Cakes with fondant are very popular for a variety of occasions, be it a birthday, a wedding or as a surprise for a promotion. In addition, a wide variety of motifs can be designed. But simple recipes are not all you need to make them. If you have never made fondant cakes before, a guide with the basic steps can be very helpful to ensure success. We have put together such instructions for the fondant cake in this article. In addition, you will also find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions on the topic here.
What is a fondant cake?
The fondant cake is any type of cake or cake that is covered with so-called fondant. However, some people wonder what this coating actually consists of. People often believe that it is marzipan. However, that is not the case. Actually, only sugar and binding agents are used in production. Thanks to food coloring, a wide variety of color variations are created. One advantage of fondant is that it is tasteless and can therefore be used for any type of cake and flavor.
The cover is available in two versions. On the one hand, you canUse rolled fondant. This is rolled out like dough and can then be cut out as desired or individual motifs can be cut out freehand. This variant is particularly suitable if you want to cover a cake with fondant. On the other hand, there are also liquid fondants. These are more suitable for small pasta such as cookies, biscuits, donuts and similar. The liquid form is better known as icing. It is easy to find in supermarkets and is just as easy to make yourself from sugar and water. The rolled fondant, on the other hand, is not so easy to find.
Can you put it on any cake?
Many people wonder if everyoneany cakesis suitable for this. In principle the answer is yes, as long as the finished soil is not too wet. Whether sand dough, sponge cake dough, Viennese mass or Sacher mass does not matter. However, no matter what base you use, something extra is needed when placing the fondant on the cake. This doesn't just stick to the floor. But how does fondant stay on the cake? You can stick the fondant onto the cake using ganache or buttercream. Cream is not suitable as it makes the coating soft.
The coating should also not come into direct contact with certain ingredients. These include fruits, jam and pudding. So whatever you use as “glue” will serve as a barrier between them and the cake fondant for these cakes. When painting, you should take your time and proceed carefully.
If you want to prepare the perfect fondant cake, you should not only know the exact steps and be precise, but also plan enough time. This takes about three days. For this reason, such a cake is usually not just baked, but chosen for a specific occasion. Find out the individual steps below.
Instructions
To do this, you first need any cake base that you prepare according to the recipe. You bake this on the first day. This gives it enough time to cool down and evaporate, getting rid of its excess moisture. To do this, you have to carefully take it out of the baking pan upside down and place it on a rack. If you don't have a cake rack at hand, you can alternatively spread breadcrumbs on the work surface and let the cake cool on it.
On this first day of baking, you also make the coating, i.e. the ganache or buttercream. The reason for this is that it needs to cool well in the refrigerator in order to form a better base later. Added to this are the different decorations that you can use. Make fondant designs in any color or shape so you have them on hand the day you decorate. Until then, you can also become pleasantly hard so that you don't crumble during later work. Store them temporarily in a plastic container placed in a cool and dry place.
Prepare and spread the cake
The second day is used for further processing of the soil. The fondant cake is now decorated with the selected fruits or cream. In general, it is better to avoid cream, especially if the cake is going to be on the table for a long time. The cream begins to melt over time. Use a cake ring to fill the cake. You stretch this around the cake base. Now it can be spread with cream, fruit, jam or other products without them running or falling down the sides. The ring provides the necessary support. If you have cut the base into two parts, a cake slice can be helpful to separate them from each other.
After topping or spreading, it's time to spread the ganache. This must be as smooth as possible and must not have any dents that could have been caused by any fruit underneath. Even the smallest imperfections that were not evened out with the ganache will later be visible through the fondant layer. This adapts to all shapes. For this reason, several coats of the coating are necessary. A turntable and a dough card are very helpful if you want to cover the cake with ganache.
You now also decide whether you want to keep the cake base in the fridge for another day so that the cream can set properly or whether you continue directly with day 3.
On the 3rd day, cover the cake with fondant - instructions
Now the day has finally come for the decoration. The already mentioned rolled fondant is used for the fondant cake. For this purpose, prepare a wooden or silicone rolling pin. Sprinkle either powdered sugar or cornstarch onto the worktop. This prevents the rolled fondant from sticking to the plate (like flour does when kneading dough). Alternatively, a silicone mat can also be used. In any case, you should plan enough space.
Roll out the icing large enough to extend over the sides of your cake. Finally, you can simply cut off the excess with a knife. The easiest way to place the rolled fondant over the cake is to place it over the rolling pin, with an equal amount hanging down on both sides. As soon as it is on the future fondant cake, you can smooth it out using a so-called smoother, not only on the smooth surfaces, but also on the edges.
After that you can start decorating. What types of decorations you use is entirely your decision. Use ready-made ones cut out of rolled fondant or make small figures yourself from so-called modeling fondant or marzipan. The best way to attach these is to moisten them very slightly with water using a brush.
Store correctly
You can store the fondant cake depending on when it will be eaten. It is best to store the cake in a cool place (e.g. pantry). If possible, do not cover the fondant cake airtight. She may begin to sweat, causing the cover to tear. But how do I store a fondant cake if it is not going to be eaten shortly after completion? Many people ask themselves “Can I put a fondant cake in the fridge?” Broadly speaking, the answer is yes. However, this should not give off any smells, because the cake is under no circumstances covered if the refrigerator is chosen to store the fondant cake.
You can freeze the cake for up to 6 months. These are best defrosted in the refrigerator. It is not uncommon for them to start sweating. However, without a cover, this is not a problem and will disappear over time without damaging the fondant layer.
