Making Marshmallow Fondant

Just for anyone that might be interested, here are details on making marshmallow fondant. I thought after my last post, those of you who may like to make your own fun fondant cake, would like to know how. Please don't be intimidated, it's really not hard just VERY messy. But it's so fun and you can truly be creative.

I first learned the directions for making marshmallow fondant here - http://whatscookingamerica.net/PegW/Fondant.htm.

She is very detailed, which is good, but I've now found some more concise directions at the links below. The link above also runs through the whole process of putting the fondant on the cake, where the other links just show the fondant recipe.

http://www.wilton.com/recipe/Rolled-Marshmallow-Fondant

http://www.ehow.com/how_4681043_marshmallow-fondant-recipe.html

 

http://candy.about.com/od/fondantcandyrecipes/r/mm_fondant.htm

 

Here are some of my tips:

• If you color the fondant, use Wilton dyes that you can find at local craft stores...I got mine at JoAnn's. Also, be sure to wear latex gloves when coloring the fondant so you don't color your hands, too! :)
• Crisco is your friend, use LOTS of it to keep your hands from sticking to the fondant and the fondant from sticking to the table. Also, as Peg points out, you can use Corn Starch on the table for rolling the fondant out. Overall, I've found the Corn Starch has worked better for me.
• Find yourself fun cut-outs at JoAnn's and you can easily decorate the cake with those. See posts on my Mickey Mouse and Baby Shower cakes to see what I mean.
• Fondant will last in your fridge for several weeks so make it in advance. Just coat it in crisco, cover with plastic wrap and then put it in a ziplock bag, being sure to get the air out. Also, don't put different color fondant into the same plastic wrap or ziplock since colors can bleed.
• Use thick buttercream (not whipped) icing to ice the cake. The fondant will hold better to the cake.
• For fun ideas for cakes, visit this website - http://www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com/. They posted my Mickey Cake there - http://www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com/coolest-circles-mickey-mouse-birthday-cake-66.html

Feel free to ask me any questions you may have. And if you try this, let me know! Wish I could invite everyone into my home and show you how to do it, but I'm sure you can probably find a video on YouTube. :)

Evan's 3rd Birthday Recap

I know I'm a bit behind in posting photos and details on Evan's 3rd Birthday party, but the last two weeks just took off and I haven't been able to catch up until now.

Evan's party was a blast! Evan had a great time with all his family and friends...there were 13 kids total and lots of adults too. The weather was just perfect...not too hot or windy, and no rain! Here's a view of the party in pictures. It was a CARS theme and I really tried to have fun playing on that theme. My cake didn't turn out bad, but ended up not fairing very well in the car ride over and in the heat. The icing melted (think my mistake was using whipped icing) and the fondant was slipping down the cake so it looked squished on the bottom even before the party started. I was pretty diappointed at first, but once everyone started arriving all that disappointment melted away...I think I can look back and laugh about it now! We actually had to put Evan's remote control Lightning McQueen car up against the back end to keep the whole end from falling apart. That definitely makes me smile now! In the end, Evan's only 3 years old and he didn't care if he had a perfect cake, nor did he really notice it falling apart. He just loved his Lightning McQueen cake and kept coming over to it and pointing it out. And many other kid's eyes just lit up when they saw the cake. And I put the time and love into making it for him...that's all that matters!

Menu
Lightning McQueen Race Day Sandwiches (made to look like a checkered flag with dark and light breads)
Mater's Tater Salad
Sally's Spinach Dip
Mack's Mexican Dip (spelled CARS with the tomatos on top)
Fillmore's Fruit Skewers (Evan ate a ton of these - loves his fruit!)
Flo's V8 Cafe (lots of different drinks including capri suns, Evan's favorites)

Activities
Ramone's House of Body Art - painting wooden cars
Playing on the playground - Evan loves the swing and insisted on swinging one last time after we have finished cleaning and packing up.

Here is photos of the cake right after I finished...if only it had lasted, but oh well. That's life. :)

UPDATE: Want to learn to make marshmallow fondant and cool cakes? Check out my latest post.