Working with fondant--is it not for the faint of heart?

[jenfromnj]

I think I am going to attempt to make robot cupcakes for DS's robot themed birthday party, something like this:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mhealey/robot-cupcakes-5s7

But I mentioned this to 2 different people today, and they both seemed to think that fondant is akin to the devil's decorative food item. That might be because I am NOT a baker, and while friends like to have dinner here, they usually insist in bringing dessert ;). I'm even considering buying the cupcakes with the white fondant already on top and just doing the robot parts myself if that would make things a lot easier.

Is this a bad idea for someone with limited baking skills and minimal patience? If there's a good chance they'll end up looking ridiculous and taking 27 hours to do, then maybe we're fated to have a Cold Stone cake, and I can pretend the Snickers pieces look like tiny robots.

[Thatchermom]

It's not about how you are as a baker! How are you with playdoh? It's a whole lot more like that.

Use marshmallow fondant, it's more forgiving, and play a little. It's cheap enough to make just for fun to try it out, and kids like the taste much better. Those cakes are really just rolling it out and using cutters for shapes - being cupcakes you aren't having to drape and smooth over a whole cake, which is bigger trick. You can actually buy pre-made, pre-colored fondant (though it tastes icky) that would make it even easier. I definitely would buy a tube of pre-made black frosting for those little details. As a pretty serious baker, I rarely attempt to make black on my own unless I need tons of it. It's a hard color to achieve.

[Fairy]

My understanding from all the cupcake advice I've gotten on my misguided yet recent obssession is that fondant is more or less disgusting. Pretty ... but tastes awful. That's just what I'm told, I don't recall actually eating any of late. The robots are adorable, BTW.

[Sweetum]

Those robot cupcakes look adorable!! And I believe, now, that they are totall doable. Here's my thread on a recent experiment (successful), and I did the big, final thing too! GL!
http://www.windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=383377

[jenfromnj]

It's not about how you are as a baker! How are you with playdoh? It's a whole lot more like that.

Use marshmallow fondant, it's more forgiving, and play a little. It's cheap enough to make just for fun to try it out, and kids like the taste much better. Those cakes are really just rolling it out and using cutters for shapes - being cupcakes you aren't having to drape and smooth over a whole cake, which is bigger trick. You can actually buy pre-made, pre-colored fondant (though it tastes icky) that would make it even easier. I definitely would buy a tube of pre-made black frosting for those little details. As a pretty serious baker, I rarely attempt to make black on my own unless I need tons of it. It's a hard color to achieve.

Thanks so much for the advice, Thatchermom! I didn't even know that marshmallow fondant existed, but that looks like the way to go--thanks! And I'm definitely buying the black frosting!


My understanding from all the cupcake advice I've gotten on my misguided yet recent obssession is that fondant is more or less disgusting. Pretty ... but tastes awful. That's just what I'm told, I don't recall actually eating any of late. The robots are adorable, BTW.

Thanks! My plan is to bake the cupcakes, frost them then put the fondant on top (of course, I have no idea of this is the "right" way to do it, but that's my thought) so everyone can peel it off to eat the cupcake if they'd like. I'm also hoping that marshmallow fondant (Thatchermom's great suggestion!) will taste better. I remember peeling the layer of fondant off my wedding cake before eating it, so I must have been told the same thing about its taste, LOL.

[jenfromnj]

Those robot cupcakes look adorable!! And I believe, now, that they are totall doable. Here's my thread on a recent experiment (successful), and I did the big, final thing too! GL!
http://www.windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=383377

Thank you for the link--your cake looked fabulous! Wow, we have some talented bakers and cake decorators here. I usually stick to cooking, but some of the stuff I've seen here and on some awesome baking blogs, is kind of inspiring me.

[BeachBum]

I agree about the marshmallow fondant. This is the recipe I've used
http://whatscookingamerica.net/PegW/Fondant.htm

If it was me, I wouldn't bother with the white topper circles. I'd just do a smooth buttercream layer, and do the robots themselves with the fondant...I'd do the eyes with white butter cream and the black details with a black pen or gel. I had great success with the "DUFF/ Ace of Cakes" brand of food coloring. Of course the Wilson gel works great, but I couldn't find (locally)much more than primary colors.
Even then you've got to make 6 kinds of fondant. That seems like A LOT of work to me. But they ARE really cute.
How many do you need?

[SnuggleBuggles]

Those robots are cute but for the same effect, you can do the Family Fun version or the "Hello, Again!" cupcake cookbook ones:
http://familyfun.go.com/assets/cms/recipes/rad-robot-cupcake-cake-recipe-photo-420-FF0311CAKE_A13.jpg
http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/rad-robot-cupcakes-984990/

eta- I am a fan of the FF cakes because they don't tend to involve frosting or fondant work. Just assembling and using candies,cookies and such. I can do that much better!
Beth

[kwc]

Those cupcakes are adorable!

If you wanted to buy premade fondant toppers, I've used this seller from etsy and she was great to work with:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/60005776/fondant-cupcake-toppers-robots
http://www.etsy.com/listing/66009114/fondant-cake-topper-robot

I love baking but get stressed out around party time so find that this kind of outsourcing works well for me.

[weech]

Super cute!

If this is your first fondant project, and because people will probably just peel off the fondant and toss it, I'd recommend Wilton's fondant. The primary colors (http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=0CF82CB9-475A-BAC0-576447BDF63A036A&fid=0CF82CD8-475A-BAC0-5F601F27A937A515) and neon colors (http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=0D2825F9-475A-BAC0-52D3573840EC6EA1&fid=0D282676-475A-BAC0-5FF879C4291F8CD8) variety packs will have everything you'll need. Personally, I would flip out if I had to make my own fondant, color it, roll it out and cut out/assemble everything on my first go-round. I've used Wilton fondant and it was super easy.

However, you might be much more brave than I am :) Good luck! Post pictures of the final product! :thumbsup:

Oh and one more suggestion - either top the cupcakes with more icing than you normally would, or fill them. When you peel off fondant, sometimes a bunch of the icing comes with, so a proper icing/filling to cupcake ratio is important!

[jenfromnj]

I agree about the marshmallow fondant. This is the recipe I've used
http://whatscookingamerica.net/PegW/Fondant.htm

If it was me, I wouldn't bother with the white topper circles. I'd just do a smooth buttercream layer, and do the robots themselves with the fondant...I'd do the eyes with white butter cream and the black details with a black pen or gel. I had great success with the "DUFF/ Ace of Cakes" brand of food coloring. Of course the Wilson gel works great, but I couldn't find (locally)much more than primary colors.
Even then you've got to make 6 kinds of fondant. That seems like A LOT of work to me. But they ARE really cute.
How many do you need?

Wow, thank you for all the info! I'm considering just making a dozen robot cupcakes (enough for the kids) and making cute colored cupcakes for everyone else, and sticking to primary colors only (and white) for the fondant. ITA that 6 kinds of fondant is too much for a fondant rookie like me.


Those robots are cute but for the same effect, you can do the Family Fun version or the "Hello, Again!" cupcake cookbook ones:
http://familyfun.go.com/assets/cms/recipes/rad-robot-cupcake-cake-recipe-photo-420-FF0311CAKE_A13.jpg
http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/rad-robot-cupcakes-984990/

eta- I am a fan of the FF cakes because they don't tend to involve frosting or fondant work. Just assembling and using candies,cookies and such. I can do that much better!
Beth

That definitely does look much easier, and it's really cute! I'm kind of obsessed with the cupcakes now, though--probably to my eventual detriment. I bookmarked FF, it will probably come in handy when I come to my senses :). Thankfully, the party will be all family and our good friends, so they all know that my creative and baking skills are limited at best.

[jenfromnj]

Those cupcakes are adorable!

If you wanted to buy premade fondant toppers, I've used this seller from etsy and she was great to work with:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/60005776/fondant-cupcake-toppers-robots
http://www.etsy.com/listing/66009114/fondant-cake-topper-robot

I love baking but get stressed out around party time so find that this kind of outsourcing works well for me.


Super cute!

If this is your first fondant project, and because people will probably just peel off the fondant and toss it, I'd recommend Wilton's fondant. The primary colors (http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=0CF82CB9-475A-BAC0-576447BDF63A036A&fid=0CF82CD8-475A-BAC0-5F601F27A937A515) and neon colors (http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=0D2825F9-475A-BAC0-52D3573840EC6EA1&fid=0D282676-475A-BAC0-5FF879C4291F8CD8) variety packs will have everything you'll need. Personally, I would flip out if I had to make my own fondant, color it, roll it out and cut out/assemble everything on my first go-round. I've used Wilton fondant and it was super easy.

However, you might be much more brave than I am :) Good luck! Post pictures of the final product! :thumbsup:

Oh and one more suggestion - either top the cupcakes with more icing than you normally would, or fill them. When you peel off fondant, sometimes a bunch of the icing comes with, so a proper icing/filling to cupcake ratio is important!

These are all awesome suggestions--thank you! The premade fondant sounds like it's definitely worth checking out. And they'll make me less likely to cry wen everyone starts throwing out the little fondant pieces I spent forever making/assembling ;). Either way, I will definitely make sure there's extra icing/filling, so thanks for the tip on that.

KWC, I was actually messaging with that Etsy seller yesterday! Her things are adorable.

[jenfromnj]

Two follow up questions if any of the resident baking/cake decorating experts are still reading this thread:

1. How long will fondant reasonably keep? I am hoping to do some of the cutting out and prep work a few days before the party, then bake and assemble the day/night before the party.

2. How much fondant do you think I'd need per dozen cupcakes?

Thanks again for all your help, everyone!

[kijip]

I did a fondant lego cake last June. I did not find it too difficult. It was not perfect, but it looked good and people loved it. The brand of fondant I used tasted fine, but I can't remember what kind it was. I had to dye it myself.

[kijip]

1. How long will fondant reasonably keep? I am hoping to do some of the cutting out and prep work a few days before the party, then bake and assemble the day/night before the party.

Essentially forever, if stored in a fully air tight container and NOT in the fridge.

2. How much fondant do you think I'd need per dozen cupcakes?

One box of the Wilton's stuff will be more than enough.

[Thatchermom]

Two follow up questions if any of the resident baking/cake decorating experts are still reading this thread:

1. How long will fondant reasonably keep? I am hoping to do some of the cutting out and prep work a few days before the party, then bake and assemble the day/night before the party.

Fondant keeps virtually forever (dependent on how you store it) but it varies in condition. A large ball of fondant will keep indefinitely if coated with shortening and wrapped well in plastic wrap and then sealed in a bag. I just nuke it a few seconds to soften. Smaller, cut out shapes will also keep, but will begin a drying process. Cut shapes will eventually be stiff enough to stand on their own - and break. It's pretty hard to keep pre-cut pieces soft. They are still perfectly usable, and in some circumstances this drying out is favorable (if you were wanting to stand pieces vertically, for example). They do not change in taste at all, and many kids actually like the dry marshmallow fondant as it seems like a candy to them. I always make extra pieces because my kids are hanging around begging for them.

2. How much fondant do you think I'd need per dozen cupcakes?

Not a lot, really. A little fondant goes a long way. The amount you would have by purchasing the white and colors would be more than adequate. One batch of MMF split into the colors would also probably be plenty.

Thanks again for all your help, everyone!

I'm a big advocate of working with the product early - it will really help you gain some confidence! And it's a good craft project - my kids think of it as good-tasting playdoh. (The marshmallow kind, I mean!)