Any cake decorators? Fondant advice?

[cuddlebuggy]

My little Gennybean is turning 6 next month and wants a Lorax cake like we saw on Cake wrecks "Sunday Sweets" section. Basically a three tiered cake with smooth buttercream and fondant accents. Cool right?


I have seen this amazing bakery near my school which does some of the best decorating in town so I went in to get an estimate. $275 to feed 26. [size=78%] I understand why it is priced the way it is and really appreciate them telling me there was no way to replicate it with buttercream (they are right, it would not be nearly as nice.)[/size]


So I called my Mom who took every Wilton cake decorating class available when I was little and made amazing cakes for my every birthday and asked how hard it was to work with Fondant and she said it it similar to making shapes with clay. I'm going to give it a try. Should I make my own? Buy premade?

[lemontwist]

Make your own! It's easy to make, and it really is like working with some weird clay haha. My advice is to practice with it before it's time to make the real cake. It's really fun to work with but if you're not careful it can tear, or get cracks in it, especially if it gets too dry.

[Eviecorn]

Yeah, I would try to make a small batch of fondant and practice with it before hand.  Working with fondant is unlike working with clay in the way that water doesn't save it.  It's a lot of fun though!

[kaoskat]

I hope you'll share pics when you are done.

[littlekelly4587]

It would definitely be cheaper to make your own but if you do buy some then go to your local Michael's and don't forget your 40% off coupon because that stuff is expensive!  Also, you can add flavoring (just a bit) to the fondant so it doesn't have that nasty taste that everyone hates. 


Go to YouTube and search for "Wilton cake."  Wilton has TONS of free videos on there to help teach you what to do and give you tricks.  Books are helpful but videos offer a really nice visual. 

[ButtercreamDream]

I would buy fondant from a cake store or a bulk food store.  Micheal's is the most expensive place to buy it, and the wilton stuff is not very good.  That said, it doesn't look too hard.  The white part of the cake is buttercream, with fondant accents.

[pop-girl]

Here's a recipe for marshmallow fondant.
http://whatscookingamerica.net/PegW/Fondant.htm

It tastes so much better than traditional fondant and is cheap and easy to make.
Here's a picture of the cake I made for my daughter's 6th birthday using this recipe.

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Edit: because I originally linked to the wrong recipe.

[lovesbabysquirmy]

Also you can roll out Starburst and other like candies for the smaller detailed effects without the grossness of fondant.  Then THOSE are edible! 

[sabathamk]

I have made the marshmellow fondant, and attempted making other recipes which didn't turn out too well because I didn't know how long to kneed it, and it got crackly and wouldn't roll proper.  The marshmellow one is rather simple, but it takes a while to make.  I don't have much of the time element anymore, and calculated that the same amount of fondant cost me $6 to make, vs $15-16 in the Bulk Barn to buy.  And it takes about an hour to make it.  So, it depends on your time vs. money.  And don't buy from Michaels.  Overpriced and not so tasty.

It is easy to work with.  I never took a class and made a beautiful (if I say so myself, haha) ladybug cake with fondant for my daughter's first birthday.

Good luck!  It's a lot of fun making beautiful edible things!