Frustrated With Mmf? Here's A Tip...
Decorating By jeking Updated 20 May 2009 , 5:32am by madgeowens
Although I like MMF, I have had problems with it tearing easily and cracking when applied to the cake. I have been using a commercial fondant that I LOVE. However, last night I didn't have enough commercial fondant for a project and made MMF. This time I didn't add any water while melting the MM's. Instead, I added 1/2 cup of Crisco which melted along with the MM's. I pour this mixture into my KA (dough hook only), added 4 cups of confectioner's sugar and mixed it until all the CS was incorporated. I put 3 cups of CS on my countertop and then scooped out the MM mixture onto it and began to knead it. A couple of times I scooped out about a tablespoon of Crisco and added it and kept on kneading. Voila! The fondant was perfect! It had a lot of elasticity and rolled out beautifully. Also, it didn't stick to the counter while I was kneading it!
Maybe I was doing something wrong before, but this method worked great for me...
great tip
do you know if it changed the flavor at all?
What commerical fondant do you use?
So far I am having touble finding one I like.
Thanks
Thanks for the tips. Need all that I can get. MMF is so tempermental. Never get the same consistency twice. I ususally only make a small batch (1 Cup MM to 1 1/2 CF) but I'm sure your method would work with the small batches as well. Will certainly give it a try next time. Thanks again! 
What is your portion of marshmallows? Do you use a 10 oz bag or what?
[quote="parismom"]But another thing is it will add alot of fat where it had zero grams before! :O[/quote
*putting on my scientific hat*
sugar turns into fat!! (if not burned off immediately)..... which, i think if you ate a piece of cake (fat-free cake) that you would have to swim the ENglish Channel to make a dent in that!! ok.. maybe not QUITE that far...
I made 2 batches of the easy MMF with the fluff once only. It was too much kneading and working. (I used alot of colors...royal blue and bright yellow) My MMF was glossy, shiny and had lots of little bubbles and some cracks. Is it the color? Is it the fluff? is it that I used no water (don't think the easy mmf recipe called for it, can't remember)? Did I use too much crisco? Also I heard someone mention using cooking spray on the rolling surface and said it worked fine, so I used the spray, could that have contributed to the mess? Don't know what I did wrong. Also, I used no CS, used PS instead.
I've never had tearing problems I use flavoring and water to add up to about 4 T liquid 1# of marshmallows melt pour 2# of cs on greased counter make a well throw in about 1/4 t of gumtex dump mm ontop and mix grease hands knead about 8 min. Voila everytime. I hate to say this but years ago in a class I was taking the professor showed studies where crisco was so unbiodegradeable that you could dig a hole bury it without the can and 20 years later it will still be solidified. Needless to say I never used it and hate when I have to. Thank heavens for good old animal fat LOL.
Yes I realize sugar turns to fat - I used to be a powerlifter so you can imagine I had to be knowledgeable in nutrition. Then I had 2 kids and here I am trying to be healthy again. My weight gain was a result of serious over indulgence, which I'm trying to undo - which is why I added my two cents... this much additional fat was just like, WOW to me. Seemed really unneccessary.
My point was, You can have a piece of cake with approximately 12 G fat - easy. That is without fat added to MMF. But the additional fat added to MMF would hike that up to 18 G - very possibly. I don't make light cakes but I try not to add unneccessary fat whenever possible. Let's face it, cake is bad - but why make it downright terrible? With all the sugar and fat already there - why go to the extreme in unhealthiness. Just a thought - b/c my MMF without adding 1/2 C crisco has been fine.
Nikkidoc,
Also, try adding your colors to the melted marsmallows before adding your sugar. It's almost impossible to get even coloring trying to knead the colors in. Besides that, it's a ton of work!!! Unless you're trying to burn calories!!! lol
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