...without steaming? I had a disaster of water spots on my finished cake yesterday as a result of steaming to remove the white bits of icing sugar visible on the fondant. I was so upset! I've just started cake decorating this past August, and with every cake I do I learn a lesson, unfortunately for this one it was a lesson I couldn't fix before the customer picked up! They were happy with the cake and I know we're our own worst critic but I really don't want this to happen again! It was brand new, so not clogged, I probably didn't let it heat up enough, but aside from all of the things I could have done differently, is there any way to do this without steaming? I'm not a fan of the shiny look steaming gives anyway, but thought this was my only option. Or alternate ways to smooth without using icing sugar/cornstarch? That was how I was taught to smooth fondant.

Thanks in advance! I'm not a poster (yet) since i dont have much advice but I'm here reading almost every day!

Amy

I use either of two methods: Buff with a soft paper towel and just a little bit of shortening, (I scrunch it up first to get a nice, soft pad); or spray it very lightly with a fine mist of Vodka. The vodka evaporates almost immediately and has never left me with a spot.

I'm glad they were happy with the cake, and I know what you mean about our being our worst critic! I'm not always satisfied, either. I hope this helps you...

Jan

I have used a barely damp (almost dry) cloth and rub softly. Never tried steaming though, it scares me!

I use either of two methods: Buff with a soft paper towel and just a little bit of shortening, (I scrunch it up first to get a nice, soft pad); or spray it very lightly with a fine mist of Vodka. The vodka evaporates almost immediately and has never left me with a spot.

I'm glad they were happy with the cake, and I know what you mean about our being our worst critic! I'm not always satisfied, either. I hope this helps you...

Jan

The easiest is simply not to use powdered sugar or cornstarch. I use the thinnest film of veg shortening on the counter to roll it out.

I have purchased various non stick mats to roll out my fondant. I don't have to icing sugar it at all. I just roll it out and it never sticks. I got mine from:

http://www.goldaskitchen.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=6082&step=4

I also use a small one for making decorations.

I never liked to steam. It is such a fine line to getting it right.

Thanks for the replies! It's not while rolling out that I'm using powdered sugar, it's while smoothing with a fondant smoother. Can I use shortening then also?

That is exactly what I was talking about. I use The Mat, so don't roll out on PS or cornstarch. It is when smoothing that I encountered the problem. And yes, you can use the shortening trick. I learned it from one of Sharon Zambito's DVDs. It leaves a soft glow on the fondant, not shiny.

Rubbing it with a small ball of leftover fondant sometimes works. I usually brush with a dry brush first to remove most of it, then buff with a fondant ball. If there are still marks, I use the shortening on a paper towel method as others have described.

Thanks everyone! Great suggestions, I knew there had to be a way around it. I'll try some of these suggestions to see what works best. I was taught to use the PS with the fondant smoother but would much prefer not to if I didn't need to. Such a learning process!
Thanks again.

On the cake, I put some rose alcohol in a spritz bottle and spritz that. The rose alcohol is almost pure, so it dries immediately and does a good job of 'cleaning'. If it's on flowers, I just pass each one through some steam, it's gone in a wink.

a very thin wipe down with shortening will get it all off; the shortening will absorb and the fondant will look fabulous!

I'm a little "late to the party" but came across this thread and wanted to throw in my 2 cents!

I use The Mat to roll out my fondant, so no PS or shortening needed... but sometimes after putting it on the cake and smoothing with my hands first, it's a little to tacky for the fondant smoother... so what I've been doing lately is using a ball of fondant and it works like a charm! After I'm done with the that, if I need to, I can usually go back over with the fondant smoother.

Sugarshack - you state a light wipe down with shortening .... at what stage of drying of the fondant would you do this - if its too soft you are endanger of making the surface.  Also what would you suggest using to apply it ???

Ta, Carole

I use a small amount of vodka or rejuvenator, this way it takes off the cornflour but evaporates quickly not leaving behind any flavour or residue. Hope this helps :)

The mat or rolling out your fondant on a lightly greased surface is the best way but I too had to get powdered sugar off in a hurry and used clear drinking alcohol I my airbrush.  Was all done in under 10 seconds.