How to Make a Fake Fondant Cake

Fondant is that smooth cake covering you see on a lot of wedding cakes that's used instead of icing. Fake cakes are used for different purposes, such as bakery display, cake decorating class displays and they are also actually used for weddings. A fake fondant cake is on display at the wedding reception. When it's time to serve the cake, the fake cake is wheeled away and in it's place guests are served sheet cake. This has become a cost-cutting method for wedding expense accounts.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Styrofoam cake form
• Fondant
• Food coloring
• Sharp knife
• Rolling pin
• Cornstarch
• Decorations

1. Decide on the different aspects of your three-layer fake fondant cake. Consider what colors and shapes will be added to adorn the cake. Small cookie cutters can be purchased to make fondant shapes. This will give your the cake a professional look, even it you are new at cake decorating. Then, purchase the fondant, food coloring, cake base and three-layer Styrofoam cake forms. Purchase these items at a baking supply store, craft store or online (see Resources).

2. Prepare the fondant decorations first. Work in the food coloring, with your hands, for each color needed, with small amounts of fondant. Do the same for the bulk of the fondant if the cake is to be a different color than white or purchase it pre-colored. Pre-make any of the colored decorations that will go onto the cake. Put them in a covered container so they will not dry out before adhering them to the fondant-covered cake form.

3. Work the cake fondant with your hands until it has warmed and is pliable. If it sticks to your fingers, dust them with cornstarch.

4. Roll out the cake fondant. The fondant is sticky. Sprinkle your working surface with cornstarch and then rub some on the rolling pin and your fingers. Roll the fondant from the center outwards, forming a circle, ¼-inch thick. The circle should be large enough to cover the entire cake form, plus several inches.

5. Roll the fondant loosely onto the rolling pin and pick it up off of the work area. Do not turn it over by hand, as it may tear. Roll the fondant over the top of the cake form so that the center of the fondant is at the center top of the cake form. This should be done quickly, as the fondant will dry out if you take too long.

6. Smooth the fondant over the cake form using the palms of your hands. Make sure you have dusted your hands with corn starch, again, to keep them from sticking to the fondant. Smooth the fondant from the center top, down. Keep working, quickly, until the entire cake form is smooth without air bubbles beneath it.

7. Using a sharp knife, cut any excess fondant from around the bottom of the cake form.

8. Decorate the fake fondant as you desire. If you have little experience with cake decorating, ribbon, silk or fresh flowers or fondant cut-outs can be used.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are making an odd-shaped fake fondant cake, you can cut your fake cake pieces from sheets of Styrofoam, which can be purchased at a craft store. If you are making a fake fondant wedding cake and want the bride and groom to display the tradition of feeding each other a piece of cake, cut a wedge out of the Styrofoam and replace it with actual wedding cake. Mark on the fondant with a sharp knife so they will know where to cut. Dried fondant can be kept indefinitely without spoiling. Colored fondant can be purchased in 2-pound tubs.

Resources

• Fake Styrofoam Cake Forms
• Ultimate Baker--Fondant and Other Baking Needs

[auntbubbie]

on 7/26/2009 To make Fake Fondant Wedding Cakes use Crayola Magic Air Drying Clay over Smooth Styrofoam Forms.Roll out clay with rolling pin and place over Styrofoam. After it dries take a long BBQ fork or and gently press it into the back of Styrofoam (uncovered part)Be sure not to puncture fondant.Dip into a vat of white paint and hang upside down and let drip and dry.Do all layers this way. After layers are dry insert tooth pick a circle of white caulking in center of layer and gently press your next layer over the tooth picks and caulking. Decorate you cake. Takes a bit of time and work but well worth it.
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