Making your own fondant is the way to go. This fondant recipe only takes 4 ingredients, making it less expensive than buying it at the store. Once made, it is easy to use for cakes, cupcakes, or anything else you want to create!
Fondant
Fondant is a lot of fun to work and play with when it comes to decorating. It works beautifully on wedding cakes with fresh flowers, and it is easy to color for bright and fun birthday cakes and cupcakes. This recipe has been used over and over in our family for a variety of events. Don’t be intimidated – it’s very simple to make! Once you get it down, you will see that the possibilities are endless. Be ready for birthday cake requests!
Tips for Making Fondant
Fondant is easy to make, and when made correctly, it is also easy to work with when decorating. There are a few tips we recommend for this recipe to be a success:
Start with fresh marshmallows
Marshmallows that have been in an opened bag or are past the freshness date will be stale and or sticky, and the fondant won’t turn out as well. When you purchase the marshmallows, check the expiration date and shake the bag a little to make sure they aren’t all clumped together.
Use a mixer with a dough hook
As you reach the needed consistency for the fondant, it becomes thick and more stiff. It is still pliable, but a hand mixer just won’t cut it. Think freshly opened play dough. The dough hook is a life saver! Most standard mixers like Bosch (pictured) and KitchenAid have a dough hook accessory.
Watch for color and consistency
Recognizing when to stop adding sugar and stop mixing is key when making fondant. The fondant is ready to remove from the mixer when the fondant color is no longer glossy and has a matte appearance, and the consistency is thick (again, think play dough).
Keep fondant from sticking to hands and surfaces
Once the fondant is ready to knead and color, be sure to keep your hands and all surfaces lightly covered with shortening. Flour or powdered sugar will make it too stiff. Make sure it is pure white shortening. Butter-flavored shortening or cooking spray has a yellow tint, consequently turning fondant an off-white or yellowish color.
Use an adjustable long rolling pin (dough roller)
Most long rolling pins have thickness rings to get a smooth, even finish on the fondant. A regular rolling pin works for most projects, however the long rolling pin is an essential tool for projects like wedding cakes, making it possible to roll the fondant into a large enough circle to cover a large cake. It may be worth the investment if you plan to make fondant often. This gives you an idea of what they look like.
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Ways to Use Fondant
Birthday Cake Hamburger Cake Fondant Cut-Outs 
Tea Cup Cakes
There are so many fun things to make with fondant in addition to wedding cakes. This Hamburger Cake is a fun cake to make for the hamburger lovers out there. The cheese, lettuce, and onions are all made out of fondant. It’s perfect for BBQ’s, potlucks, or birthday parties. I recently made this with my sons for a Cub Scout cake decorating contest. The scouts loved it!
My sister and I made tea cup cakes for my niece’s birthday. She had an “Alice in Wonderland” theme. We made the tea cups by baking the cake batter in glass mixing bowls. After the cakes cooled, we removed the cakes from the bowls, and then placed the fondant over the cakes making a flat “bottom” so they wouldn’t tip. We flipped them right side up and made the handles, rings around the top, and the polka dots. Then we frosted the top of the cake. They turned out so cute! The candle you see on it is one of the coolest birthday candles I have ever seen. When you light the top wick, it spins open, lights all the birthday candles and continues to spin and play a song.
How to Make Fondant
Ingredients
- 16 ounces mini marshmallows
- 32 ounces powdered sugar
- 4 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon shortening
Instructions
- Put marshmallows, water, and shortening in a glass microwavable bowl.
- Microwave for 20 seconds, then stir. Repeat 4 times.
- Pour into a mixer and mix well using the dough attachment.
- Add in powdered sugar a cup at a time. Mix until the shine is completely gone. You may not need to use all the sugar, just keep adding until it has the consistency of play dough. The final result should not be sticky to the touch.
- When the fondant becomes too stiff to mix in the mixer, pull the fondant out and knead it on the counter, adding more sugar if needed. Knead in food coloring, if desired.
- From this point, you can roll the fondant out to place on a cake, cupcakes, or to create something amazing!
- NOTE: When working with fondant, keep all surfaces and hands lightly covered in shortening to prevent sticking.
Gayle Ballard says
I would like to use the fondant to make cut out rocking horses for cupcakes. Is this recipe what I would use? If so, how far ahead can I cut out the rocking horses and how would I store them until the day before event? Thx
Favorite Family Recipes says
Are you cutting them out with a cookie cutter? The fondant won’t be strong enough to stand up on its own unless it is a little thicker. Fondant can keep for 1-2 months at room temperature. Just make sure to cover it in a little bit of shortening and plastic wrap and store it in an airtight container.
Layla says
Can you use Domino sugar instead of powdered sugar
Favorite Family Recipes says
I haven’t heard of Domino sugar. What is it?
JimC says
Common white sugar only comes in two main types, granulated or powdered. The Domino brand sells both, so not sure what you are asking.
Betty says
I have never made stuff like this but i want to do it to show my granddaughter how to.she is learing
Zahra says
I do not have a dough mixer can i do it by hand
Favorite Family Recipes says
It would be difficult to get the right consistency by hand.
Zahra says
i got a mixer and it came with a dough hook
Jenny rice says
How do you store the fondant once made or placed on the cake? I’m new to fondant. And how long could you make this in advance and how to store ? Thanks so much!
Favorite Family Recipes says
You can store fondant wrapped in cling wrap at room temperature in an air-tight container if you are going to use it within a couple of days. If you are making it farther ahead in advance, you can store it in the fridge or even the freezer. Just make sure to let it come to room temperature and then knead it again until it is soft before using.
Nikki says
What can I use to stick fondant together. I’m making a cake topper and I have to stick few pieces together
Echo Blickenstaff says
There are a few things you can use to get fondant to stick together. Wilton recommends using their piping gel. You can lightly moisten the pieces with water to get them to stick together. Or you can make a “sugar glue” by microwaving a small amount of fondant with some water. See instructions here: https://rosebakes.com/make-fondant-sugar-glue/
JimC says
It works out much better if you wait to add coloring into the fondant until after it has uniform color and texture (no longer glossy). Before then you will want to look at the color and texture to tell if more sugar is needed, and to gauge when it’s mixed well enough.
Ava K says
Hi! I am making a cake for my moms birthday and I was wondering if it would be fine to use bigger marshmallows instead of mini ones? And also if I could add food coloring to it? Thanks for your help!
Erica Walker says
We haven’t tested this recipe with the bigger marshmallows so I can’t give you an accurate amount or weight. I’m not sure if it will turn out the same. As for food coloring, absolutely! Make sure you use the premium food coloring that you can find at Hobby Lobby or any craft store that carries cake-making supplies. You don’t want to use the watery stuff from the grocery store. Hope this helps!
Gillian Calvert says
In the uk we don’t have shortening. What can I use instead
Favorite Family Recipes says
You can try substituting butter!
Jennifer says
Hi! When do you add coloring in the recipe if you want to add color?
Favorite Family Recipes says
In step 5! You add the color while kneading the fondant.
pepper says
It worked perfectly! My cake is beautiful!
Sil says
if there is no powdered sugar what you will used instead
Echo Blickenstaff says
You can easily make your own powdered sugar using granulated sugar and cornstarch. Click this link for directions: https://www.bettycrocker.com/how-to/ask-betty/answer/can-substitute-powdered-sugar-granulated-sugar/43d23e54-493e-5597-9b1e-c4c665e05f3f