I am making my first graduation cap with rolled fondant. I have covered the half ball cake pan with my fondant (after dusting it thoroughly with powdered sugar) to form the cap portion. It has been 2 days and is drying but will not release from the pan. The more I work at it, the more stress I put on the fondant. I am afraid I am going to crack it. I went ahead and rolled out another cap in gumpaste hoping it dries faster and will release easier but has anyone else had this problem and resolved it somehow without damaging the cap?

PS isn't the best agent for encouraging release--it gets sticky when exposed to the moisture in the fondant.

I'd suggest starting over. Coat the half ball liberally with Crisco (rubbing the underside of the fondant piece with some cornstarch can't hurt, either). Put the fondant on the form and after and hour or so, loosen it and move it around a bit. Repeat that until you can remove it from the pan and have it hold it's shape on it's own (I did this and took about 8hrs.). Afte that, put some paper towels or saran wrap inside of it very loosely (just enough for some minor support of the dome) and leave it sit to dry completley.

HTH
Rae

oh dear.. I had this same problem... and the only thing that worked for me was sticking it in the freezer for like 15 minutes... and just trying to pull... Next time when you do a grad cap do it in gp and just roll it out thicker... cut a strip and put it together in the back and just set it on its side to dry.. then make your mortar board...let it dry.. then when both pieces are dry stick them together with some gum glue..

I hope yours comes apart easier

another thing you could do it bake a cake in the ball and then cover it with fondant and just use that on the cake. will give you more cake.

I'd just press it into the mold and freeze it, no powder or shortening. once firmed it should pop right out of the mold.