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Fun with Fondant-- Cake Decorating Techniques

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Cake decorating courses are ideal classes for grownups who want to take their baking skills a step further and a fun activity for kids interested in baking. Fondant is a marvellous way to show off your cake decorating skills. Read on to find out how!

Fondant is one of the confections used for cake design. Most cake decorators refer to it as "baker's Play-Doh" because it has a creamy, clay-like consistency that makes it easy to shape and mould. Fondant is attractive easy to use and versatile. It can stand in as a filling, icing, covering, or ornamentation for different kinds of sweets.

Fondant generally consists of three main ingredients: sugar, water, and glucose. However, with the advancements in baking and confectionery, bakers have developed plenty of different variations and recipes. They include chocolate fondant, rolled buttercream, and marshmallow fondant.

Fondant is visually appealing and professional looking, and fondant creations are sweet and tasty. You can flavour fondant with different essences and tint it with different colours to enhance its appeal further. Bakers usually use fondant for wedding cakes, cookies, cupcakes, birthday cakes, pastries, petits fours, and candies.

Decorating with fondant is easy. All you need is practical baking skill, patience, and the ability to follow instructions. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to decorate a cake with fondant icing.

1. Make sure the cake is completely level before spreading the fondant. Watch out for any sharp or uneven edges, which may make the fondant crack after it dries.
2. Secure the cake from moving or sliding by pasting it to the cake board with a spoonful of frosting.
3. Spread buttercream frosting over the cake surface. This will act as a sealant, hide imperfections, and help the fondant stick later on.
4. Fondant usually sags. Prevent this by popping the cake into the refrigerator to make the surface cool and firm.
5. Knead the fondant until its consistency resembles clay. Roll it with a rolling pin on the countertop, and sprinkle lightly with corn starch if sticky. Roll the fondant until it is about a quarter of an inch thick, and make sure that its dimensions are larger than the cake. It should cover the top and sides of the cake completely.
6. Flip the cake over before applying the fondant. The shiny side should be face up.
7. Remove air bubbles from the fondant by smoothing it starting from the centre and down the sides. Be careful not to stretch the fondant or make dips in the cake.
8. Cut off any fondant pieces hanging over the edge once the air bubbles are completely gone.
9. This is the fun part. Start decorating! Ideal decorating options include stencils, paint, flowers, ribbons, and bows.

Cake decorating courses are fun activities. Pretty frosting and decorations can heighten the appeal of the cake by providing an attractive appearance.  There are different creams, icings, and frostings that you can use to decorate cakes and all of them contribute in making your cake a professional-looking, appetizing piece of confectionery.

Working with fondant is an exciting and educational experience. There are so many exciting variations and designs to try, and you can even custom-make different shapes and ornaments to suit your cake's design.

Visit websites like www.prettywittycakes.co.uk for how-to tips, fondant tools, baking techniques, decorating gadgets, recipes, and different courses.