming up and it requires fondant. I was wondering if you buy or make from scratch. It's a four tier cake with two layers covered in fondant and the others with fondant design. The cake design is pretty simple but I'm not sure if I should try to make the fondant from scratch or buy it. If I do buy do I just get it from Wilton?

Thanks in advance.
edawny

If you buy, buy Pettnice or Satin Ice. Wilton tastes pretty nasty. If you make, Make marshmallow fondant. I would recommend buying as the store bought fondant is a little easier to work with if you are not that experienced at it.

MAKE MAKE MAKE MAKE MAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Make MMF (marshamllow fondant) it's cheap, it tastes awesome, and if you knead in a little Crisco as your last step, it works as well as the DISGUSTING tasting Wilton stuff! I hated fondant until I learned about MMF here... and I wasn't totally sold on it until I learned the Crisco trick. Now I am a total convert! I can't wait to do more fondant cakes!! (Wilton sucks for fondant, don't do it... I beg you on the bride's behalf! Haha!)

I used to make my own because I thought it was less expensive and more convenient. Since someone told me about Fondx fondant I have never made my own again. Fondx taste and smells good, is so easy to work with. I now think I would rather spend my time decorating a cake than fooling around making fondant. With this brand I never get elephant skin or tearing. Here is the link to CalJava supplier of Fondx. Scroll to bottom of page. I use the virgin white, but it comes in ivory as well.
http://caljavaonline.com/fondant2.htm

I like Satin Ice if I am going to be doing a lot of color on a cake, it comes in many great shades. For chocolate fondant I love Pettinice, the flavor and the easy of rolling.

DON'T use Wilton. It doesn't taste good at all. Since I learned how to make MMF that is the only fondant I use now. It's very easy to make and cheaper. You can make your fondant a few days in advance just make sure you store it. I usually wrap mine in plastic wrap then put it in an airtight container.

If it were me, I would make a trial batch of MMF and see how you like it. It's cheap and easy, and then you'll know if you want to tackle 4 tiers with it. I personally love it, and I think it tastes good. I love that you can color it right after you melt the marshmallows, before you add the sugar, because that is soooooo much easier than kneading in the color.

But if you are needing all white for a wedding cake, you might find that it's not as pure white as you'd like and try some premade stuff to get a true white. I know it's been debated on here that some people's MMF comes out true white, and others(like me) get a slightly off white.

Best of luck to you - I'd avoid Wilton's stuff at all costs though

I agree with ShirleyW, I would buy it. IMO it isn't worth the time & trouble to make it. I use pettince because I can get it locally and don't have to pay shipping. It's easy to work with and taste good. Wilton taste awful so I definately wouldn't use that.

Personally, I prefer to buy either the satin ice or pettinice. I like the way the MMF tastes, but for some reason, I never can get mine to turn out just the right consistency.

Where can you buy satinice or the other brands? The stores I have been in only sell wilton

It depends if I'm at work or at home. At work, we use Pettinice. At home, I make my own. I use MMF and love it! I've never used it with the Crisco mixed in, so I don't have any experience with that.

I do agree with the others, Wilton fondant is not good. It's always a LAST resort for me.

Good luck!

Jenn

melvira - how do you work the crisco in just knead it? and how much ??? I love mmf but am curious ! oh and do you still warm it before rolling it ? [/quote]

After you knead in the powdered sugar, knead in a dollop of crisco... just about 1-2 tablespoons, depending on your personal preference. Start with one and go from there! You can still warm it slightly in the microwave if it feels too stiff when you go to use it. If you microwave it too many times it will start to dry it a litte and you may need to add a pinch more Crisco. This is really a Godsend... I am so pleased with it... it gives it that silky feel and pliability like Wilton, but it still TASTES like MMF!!! Yay!!

perfect 'cuz the texture was the only thing missing -thanks !!

Crisco can work wonders!!! I use it with MMF and also satin ice if it gets too dry.

I do both, buy fondant and make it. It depends on what I need it for. It can take a long time to make MMF, so if I need to cover big cakes I buy it. I'll get a big bucket (20 lbs) and this lasts a long time. I also make MMF if I'm out of regulard fondant.

I actually bought wilton fondant on purpose recently because I needed a fondant that would hold it's shape and harden quickly for bows and other accent peices. For some reason I can't get my MMF to harden, even with gum tex. Satin ice is really soft too...but wilton's held it's shape perfectly!

Courtney

Oh, I totally agree about using the Wilton stuff for bows... since you know it's not going to be eaten, it's the best choice for that.

Courtney... I hope this doesn't sound goofy, but, how are you making your MMF? It takes me less than 5 minutes to make, so I am curious how long it takes you.

Im going to start buying it. Ive tried that blasted MMF recipe so many times its embarrassing and only once was I successful. And Ive tried all the tips and it still didnt work. I cant risk failure with a paid cake so Im going with store bought fondant from now on.

What sort of crisco do you use?

I always just buy it because it's easier. They don't call me "Lazy_Susan" for nothing!!! LOL

What a great site! I wish I had found this one sooner; doing a groom's cake and did cookies and could have used so much of their products!

Question - do you know if their flowers and lace molds edible????

Thanks for the future tip!

Lis

Does anyone here happen to have a fail proof fondant recipe? I could use some help. Thanks

MMF is a little moody I think, sometimes perfect...sometime not. I'll make it for my dummys and small cakes, but for large weddings I'm going to buy!

Melvira, It doesn't take me all that long to make the MMF. It's mostly a pain if I need a lot of it and have to make a lot of batches. I melt the marshmallows in a bowl and then pour into my mixer and finish kneading on the counter. Maybe I just don't have it dialed in yet, but it takes me a while to prep everything....putting crisco on bowls/beater/counter. Then all the dishes to wash! I don't have a lot of extra time b/c of my three kids. Do you make double batches?

Courtney

I used Choco-Pan a few years ago & it was better than Wilton's, but I still didn't like using fondant. Now that I've found MMF, I love it! I wasn't thrilled with the chocolate, though. It tasted good, but dried out quickly, even with the Crisco. I may have to try one of the other brands listed here.

I am starting to think that I dont know what fondant is supposed to be like....I love MMF....that said I dont cover cakes with it because though I love MMF for the decorations I still dont love the taste and I want buttercream. I have made it 3 times and had success each time...but I usually have to add a bit more water than the recipe requires and I dont use all the powdered sugar....I have also been known to add a bit of shortening to mine.