How Do I Smooth Fondant Over A Curvy Shaped Cake?
Decorating By emmascakes Updated 18 Aug 2006 , 4:27pm by Omicake
I'm making a tiered cake in which each tier is round, but I'm carving it so that the top of the tier is wide and then it tapers a little towards the base. So I'm starting with a 6" cake and carving it so that the top is still 6" but the base is about 5" - hope that makes sense. I'm having problems with the fondant though as my smoother isn't helped smooth it down on the sides - what can I use? This is a similar problem when making ball cakes. Any ideas?
I'm really desperate folks, please - someone must have some ideas. I have cakes just sitting their and I'm holding off working on them hoping that someone will answer.
I have never done one with the top wider. That could pose a problem with the excess fondant pleating on you. Try a little Crisco on your hands and use parchment to smooth. If the fondant is stretching, use a little constarch mixed with posdered sugar. If it is not sticking, use fresh buttercream or a little piping gel under the fondant. I have also used simple syrup to stick the fondant.
Good Luck.
Well, I did it, it was a nightmare. The fondant stretched and broke under its own weight. In the end I smoothed it with kitchen roll wrapped round my hands - it worked quite well and I'll definitely be using that to smooth again, made a nice sheen. I'm now debating whether to put another layer of fondant over the first to aim for a real smooth finish - these are dummies I'm working on, not real cakes. I stuck the icing to the dummies with PVA glue in place of buttercream!
hi emmascakes
how did you go carving the cake dummies, i am about to try this but have been putting it off as i am worried about wrecking the dummies.
do they carve ok and if you dont mind could you tell me what you used to carve without foam breaking off everywhere.
thanks
kylie
Emmacakes,
Someone told me to lay the fondant narrow end first (upside down)so that you avoid pleating and its easier to smooth. also when I carved my cake dummies doing a whimsey cake, I used an eletric knife - worked great. It's messy though as styrafoam goes everywhere.
Hi hope i'm not too late. So I've fondanted all kinds of crazy shapes and the easiest way is to place it on as fast as you can and smooth it with your hands but touch it lightly so that you can get your fondant on without pleates. To further smooth...take a big wad of fondant and knead it a little to make it warm and soft, then pat some corn starch all over it and then start smoothing. I find that if I smash it a few times on the table to get it a little flat then it helps to smooth everything a little easier. So as long as your fondant on your cake hasnt started to sweat your good to use this method.
If your fondant has started to sweat then just toss some cornstarch onto the fondant to absorb it and this will allow you to do the above.
Good luck
I carved the polystyrene cake dummies with a bread knife - yes it went everywhere so I used a hoover to suck it all up again. Just use little sawing motions and you shouldn't wreck the dummies.
Not sure what happens in America but here in Australia we were taught to roll the fondant out a little bit bigger than you need when you smooth it down it only pleats at the bottom and to avoid it pleating further you shake it out a bit. You hold the fondant by the edge and shake it down so then you end up with the pleating out from the bottom of the cake. If you apply a similar method to this type of cake I am sure you would have a effect. I have never really used shappers, I always use my hands and if need be have gloves on them. To stop the shine on it you put a bit of icing sugar on your hands. Fondant usually has a matt finish to it not shiny.
Kerrie
When fondant is really polished it ca have a slight sheen to it - that's a very good surface to paint lustre dusts on to. I think the pleating would have happened even if I'd put metres of fondant over it as the cake is tapered down. I'll put photos when done so you can see what I mean. I'm UK base, not American and I've never been lucky enough to have lessons - no classes near me 
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