What is a cake without decoration? Decorations make a lifeless food item become something you would cherish every time you eat. When it comes to the art of decorating, “fondant cakes” is a term heard often. But what is fondant cake? What makes it so special? And are there any good reasons to try it out?
These must be the questions coming to your mind now. So this blog will tell you what a fondant cake actually is, its types, taste, and also how you can make it.
What is Fondant Cake?
A cake covered in a sugar-based dough, or you can say a smooth, pliable icing that is mostly made from sugar, is called a fondant cake. The icing is rolled out into thin sheets to drape over the cake to give it a flawless and polished look.
Fondant cakes are popular for their sleek, elegant appearance. They can become the showstoppers on any celebratory occasion, like weddings and birthdays. The ductile nature of fondant allows us to make intricate decorations like flowers, patterns, or even figurines, which can’t be achieved so easily with any other kind of icing.
Professional bakers prefer to bake fondant cakes over traditional cream cakes because this type of cake decoration provides them with the perfect stage to showcase their artistic talents and culinary experience.
What is Fondant Cake Made Up Of?
Usually, fondant is made from a mixture of sugar, water, gelatin, and glycerin. This mixture of baking ingredients is kneaded into an elastic, dough-like consistency for rolling them out easily.
You can also use marshmallows or shortening in some recipes, to give the dough a softer and more elastic texture.
Rolled fondants are the normally used type of fondant that is rolled out into thin sheets for draping them over the cake. However, in poured fondant, a liquid form of fondant is used for mini cakes and pastries.
Can You Tell the Difference Between Fondant Cakes and Cream Cakes?
Absolutely! The difference between fondant cakes and cream cakes is so easy to spot. Cream cakes are soft and creamy with a frosting of buttercream, whipped cream, or ganache. However, fondant cakes have a smooth, almost porcelain-like appearance because of the polished fondant covering.
The major factors that set fondant and cream cakes apart are texture, design, and durability. Cream cakes are light and soft, while fondant cakes have a firmer texture due to the sugar-based fondant layer.
Fondant cakes allow us to explore our creativity with intricate designs, especially sculpted ones, that cream icing can not provide.
Cream cakes are not suitable for durable events or hot climates and outdoor celebrations because they start to melt and lose their shape. But don’t worry. Because fondant cake is your day-saver for those long parties!
Various Types of Fondants Used in Cake Decorating Ideas
Fondant types do not stick to the general rolled ones only. There are various types of fondants, and each of them serves a different purpose in cake decoration.
- Marshmallow Fondant
This is a fondant that can be easily prepared at home with melted marshmallows. It is softer and more flexible than the normal fondants.
- Sculpting Fondant
This stiff form of fondant art is used for making firmer structures like figurines and shapes that need to hold onto their form.
- Gum Paste Fondant
Delicate flowers or other decorations are crafted out of this fondant as it dries faster. This fondant is also harder than regular fondants, so the decorations manage to stay rigid.
- Chocolate Fondant
Well, this is a special for chocolate lovers! A fusion of fondant and chocolate gives a rich texture to the cake, turning it into a complete bliss.
The types of fondant variety doesn’t end yet. Professional baking classes of Whitecaps are the best place to learn about these details.
What is the Taste of Fondant?
The taste of fondant is polarizing. Fondant is slightly chewy with a sweet, sugary taste. Some people love it for this reason, while some others may find it too sweet or prefer the creamy texture of buttercream cakes. But this is definitely a healthier cake option for celebrations than cream cakes. Marshmallow fondant is more popular in terms of taste, for its softness and less sugary flavor.
How to Make a Fondant Cake?
Everyone should learn how to bake. Baking is important because of its positive effect on our lives. Baking keeps us happy. So let’s learn how to make a fondant cake.
- Prepare the Cake: First, bake your favorite cake recipe and leave it to cool down completely.
- Apply a Crumb Coat: Spread a thin layer of buttercream or ganache over the entire cake to help the fondant stick and provide a smooth surface.
- Roll Out the Fondant: Roll the fondant on a clean surface dusted with powdered sugar. Make sure it’s large enough to cover the cake.
- Drape the Cake: Carefully lift the fondant and drape it over the cake, smoothing out any air bubbles or wrinkles with a fondant smoother (a baking tool).
- Trim the Excess: Use a sharp knife to trim away any excess fondant around the base of the cake.
- Decorate: Now you can add any additional decorations or details with fondant or edible paints.
Tips to Make the Perfect Fondant Cake
- Use Cornstarch or Powdered Sugar: Dust your surface and rolling pin with cornstarch or powdered sugar so that the fondant doesn’t stick while rolling.
- Work Quickly: Fondant dries out if exposed to air for a long period, so you must work quickly to drape your cake.
- Keep It Cool: Store fondant cakes in a cool, dry place and avoid refrigerating them so that the fondant doesn’t sweat.
- Practice Makes Perfect: Don’t be discouraged if your first attempt is a failure or not perfect. Fondant cakes need patience and practice to master, even for experienced bakers.
You can learn more such baking tips from pastry and cake baking academies like Whitecaps.
Fondant Cakes vs Cream Cakes: Which One is Better?
This answer depends on your personal desires. Both fondant cakes and cream cakes are delicious and worth a try, but still, if you can’t decide which cake to choose for an event, just remember this.
Fondant cakes are elegant with intricate designs and can stay perfect for long-duration events even in hot weather. But if your first priority is taste rather than looks, then just close your eyes and choose cream cakes.
Fondant cake’s best qualities:
- Stays intact for longer events
- Elegant and polished finishing
- A platform for creativity and detailed decorations.
Cream cake’s best qualities:
- Light texture and less sweet
- Perfect for small gatherings or casual meetups
- Can be baked at home easily with fewer tools
If you wish to know how you can bake cake in a microwave, then you must start from the basics of baking.
When Should You Not Use Fondant for Cake Decoration?
While fondant has many benefits, there are times when it may not be the best choice:
- For Simple, Quick Cakes: If you’re short on time, cream cakes are quicker to decorate and easier to work with than fondant cakes.
- For Casual Events: Fondant cake has a formal appearance. Making it for casual events where a relaxed, homemade look is preferred, may feel a little odd.
- For Cream-Loving Guests: If your guests prefer the light texture of cream cakes, fondant will not satisfy their creamy tastes.
Bake Your Own Fondant Cake with Whitecaps
As we said earlier, learning to bake is essential for happiness, but learning it in a proper way is far more important. You may always not be able to catch the aesthetics of baking difficult cakes like fondant or buttercream just by watching YouTube cooking videos.
Professional baking courses from Whitecaps are the best in this industry. Their state-of-the-art facilities and experienced teacher chefs can guarantee a successful learning experience.
So what are hesitating for? Learn to bake and set up your own success!
