How to Decorate a Cake with Fondant Icing

What is fondant icing?

Fondant icing is actually the same thing as sugar paste. It can be bought as plain white icing, or you can colour it yourself with a gel colourant. The alternative is to buy a ready-coloured fondant like these, which you can find in a variety of different colours. You can also mix them to make your own colours, but be warned: a little experimentation and understanding of colour theory is advisable here.

Using fondant icing

Fondant icing is incredibly versatile. You can use it for covering and decorating a cake, or modeling foliage, objects and creatures to feature on a cake. Fondant icing is very easy to roll. You can buy it as ‘ready-to-roll’ icing, which gives you more time to spend planning your design. Our fondant icing products are the professional decorator’s favourite, but to get the best results from your icing it’s important to become familiar with how to make the icing malleable for the best results. Our detailed instructions attached to each recipe, as well as our helpful videos, can help you to create the desired effect.

Storing fondant icing

Fondant icing can be kept in an airtight container for up to nine months. It can even be frozen so you can keep it for a lot longer. The icing is easier to manipulate when it has been warmed, so you can pop it into the microwave for a few seconds to make it more versatile.

Seven simple steps to getting the best out of your fondant icing

1. Out of the packet ready-to-roll fondant icing can feel a little tough and perhaps brittle. The key is in the preparation, so first knead the icing to the desired consistency.
2. Make sure the surface of your cake is the shape you are happy with and has an even surface. You can use a butter cream as a kind of adhesive, or jam is a good alternative.
3. It’s always crucial to dust the work surface with icing sugar to stop the fondant sticking.
4. As you roll it out be sure to keep the icing moving by rotating it on the surface, adding a little icing sugar to the rolling pin if necessary. Be cautious you don’t dry out the fondant too much.
5. Once it is the desired size, use the rolling pin to support the icing sheet as you gently drape it over the cake. Do this slowly to avoid trapping air.
6. Rotate the cake to gently ease out the overlaps using a downward swooping motion with the side of your hand.
7. Once you are happy with the covering, use a sharp knife to cut off the excess. Be sure that the icing reaches the base of the cake. (A cake turntable is an advantage when it comes to trimming your icing.) A ‘smoother’ can help you to create the perfect, smooth finish to your cake.

Getting creative with your fondant icing

Covering a cake with fondant icing will give you a beautiful, smooth finish. You can use shape cutters or craft freehand to create all sorts of shapes with which to decorate your cake.

Below are 5 of our favorite fondant cake decoration ideas. With each recipe there is easy-to-follow guidance so you can create something your friends and family will marvel at.

1) Rainbow Skittles Cake If you want a cake that screams colour, then the rainbow cake is the obvious choice. Ideal for kids’ parties, this cake is fun, frivolous and funky.

2) Gingerbread folk Cut out and kit out your gingerbread men in everything from brightly coloured knitwear to spotted swimwear. We suggest the Renshaw neon multipack icing to give your gingerbread people maximum wardrobe choices.

3) Vintage Lace Cake If ever a cake could showcase the simple loveliness of fondant icing then this is it. With its elegant sheen and gentle colouring, the vintage cakes exhibit the ultimate in sophisticated, tasteful decoration.

4) Carrot Cake Bites You don’t have to be a master sculptor to master the techniques needed to make these cute carrot cake bites. These little morsels of loveliness are as tasty as they are adorable.

5) Pink Ombre Cake This is a cake that knows how to show off the effectiveness of fondant icing colour gradations. It takes a little bit of patience to craft, but the effect is outstanding.

For more fun ideas with fondant icing, why not browse our recipes and experiment with possibilities for every occasion?