What is a fondant?
Fondant is a confection of sugar which when combined/cooked
with certain other ingredients forms dough. This
dough can be rolled or poured and even used to make chocolate or candy soft
centres.
The different types of fondant are prepared at different
temperatures with a set of ingredients.
What is a rolled fondant?
Rolled fondant is a smooth, snow white, sugar confection
used to cover cakes and cupcakes.
Why do we need to use fondant covering for cakes?
A fondant covering helps the cake underneath to stay moist. Secondly,
makes way for a smooth surface, on which, decorations can be placed or left blank
too.
What is poured fondant?
Poured fondant is a creamy confection, of medium thick
consistency, which can be easily poured to cover cakes and confections or be
used as a soft centre for candies. Though, normally for the big cakes rolled is
used as compared to poured fondant.
Can fondant be coloured?
Yes, it can be using edible food colours. Food colours are
available in gel and paste forms. Alternatively, commercial coloured fondants
can also be used.
Is homemade fondant better or commercial fondant? Why?
It purely depends on the recipe being used. Though,
commercial more recommended. Commercial fondant has long shelf life, simpler to
handle, better consistency (rolls better), flavour is balanced not to sweet or
bland, Apart from that commercial fondant has emulsifiers and other starches
besides sugar, which can’t be managed while preparing at home. And lot of
muscle power required to knead bigger batches.
What is gum paste?
Gum paste is a mix of sugar and gum with certain other
ingredients used primarily for hand modeling figures, making flowers, leaves and
very detailed decorations. It is similar in texture to fondant but it dries
very hard and tastes very bland, so not recommend for eating. As chances
to loose a teeth are high.
Can I use fondant to hand model figures and other things?
Yes you can after balancing gum agents in fondant.
What is the difference in
Gum paste and Fondant?
Both gum paste and fondant
can be molded, rolled, and sculpted but fondant taste much better.
Fondant on drying never gets hard like gum paste.
Since gum paste is very pliable it
can be rolled very thin and therefore, used in creating sugar flowers. On
the other hand, fondant is used to create borders and different designs on
cakes.
Why does fondant or gum paste crack?
Gum paste is made up of gum and
few other ingredients, which have properties that make it dry faster and
harder. Therefore cracks are caused. Second reason being, inadequate kneading,
thereby, not being sufficiently pliable resulting in cracks.
What is Tylose powder?
Tylose Powder is a gum agent.
Is Tylose available in India?
No it is not available readily.
Is Tylose essential to make fondant?
Not essential at all.
How to store unused
fondant or gumpaste?
They
can be stored in an airtight container or zip lock bag in a cool dry place. Or
in the freezer but after removing give sufficient time to thaw and then knead
and use.
How to stick different fondant pieces together?
Apply edible gum glue with a clean
paintbrush to stick different parts together. Water also works.
How long do fondant decorations last?
For at least 3 months in an airtight zip lock bag or
container in the refrigerator.
What is crumb coating for fondant cake?
A crumb coating is a term used for applying a thin layer of butter
cream frosting to a cake before it is covered with fondant. This coating
essentially traps all the loose crumbs on the surface of a cake. With the
crumbs secured, the final layer of frosting/ fondant will glide on smoothly and
cleanly. Usually the crumb coat is made from the same frosting that goes on the
cake, so there is no need for a special batch of frosting.
Is crumb coating necessary for a fondant cake?
Yes it is.
What to use to prevent
fondant from sticking on the work surface when rolling?
Normal
practice is to sprinkle cornstarch on the surface and roll out the fondant.
However, weather also plays a crucial role. Other options could be:
If the weather is very wet and rainy or highly humid, then
powdered sugar can be sprinkled.
