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Rolled Fondant

Servings: Makes icing for 1 (9-inch) cake
Comments:
What is Fondant?

Fondant
Definition: [FAHN-duhnt] Used as both candy and icing, fondant is a simple sugar-water-cream of tartar mixture cooked to the soft- ball stage. After cooling, the mixture is beaten and kneaded until extremely pliable. It can be formed into decorations or candy, which can be dipped in chocolate.

Heating fondant makes it soft enough to be used as an icing to coat large and small cakes such as petit fours. Food coloring and a variety of flavorings can be added to fondant for visual and taste appeal. It can be refrigerated, tightly wrapped, for up to 3 months.

Copyright (c) 1995 by Barron's Educational Series, from The New Food Lover's Companion, Second Edition, by Sharon Tyler Herbst

Ingredients:
2 pounds confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/4 cup cold water
1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup glucose* see note below (found in cake decorating stores) or white corn syrup
1 1/2 tablespoons glycerine (found in cake decorating stores)* see note below
1 teaspoon desired flavoring (vanilla will give the fondant an off-white color)
Cornstarch

*Note: Glucose and glycerine can be purchased online at: http://www.sugarcraft.com, and at other cake supply stores.

Instructions:
In a large bowl (do not use metal), sift the sugar and make a well in the center. In a small saucepan, add the water and sprinkle the gelatin on top to soften for about 5 minutes. Begin to heat the gelatin and stir until the gelatin is dissolved and clear. Do not boil. Turn off the heat and add the glucose and glycerine, stirring until well blended. Add the flavoring. Pour into the well of sugar, and mix until all of the sugar is blended. Use hands to knead icing until it becomes stiff. Add small amounts of confectioner's sugar if the mixture is sticky.

Form the mixture into a ball and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Place in an airtight container. This icing works best if allowed to rest at room temperature for about eight hours before using, particularly if the weather is humid. Do not refrigerate.

To Cover a Cake with Fondant:
Dust a clean pastry cloth, or a smooth, clean surface, with cornstarch and roll the fondant with a rolling pin until it is approximately 1/4 inch thick. Make sure that the fondant is large enough to fit over the top and sides of the cake. Slide both hands under the fondant and carefully center it on top of a cake that has been freshly iced with buttercream. (The icing makes the fondant adhere to the cake.)

Dust your hands with cornstarch and smooth the fondant, starting at the top and working down the sides until the entire surface is even and flat. Cut off the excess icing around the bottom of the cake with a pizza cutter or sharp knife. Decorate the cake with buttercream or royal icing. This fondant keeps a cake fresh for two days at room temperature. Do not refrigerate a cake with fondant icing.

Makes icing for a 9-inch cake.

Source: Colette's Birthday Cakes
by Colette Peters*.

*Colette's Birthday Cakes book may be purchased "used" at Amazon.com

Source: Source: Colette's Birthday Cakes
Date: August 3, 2003