How to Cover a 3D Cake With Fondant
Three-dimensional cakes are visually dynamic, but they pose a challenge when it comes to decorating them. Applying a single layer of fondant to cover an entire cake simplifies the process, if you are decorating a basic round or sheet cake. But covering a varied surface with raised details is not the easiest task to manage. By applying gentle pressure to the fondant-draped cake, you can shape the fondant to mirror the cake's details perfectly. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shaped cake
- Platter or baking sheet
- Frosting
- Offset spatula
- Cornstarch
- Small rolling pin
- Fondant
- Fondant smoother
- Shaped cake pan
- Knife
Instructions
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1
Bake and cool a cake in a shaped pan. Remove the cake from the pan once it is thoroughly cool. Place the cake on a platter or baking sheet that allows you to work on the cake from every side. Wash and dry the cake pan.
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2
Apply a thin layer of frosting to the cake, to help hold the fondant in place. The layer should be about 1/8-inch thick. It does not have to be perfect or even, and it's acceptable if the frosting obscures some of the cake's detail.
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3
Store the cake in the refrigerator.
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4
Sprinkle cornstarch lightly on your work surface and a small rolling pin. Place a portion of fondant on the work surface.
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5
Roll the fondant into a disc that is 1/8-inch thick and broad enough to cover the frosted cake.
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6
Remove the cake from the refrigerator. Place it on your work surface near the fondant.
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7
Lift the edge of the fondant disc gently. Slide the rolling pin under the disc until it is beneath the center of fondant. Fold the sides of the disc toward the middle gently. Do not crease the disc.
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8
Transport the fondant on the rolling pin to the cake. Slide the folded disc off the rolling pin. Center the disc on the cake, and set the rolling pin aside. Unfold the fondant to cover the cake.
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9
Press the center of the fondant gently. Smooth outward from the center to shape the fondant around the contours of the cake. Then smooth over broad, flat sections of the cake with a fondant smoother. Smooth the sides from the top edge down.
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10
Cover the cake with the shaped cake pan in which you baked the cake. Press down gently to mold the fondant with the pan. Remove the pan.
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11
Cut around the base of the cake with a sharp knife to remove excess fondant.
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Tips & Warnings
The amount of fondant you need depends on the cake's size. Base your cake measurements on the widest and longest portions of the cake. For example, if you bake a castle-shaped cake -- the top of which is 6 inches wide and the bottom of which is 12 inches wide -- your width measurement is 12 inches.
Fondant packaging always has a coverage chart so you can determine how much fondant you need for your cake.
If you are placing two shaped cakes together back-to-back to create a cake that is shaped all the way around, cover each half with fondant before you assemble the cake.
Resources
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
