primitives discuss cakes shown at cooking shows

[Thor]

My mom used to make cakes and wedding cakes. She did a small catering business, part time ever since I can remember. What I hate most about those cake decorating shows is that they use fondant an awful lot. Sorry, but fondant is NOT icing!!! Airbrushing is NOT cake decorating, either!! My mom also made her cakes from scratch, as was her frosting. NO box mixes!! EVER!! She was personally asked by Norman Wilton (he owned Wilton Cake decorating supplies) to start up cake decorating classes.

[Revolution]

Since I have never tried fondant though, I'd be willing to give it a go though. Only from Carlo's though. And air brushing may not be actual decoration, I guess, it can still look fairly nice.

[Ballygrl]

What does fondant taste like? I picture it as high tech buttercreme frosting.

[debk]

What does fondant taste like? I picture it as high tech buttercreme frosting.

Not buttercream frosting.

I talked M into watching the cake making challenge on The Food Network with me Sunday night...he's always said no way! in more colorful terms  , but since there was nothing else on, he watched it. Turned out, he was fascinated!! 

Back to your question...I was trying to explain fondant to him. It's very sweet obviously, but it's also easily formed. I was trying to think the other night, if it's in any candy bars, and couldn't think of any. It should be smooth and not grainy.

Do you remember the modeling clay that was available when we were kids? It came in 4 blocks to a pack, each about the size of a "king" sized Hershey bar.

Fondant used in cake decorating is like a cross between the modelling clay and Silly Putty. It can be molded - usually by hand or rolled out into sheets to be used either in whole sheets or cut out into shapes. It is not spreadable like buttercream would be, nor will it break down like buttercream will, but it will pull apart like a pie crust can if rolled to thin or pulled to much in any direction. It is usually applied on top of frosting that has been thinly applied. This is so that it will roll on smoothly, and not stick to the cake itself, and pull the cake apart.

[Ballygrl]

Fondant is awesome for decorating but it really does look like it has way too much sugar in it. I'm to the point of not wanting to get cakes with buttercream anymore because it's too sweet, I'd rather have whipped cream frosting or ice cream cakes.

[debk]

Fondant is awesome for decorating but it really does look like it has way too much sugar in it. I'm to the point of not wanting to get cakes with buttercream anymore because it's too sweet, I'd rather have whipped cream frosting or ice cream cakes.

Are you buying frosted cakes at the grocery or at a real bakery?

Grocery store's frosting is nasty stuff. I don't know what they put in it anymore, if it's the preservatives or what. But it's too tacky and oily I think.

I make my own frosting. Start with a stick of real butter and a bag of powdered sugar and go from there.

[Ballygrl]

Are you buying frosted cakes at the grocery or at a real bakery?

Grocery store's frosting is nasty stuff. I don't know what they put in it anymore, if it's the preservatives or what. But it's too tacky and oily I think.

I make my own frosting. Start with a stick of real butter and a bag of powdered sugar and go from there.

Grocery store, for some reason we don't have many bakeries around here anymore, and Shop Rite has a pretty awesome bakery dept. but like you said the buttercream isn't good at all.

[Revolution]

Not buttercream frosting.

I talked M into watching the cake making challenge on The Food Network with me Sunday night...he's always said no way! in more colorful terms  , but since there was nothing else on, he watched it. Turned out, he was fascinated!! 

Back to your question...I was trying to explain fondant to him. It's very sweet obviously, but it's also easily formed. I was trying to think the other night, if it's in any candy bars, and couldn't think of any. It should be smooth and not grainy.

Do you remember the modeling clay that was available when we were kids? It came in 4 blocks to a pack, each about the size of a "king" sized Hershey bar.

Fondant used in cake decorating is like a cross between the modelling clay and Silly Putty. It can be molded - usually by hand or rolled out into sheets to be used either in whole sheets or cut out into shapes. It is not spreadable like buttercream would be, nor will it break down like buttercream will, but it will pull apart like a pie crust can if rolled to thin or pulled to much in any direction. It is usually applied on top of frosting that has been thinly applied. This is so that it will roll on smoothly, and not stick to the cake itself, and pull the cake apart.

I also like the fact that you can steam fondant, and make it shiny, and pristine. Awesome technique. I have a pretty big sweet tooth for cakes when I can get them, so I'd go for the fondant, OR the buttercream. Bring them both on.