How to Make a Fondant Rat

Rats can be a delicacy in fondant-form.

Arguments can be made in favor of rats being either cute and cuddly or creepy and crawly, but it's largely undisputed that you wouldn't want to see one perched atop your birthday cake. Unless, of course, it's been made with fondant or gum paste, in which case even the most realistic-looking replica of a rat can be made palatable for hungry party guests. Does this Spark an idea?

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Preliminary Things To Note
- Using fondant can help you achieve a sleek and professional-looking cake design, and more importantly, can help you prepare a rat that people will actually want to eat. However, it's important to recognize that fondant can be a tricky substance to work with. If you're attempting to use fondant for the first time, you may want to build some practice runs into your schedule rather than waiting until the last minute to try your hand at sculpting; you may end up being a natural with the stuff, but it's better to finish the project early than not at all.
Designing Your Rat
- Before you roll out the fondant, take some time to consider what you want your rat to look like. Fondant is a highly versatile substance, so you should be able to achieve nearly any style, whether you want your rat to look realistic or cartoonish. Keep the occasion in mind when planning your design; a creepy, realistic-looking rat might be ideal for a Halloween party, but a birthday celebration might call for a more congenial-looking rat. Using photographs or drawings can be helpful in determining the colors and proportions you'll need to use, so think about printing some images for inspiration.
Preparing the Fondant
- For beginners or those pressed for time, purchasing a prepared fondant may be the way to go; although it can be pricey, it should save valuable time and effort. Otherwise, follow a fondant recipe exactly to make your own dough. At room temperature, knead your fondant until it becomes soft and malleable. Make a small crater in the ball of dough, and depending on what colors you want to include in your rat design (think pinks, whites and grays), use a toothpick to add small amounts of food coloring to the depression. Knead the dough to work in the dye, and then use a rolling pin to roll out your shapes.
Shaping Your Rat
- Depending on how large you want your rat to be, you may be able to shape your rat using only the fondant dough. However, fondant isn't the sturdiest material, so you should consider using other items as a base for the fondant to be wrapped around. For instance, aside from shaped cake, you could use brownies or marshmallow rice squares to create the form of the rat. Use pink fondant dough to roll out a long, worm-like tail, paws, ears and nose for the rat. Use gray, white or brown fondant for the base of the body and head, and black fondant for the eyes, mouth and whiskers. The body and head should be oval or teardrop-shaped.