I'm just curious because some of these cakes take so much fondant, does everyone make it or buy it when doing such large cakes? It seems like a great amount of work to make that much fondant. Especially if doing it at home!!

I make my own especially if it's a large cake. I use Michele Foster's Fondant. It's so easy to make plus it is cost efficient and taste yummy. I do buy Wilton to make bows and decorations. That stuff is great for that.

I'm new to fondant, but at the moment I purchase it online. Maybe in the future I'll try making it.

I had been making my own with MFF recipe. Then I started to buy small packages of Ice n Easy at my cake store. They had a 2 lb pack on sale for 5.00 thought I would give it a try. Well, that stuff is okay on small cakes but not good when covering large cakes. So, I ordered a 20lb bucket of Satin Ice and after using it I will never, ever, ever make it or buy any other brand again. It is super easy to work with, takes color very well, and no mess and clean up from making it. I just ordered 80 more lbs!

I make mine! I've only bought Wilton once and won't do that again. I make the MMF and the "old European" for different things. I live in a remote area where people aren't willing to spend much for a cake so I try to save on supplies to make it worth my time.

ttehan4,
Is it costly? I;m sure it saves quite a bit of time!

Satin Ice for me here.... I really like it and like working with it... I make the MMF for my cake drums though... don't want to use Satin Ice for something that will not be consumed...

Fondant is not available in my country so I just make it from scratch all the time.

I buy Satin Ice... it's simply more cost and time effective for me to purchase it. Plus, since it's available precolored, I buy it in all available colors and blend my custom colors from there... the fact that I never have to mess with kneading in gels or pastes makes it worth twice what I pay for it! lol

I used to make my own, and for some reason it would do great with decorations, stripes, dots, etc., but I could not for the life of me cover a cake with it.

Then, I bought my first tub of Satin Ice... and I swear when I rolled it out and draped it over that cake dummy I was practicing on, the heavens opened and I heard the angels singing.... I think I may have cried a little.

So, obviously... it's Satin Ice for me all the way!

You guys have me sold on Satin Ice. I am ordering some today. I like the idea of not having to color the fondant myself.

I buy Satin Ice for red and black. Make Michelle Foster's Fondant otherwise.

I've made my own, bought Wilton to practice with or for bows and other pieces, bought Satin Ice and Choco-Pan. I love Satin Ice and Choco Pan. I think each brand or home made has it's place. Some days I just don't want to mess with making it - I guess those are the days I value my time over the extra cost of buying Satin Ice or Choco Pan.

jones5cm,
I am also a hobby baker so I see the benefit of purchasing fondant when you're creating many cakes! I don't bake enough cakes so I think making it works out better for me.

I make my own MMF at home. I have tried the Wilton fondant and did not enjoy the taste at all.

I'm like Suddysmon -- I buy red and black (love that black Choco Pan!) and make Michele Foster's for just about everything else. Michele Foster's has the best taste of anything else I've tried -- and I've tried most of them.

I almost never knead colors into the fondant -- I make big batches and tint the liquid in the fondant recipe I'm using -- so simple!

I do think that sometimes it is definitely worth paying a little more to save time because time is money!

Satin Ice all the way !! Love it

I buy all my fondant. I've used SatinIce for years, but just ordered a bucket of Fondx. We'll see. Wilton fondant doesn't even qualify as food and I do not like the look of MMF.

leah_s,
let us know how you like Fondx.

I for one use to make MMF, but this week I covered a cake using Fondarific and I will only use that now. It covers like a dream. Plus, I really don't like the taste of Satin Ice (personal opinion) but I like both vanilla and buttercream flavors of Fondarific.

I've used both Fondx and Satin Ice. I love Satin Ice much better. Fondx is very soft and sticky for me. It tear sometime. But I have a friend that loves it. The taste is very similar

Leah, you think MMF has a different appearance than the Satin Ice? Does it take longer to to apply MMF in your opinion?

Guys..... I will be making Chocolate MMF right now for the first time... wish me luck... hehehe... I hope it comes out good to taste and work with....

I've been using FondX for a while and am very happy with it. However, where I live, it only comes in white. I started using Satin Ice black and red just recently. I've also had great results with Michele Foster's Fondant (I like the original recipe better) and an awful time with several of the home-made marshmallow fondants, but I really prefer to buy it ready-made. For one thing, it's faster and for another, the tendons in my hands tend to swell when I have to do a lot of kneading. Keeping the baker and cake decorator happy and focused on the decorating rather than on the drudgery is more than enough to justify the cost of ready-made fondant, IMHO.

I dont like the look of MMF either. I don't think it has as smooth a texture and finish as Satin Ice.

I purchase all my fondant. No fondant recipe has ever came out properly for me... I love the Fondx brand! Used Wilton for a while, but once you try a quality fondant, you won't go back :p

To improve MMF I have added one tablespoon of Crisco and one tablespoon of glycerin. I also increase the water from 4 tablespoons to 5. I am quite happy with the result. It looks much better, has significantly improved texture and elasticity. Oh yes, I add 1/2 tsp. of either clear vanilla or almond extract to bump up the scent and flavor a bit. To make it smell like roses, use rose water instead of tap. Mist your finished roses with rose water and they will shine and smell like real roses! Enjoy!