How to Make Fondant Ribbon Roses

Fondant roses are often used for wedding cakes.

Fondant is one of the premier cake decorating materials. It is a type of icing that is made from sugar, glucose and water, or glycerin, sugar and gelatin. Fondant is malleable, and is often rolled out into a large sheet to cover an entire cake with a smooth, uniform surface, as seen on many wedding cakes. Fondant is also used to sculpt and mold different cake toppers and decorative elements such as figurines, flowers and ribbons. One of the most popular and simple types of fondant decorations for cakes is a ribbon rose, made in no time at all using rolled fondant.

Things You'll Need

• Fondant
• Rolling pin
• Cornstarch
• Knife

Instructions

1. Dust your working surface with a little cornstarch. Roll out a sheet of fondant that is 1/8 inch thick.

2. Cut a rectangle from the rolled-out fondant that is about 3 inches wide and 7 inches long, although this varies according to the size of the rose you want.

3. Fold the rectangle loosely over width-ways, so the width is now 1.5 inches, and there is an open space where the fold is--this helps give the puffed-up look that a good ribbon rose has.

4. Hold one end of the folded fondant ribbon, and start to roll it in a spiral. Be careful not to deflate the folded edge, which should be at the top. Roll this part quite tight, making the core of the rose.

5. Keep rolling the fondant ribbon around the core; the outer layers should be slightly lower than the core as the spiral continues outward. Pinch the bottom of the fondant together, giving movement to the rose, and helping to open it up a little.

6. Roll the bottom of the flower, which will have excess fondant on it, in the palm of your hands to help bond the base of the flower, making it easy to cut off the excess without the flower coming undone.

Tips & Warnings

• Some prefer to simply cut a 1.5-inch-width rectangle and roll it up without folding it. This makes a similar form of fondant rose, but without as much movement.

• If the weather is very dry, use a light vegetable oil instead of cornstarch for on the working surface, to avoid the fondant drying out.

References

• Make Fabulous Cakes: How to Make Fondant Ribbon Roses
• Bake Decorate Celebrate: Fondant Ribbon Roses

Resources

• Planning The Perfect Wedding Day: How To Make Fondant Icing and Rolled Fondant