Kick a$$ fondant

Challenged accepted!

So I never really liked fondant. I mean, sure, it looks great and oh-so-smooth, but the taste is just not worth the looks - too sugary and pasty, ugh! Plus, just seems like such a daunting task to take on.

Yet when my decorating skills were called into question recently, I had to respond. Gauntlets were thrown. I accepted, and anyone who knows me, knows when the stubborn streak hits, I can't back down.

I have never heard of or seen fondant cutters before. When I received the flower fondant cut-outs from Tita, I knew I had to put them to use. Aren't they pretty? The one on the left are actually cookie cutters I found at Cost Plus World Market. It's becoming my favorite place to shop for special items.

I started with some basic devil's food cupcakes paired with a new topping, bittersweet chocolate ganache frosting. This was truly a chocoholic's dream! It was extremely moist and tasted decadent and rich.

Smooth as possible so as not to disrupt the fondant surface later. Now, on to the hard part. Armed with no knowledge or experience, I researched online for the bare basics and decided on Bunnywoman's marshmallow fondant recipe. It seemed straightforward and simple enough for a newbie to start with. Honestly, not as easy as the directions said but tons better then what I had previously imagined. Plus all that kneading gives you a good upper body workout. Just be careful with the dyes!

Very sticky. Lots of powdered sugar helps.

First attempt wasn't too bad, slightly off center.

Then I just went for it.

Kneading color into the fondant was actually pretty fun! Created such a mess.

I haven't tried gumpaste yet, but that will definitely be my next project. In the meantime, I had to improvise.

Yes, those are martini glasses dusted with powdered sugar. The half cylinder curve used to bend the tiny purple flowers is from a cut up paper towel roll lined with wax paper.

Hmm, tempted to add some alcohol and create my own cocktail. Fondant surprise, anyone?

I know it won't keep, but I loved being able to curve and bend the flowers. It gives the whole look much more dimension and texture.

The purple flowers are simply adorable.

Possibly my favorite of the night. I know, one shouldn't favor a particular one, but it was just very delicate and tender looking.

I got to point out that in place of the stamens are pink pearl candies.

Getting closer...

Glossy! Just gently brush off the powdered sugar residue. If patient enough, wipe with a moist paper or brush to give it a smoother, finished look.

Side views.

Close ups for greater details:

A collage for your enjoyment. Who am I kidding, these tickled me pink!

  

And of course, some really BIG flowers to defy gravity.

I wanted to take a second to thank Tita and Bunnywoman for their support and experience. A special thanks to the challenging spirit that allowed me to overcome an intimidating task. And quite honestly, I enjoyed myself immensely when tackling this experiment.

There you have it. My first attempt with homemade fondant. Can't definitively say I conquered it, but as far as starters go, I definitely kicked ass!