Directions for Making Fondant Flowers

Creating dazzling 3-D fondant flowers takes time, but is worth it.

Flat fondant flowers can be beautiful and simple to make. 3-D fondant flowers can be beautiful as well, but they require a lot more time to construct and dry. Many professional cake decorators prefer to use gum paste for 3-D flowers. This is because it dries more quickly and is easier to paint with food-safe colorings. When making 3-D fondant flowers, allow at least one week for drying before the cake is to be served.

Things You'll Need

• Rolled fondant
• Plastic fondant mat
• Powdered sugar
• Rolling pin
• Toothpicks
• Mini-muffin tins
• Stiff foam
• Small circle-shaped cake-decoration cutters
• Flower-shaped cake-decoration cutters
• Razor blade
• Ball-shaped fondant tool
• Offset frosting spatula

Instructions

3-D Fondant Flowers

1. Roll small balls of fondant into a ball, then into a cone. Stick the round ends onto toothpicks, then stick the other ends of the toothpicks into some stiff foam. Allow to dry for a day before continuing.

2. Roll another piece of fondant very thin, about 1/8 of an inch thick, using the rolling pin and plastic fondant mat. Sprinkle a little powdered sugar on the mat and pin if the fondant is sticking. If the fondant is very stiff and hard to work, microwave on high at 10-second intervals until it is soft and pliable. Cut out flower shapes using a cake-decoration cutter.

3. Use the razor blade to define the petals a little, cutting them in closer to the center of the flowers. Do not cut all the way through the centers of the flowers.

4. Roll the ball roller tool over each individual petal to thin it and give it shape.

5. Remove the dried fondant cones from their toothpicks. Press each one, point up, into the center of a flower, then wrap the petals up around the cone. Allow to dry for a day in mini-muffin tins.

6. Repeat wrapping flower petal layers around the cone until desired level of flower petals has been achieved. Consider leaving the tiny bud in the center out, depending on what flowers you wish to create. For tighter flower buds, dry the flowers upside down on toothpicks between each layer of petals.

Flat Fondant Flowers

1. Roll fondant out 1/8-inch thick and cut out flower shapes.

2. Press flower-shaped cake-decoration cutters into the thin sheet of fondant, like a cookie cutter. Press firmly, and do not move cutters around once they have made contact with the fondant.

3. Roll fondant in a contrasting color to same thickness and press small circle-shaped cutters into it.

4. Place the circles in the centers of the flower shapes. You have just created beautiful flat flowers. Move to desired location using an offset frosting spatula. Be careful, as fondant is flexible yet fragile.

Tips & Warnings

• Fondant roses are the common result of the 3-D process. However, depending on the flower shapes you choose, you can create any type of flower you like. Color choice is also up to you. Use pre-colored fondants, or use gel food colors (never liquid) to dye white fondant to your dream color.

References

• What's Cooking America: Decorating with Fondant
• Without Adornment: Making Fondant Roses