I Am A Newby.....i Have Tons Of Questions!
Decorating By KTrain Updated 25 Jul 2006 , 11:21am by LittleLinda
So I decided I want to make a cake for my best friends baby shower which led me to starting a new hobby!!!!
I just made my first cakes this weekend.....I am sooooo tired!!!
I made buttercream frosting for the first time, and it turned out soooo good. I also made MMF and was surprised that it turned out good too.
So my first cake was a small one....and I just messed around with my new cake decorating tips and stuff...and my second one was covered in MMF!! I need to practice a couple more times before the baby shower and need some tips.
Question #1: When do I add the color to the MMF???
#2: After using corn starch to roll out the MMF, how do I get it to not look so powdery???
#3: How do I get my MMF cutouts to stick to the cake??
I know I will have more....so you'll probably be hearing from me a ton.
Thanks in advance,
KT
Welcome to CC!!! I don't work very often with MMF so I can't really offer much help but I did want to welcome you. This is a very addicting place 
Lazy_Susan
WELCOME TO CC!!
Can't answer all your questions, but I hope this will help you.
http://www.bakedecoratecelebrate.com/techniques.cfm?cat=4
WELCOME TO CC!!
Can't answer all your questions, but I hope this will help you.
http://www.bakedecoratecelebrate.com/techniques.cfm?cat=4
Nice resource site!
Hi! I sent you a private message a little bit ago. I am also new to decorating. I found this site at the end of May and that was all I needed to be inspired. I have always wanted to decorate because I have baked for years but don't live close enough to take classes anywhere.
I used MMF for the first time yesterday on a cake and I rolled mine out using Crisco so I didn't have any white powder on mine. I made my MMF then I took out a small amount and added color to that. It was much easier than I had anticipated. I used Americolor gels and it didn't take long at all. I did use food service gloves so I wouldn't stain my hands. My cutouts stuck to the cake with no problem, but I have read to brush a little water on the back of the cutouts. Maybe mine didn't stick because there was already the Crisco on the backside.
Welcome and have fun decorating.
darkchocolate
Welcome, KT!
1. Add the color to the fondant after the batch is made. Usually you're not going to make the whole batch one color, so it's easier to pinch off enough for whatever you're doing in say, pink, and knead the color into that pinch-off piece.
2. I use a soft dry paintbrush to brush away any excess corn starch.
3. Dab a tiny bit of water on the back with a small paintbrush, and the pieces will stick beautifully.
Wow! I am impressed! That was quite a project for your first cake! I have been decorating for about 6 months now, but it took me months to work up the courage to do MMF and stacking. Great job!
Anyway, I have only done a few MMF cakes. I used crisco instead of cornstarch to roll it out.
If you want the whole batch of fondant to be the same color, you can add the color to the melted marshmallows. Otherwise you can knead it in afterward (which is a pain I think) So I have decided that if I want lots of different colors I will probably make small batches and color them seperately.
you can just use a little bit of water to attach fondant to fondant (fresh) to your cake.
The other best tip I learned is to roll your fondant out MUCH bigger than your cake. It really helped get it smooth (with out the fondant ruffle) at the bottom. Like I said I am pretty new to decorating as well (especially fondant) so I am sure there will be some other professionals here to give you more advice! Welcome to CC!
Hi, welcome to CC! Yes, if you're wanting to stick fondant to fondant, you can use a paintbrush with a small amount of water. If you are sticking fondant cut-outs directly on buttercream and your cake hasn't crusted, they should stick fine. If it has already begun to crust, dab a little more buttercream on the back of your cut-outs.
I too roll mine with a little shortening instead of powdered sugar.
Good luck with your next cake!!
I have run into the same problem with fondant. It is very powdery and dry from the cornstarch. I am going to have to try the crisco idea.
When coloring the fondant, it seems to take so long to knead it in. My fondant is just so dry & hard. I am sure I am doing something wrong. What is it?
Hi! I am new too and you will find this site to be VERY addicting!! I have learned a ton in just the short amount of time that I have been here.
CakeCraze,
What type of fondant are you using? I have noticed that my Easy MMF is softer than my MMF. That could have something to do with my mixing in too much powdered sugar. I should have bought the Wilton fondant to know what the right consistency is.
As I was rolling out my Easy MMF it got softer with the Crisco. I rolled mine out with Crisco because the Easy MMF seemed to stick worse using powdered sugar. I have made MMF but I haven't worked with it yet.
darkchocolate
It does take a while to knead in the color. If your fondant becomes hard while you are doing so, you can put in the microwave for only a few seconds to soften it up and make it more pliable.
Welcome to CC!
I'm sure you've been told this, already, but a useful tool when working with fondant is... H20!!! You can brush your cutouts lightly with water to remove the cornstarch from the "top" of the cutouts and brush the "bottom" of the cutouts to attach to the cake. Happy baking!
I color small amounts of MMF as needed. Microwave a small amount for about ten seconds to soften. I roll it out on powdered sugar and it does get powdery. I use a "fan" brush that has been dipped in water but blotted on a paper towel to brush the powdery look away. I attach my MMF with little dabs of buttercream.
Welcome to the forums. You'll love it here!
I like to use the following recipe when i don't need a large batch of MMF. It makes a small amount, and saves me the pain of kneeding in the color. I add the color in after I melt the marshmallows.
HTH
Leily
Marshmallow fondant
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 tbsp water
1 1/2- 1 3/4 cup powder sugar
Place marshmallows in a standard 1 cup measuring cup and push down and pack them in. Place in a microwave safe bowl and add the water. Put in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Just long enough for them to soften and puff up. Take out and stir with a spoon until it is combined well.
At this point it looks kind of soupy. Then add the sugar and mix and fold until all is incorporated and it is no longer sticky. I take it out of the bowl when it gets to the point where most of the sugar is incorporated and I knead it in my hands. This takes roughly about 5-7 minutes. Take a fondant roller or a regular rolling pin and roll out just as you would Wilton's fondant.
You can get this fondant almost paper thin and it also repairs well.
It's cheap, easy to work with, and tastes great too.
Leily, thanks for that small-batch recipe! I printed it out.
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