Making Fondant (Scares)

For years I was terrified of fondant. I’d look at cakes online, in magazines, or on TV and always secretly wish I could create such masterpieces.

Then I heard a rumor from a chef that you could make fondant at home out of marshmallows and powdered sugar. WHAT. Marshmallows were the only thing standing between me and my dream? Pretty much.

Now that I’ve conquered fondant, I feel invincible. I’ll attack any “hard-to-make” dish with blind confidence. Turducken, Beef Wellington, Mile-High Souffles, let me at ’em!

Marshmallow Fondant Recipe Ingredients

The ingredient list for this recipe is so simple, you probably have most of these things in your pantry or fridge already!

How to Make Fondant with Marshmallows

The most important thing to remember is grease, grease, grease. Marshmallow fondant is very sticky until it’s finished. Grease everything it is going to touch… Including YOU.

Melt the marshmallows with a little water in a GREASED microwave-safe bowl. Mix the powdered sugar and marshmallow in a GREASED electric mixer, until the mixer sounds exhausted.

Then GREASE the counter and yourself, and knead until smooth.

Believe it or not, that’s it.

Get the Complete (Printable) How To Make Fondant (Marshmallow Recipe) + VIDEO Below. Enjoy!

What Is Fondant For?

You can use your amazing fondant to cover cakes, mold into critters, and cut fun shapes for cupcake toppers. It rolls out like a dream and molds just like play-dough.

Fondant is best used to create a smooth layer over cakes, for FLAT decorations, and for small squatty shapes that aren’t top-heavy. If you want to make standing bows or larger flowers you’ll need to use gumpaste, because it dries harder.

Supplies Needed for Making Fondant Creations

To make fondant at home, you simply need a large microwave-safe bowl and an electric mixer.

Check out these fun ideas as well…

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Can I Store This Fondant?

You can store it in the pantry, wrapped really well, or in the back of the fridge for longer periods. I’ve had some in my fridge for several months at a time with no problem at all.

Can I Use A Hand Mixer Instead?

You can, but it probably won’t get you very far. You’ll have to do most of the mixing by hand. It’s a good upper body workout!

Does The Temperature In The Air Make A Difference?

When making fondant the air temp shouldn’t matter that much. It will be a little softer in warm temperatures and a little more firm in cooler climates, but not by much.

How to Make Fondant

Published:
May 31, 2021 Updated:
Jun 18, 2022

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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!

What is Fondant?

Fondant is a soft, sweet, frosting-like substance that is used to coat and decorate cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. It is pliable which makes it easy to work with and reshape as needed for decorating. Fondant is made by combining marshmallows and powdered sugar. Fondant is edible, but not everyone loves the texture and taste. Some people remove the fondant coating before eating the cake it covers.

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 easy recipe has been used over and over in our family for a variety of special events, including Erica’s wedding. It was used on her wedding cake. 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, you are about to become a cake boss!

Tips for Making Fondant

Fondant is simple to make, and when made correctly, it is also easy to work with when decorating. Here are a few tips we recommend to beginners for this easy fondant recipe to be a success:

Marshmallow Fondant Mixture

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. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Watch for Color and Consistency

Recognizing when to stop adding sugar and stop mixing is key when making fondant. It is ready to remove from the mixer when the color is no longer glossy and has a matte appearance, and the consistency is thick (again, think play dough).

Kneading the Fondant

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.

Rolling the Fondant

Use an adjustable long rolling pin or dough roller to roll fondant. Most long rolling pins have thickness rings to get a smooth, even finish. 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. Adjustable long rolling pins can be found at bakery supply stores or on Amazon. This gives you an idea of what they look like.

(Disclosure: This is a paid link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

Storage

Fondant can be made ahead and stored for later use. However, it will dry out so it is important to keep it in airtight container. It can also be wrapped completely in plastic wrap. It is not necessary to refrigerate fondant.

Ways to Use Fondant

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 the Easy Way

Fondant brings so much to our most celebratory cakes: the flawless finish, the rich colors, and those perfectly sculpted garnishes. Here’s how to effortlessly make it from scratch.

While she’s covered just about every food topic imaginable—from bargain wines to fancy desserts—she’s most passionate about the easy-yet-inspired everyday French cuisine she’s discovered throughout more than twenty summers living and cooking in France. Moranville was a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Award, Best Food & Cookbooks 2019, for The Little Women Cookbook. Her book, Everyday French Cooking: Modern French Cuisine Made Simple, will be published by Harvard Common Press in 2022. Back home in the Great Midwest, her local Aldi supermarket is her happy place.

Wini Moranville has written about food and wine for leading magazines and websites for more than 20 years—hundreds of those being for Better Homes & Gardens publications, including the iconic New Cook Book. She holds a bachelor’s degree in French and English from the University of Iowa; she also studied French at the University Laval in Quebec, Canada. Moranville later studied creative writing at Iowa State University, where she received a master’s degree in English and was the recipient of the Pearl Hogrefe Fellowship in Creative Writing.

While she’s covered just about every food topic imaginable—from bargain wines to fancy desserts—she’s most passionate about the easy-yet-inspired everyday French cuisine she’s discovered throughout more than twenty summers living and cooking in France. Moranville was a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Award, Best Food & Cookbooks 2019, for The Little Women Cookbook. Her book, Everyday French Cooking: Modern French Cuisine Made Simple, will be published by Harvard Common Press in 2022. Back home in the Great Midwest, her local Aldi supermarket is her happy place.

How to Make Two Types of Fondant Icing

Learn About Pourable and Rolled

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Fondant can refer to one of two types of sugar-based pastes used in preparing and decorating cakes, pastries, and confections. Poured fondant and can be used for making candies and as an icing. Rolled fondant produces sheets that can be used for cake decorating, giving a smooth look.

Poured Fondant Icing

Poured fondant, or fondant icing, is a sweet, creamy paste that can be used as a filling or icing for pastries such as éclairs and Napoleons. Poured fondant can be made from simply combining sugar, shortening, and water. Do note that using a high ratio of shortening imparts extra creaminess into the fondant icing. Some poured fondant recipes also call for corn syrup or glucose.

Making Poured Fondant

First, the shortening is melted, which can be done in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl, along with any desired flavoring ingredients. Then powdered sugar is stirred in, followed by however much water is needed to get the right consistency. Then it’s merely a matter of heating it and stirring it repeatedly until the fondant icing is neither too runny nor too lumpy. Additional sugar can help thicken it, and water can help thin it until it’s pourable.

Once cooked, cooled, and stirred, fondant can be used for making candies, or it can be thinned out and either poured over cookies and other baked items, or the items may be dipped into the fondant. If you are dipping items in the fondant, be sure to let them fully dry on a wire-framed cooling rack prior to eating or packaging. This will allow the fondant to drip dry and will prevent any smearing.

Rolled Fondant

Rolled fondant is almost like a very sweet dough. Like poured fondant, rolled fondant is made from ​powdered sugar, corn syrup, and water. However, to make rolled fondant, you must also add glycerin, shortening, and some sort of gelatin.