Fondant icing, also commonly just called fondant (, ; ), is an icing used to decorate or sculpt cakes and pastries. It is made from

sugar Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose Glucose is a sugar with the Chemical formula#Molecular formula, molecul ...

water Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance. It is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known liv ...

gelatin Gelatin or gelatine () is a translucent, colorless, flavorless food ingredient, commonly derived from collagen taken from animal body parts. It is brittle when dry and rubbery when moist. It may also be referred to as hydrolyzed collagen, coll ...

vegetable oil Vegetable oils, or vegetable fats, are oils extracted from seeds or from other parts of edible plants. Like animal fats, vegetable fats are ''mixtures'' of triglycerides. Soybean oil, grape seed oil, and cocoa butter are examples of seed ...

or shortening, and

glycerol Glycerol () is a simple triol compound. It is a colorless, odorless, sweet-tasting, viscous liquid. The glycerol backbone is found in lipids known as glycerides. It is also widely used as a sweetener in the food industry and as a humectant in pha ...

. It does not have the texture of most icings; rolled fondant is akin to modelling clay, while poured fondant is a thick liquid. The flavor is generally considered a weak point, as it is sweet and chalky. It is generally chosen for its appearance rather than the way it tastes. The word, in French, means 'melting,' coming from the same root as '' fondue'' and '' foundry.''

Rolled fondant

''Rolled fondant,'' ''fondant icing,'' or ''pettinice,'' which is not the same material as poured fondant, is commonly used to decorate wedding cakes. Although wedding cakes are traditionally made with marzipan or royal icing, fondant is increasingly common due to nut allergies, as it does not require almond meal. Rolled fondant includes

(or

agar Agar ( or ), or agar-agar, is a jelly-like substance consisting of polysaccharides obtained from the cell walls of some species of red algae, primarily from " ogonori" and " tengusa". As found in nature, agar is a mixture of two components, t ...

in vegetarian recipes) and food-grade glycerine, which keeps the sugar pliable and creates a

dough Dough is a malleable, sometimes elastic paste made from flour (which itself is made from grains or from leguminous or chestnut crops). Dough is typically made by mixing flour with a small amount of water or other liquid and sometimes includes ...

-like consistency. Rolled fondant is rolled out like a pie crust and used to cover the cake. The result is a perfectly smooth surface that is well-suited for aesthetic expression, especially for complex shapes, such as large ruffles, that would be difficult to make with a softer icing. It also takes food coloring well. Rolled fondant is very sweet but otherwise is not considered to taste good or to have an appealing texture. Some bakers who use it recommend against eating it. Alternatives to rolled fondant include marzipan and mochi. Types include: ;Ready-made rolled fondant :Commercial, shelf-stable, pre-made rolled fondant often consists principally of sugar and hydrogenated oil. However, different formulations for commercial shelf-stable fondant are available and include other ingredients, such as sugar, cellulose gum, and water. ;Marshmallow fondant :

Marshmallow Marshmallow (, ) is a confectionery made from sugar, water and gelatin whipped to a solid-but-soft consistency. It is used as a filling in baking or molded into shapes and coated with corn starch. This sugar confection is inspired by a medicina ...

fondant is a form of rolled fondant often made and used by home bakers and hobbyists. Marshmallow fondant is made by combining melted shelf-stable marshmallows, water, powdered sugar, and solid vegetable shortening. Home bakers use this recipe for homemade fondant due to the readily available access to required ingredients. ;Sculpting fondant :Sculpting fondant is similar to rolled fondant but with a stiffer consistency, which makes it a good sculpting material. ;Sugar paste : Sugar paste, also called ''gum paste'', is similar to rolled fondant, but hardens completely—and therefore is used for bigger cake decorations, such as bride and groom figures, bigger flowers, etc. Sugar paste is made mainly of egg whites, powdered sugar, and shortening. Tylose can be added to make gum paste more pliable for detailed work.

Gallery

File:Cake with rose 2.jpg, Cake covered with chocolate rolled fondant File:Fondant-covered cake sewing kit.jpg, A fondant-covered cake depicting a sewing kit File:Birthday cake for one-year old.jpg, The appliqué method uses one or more layers of cutout rolled fondant pieces to provide color and depth. File:Fondant Cake decorated with flowers.jpg, Fondant-covered cake with flowers File:Sao Valentim 2013 (5).jpg, Red fondant on a

Valentine's Day Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a Christian martyrs, martyr named Saint Valentine, Valentine, and ...

cake File:Egg nest cake (4479538484).jpg, Fondant in the shape of eggs File:Operation cake.jpg, "'' Operation'' cake made of fondant

References

{{Reflist Food paste Sugar confectionery Cake decorating Modelling clay

Rolled fondant

Gallery

See also

References