Can You Eat Fondant? The Truth Might Surprise You

Can You Eat Fondant? The Truth Might Surprise You

If you’re anything like me, you must have asked yourself this question, can you eat fondant? This question always pops in my mind whenever I see some cakes with fondant. The cakes look so pretty with the fondant that I am tempted to eat them as well.

I tried to ask my friends about it, but none of them have given me a convincing answer about this matter. That’s why I have resorted to searching for the answer online and I was quite overwhelmed with the information I discovered. To help those with the same query, I’m going to share what I discovered about fondant.

What Is A Fondant?

can you eat fondant

Fondant is a soft and malleable substance used to decorate pastries and cakes. It’s actually a French term, which means “melting” in reference to its malleable texture. This substance can either be poured or rolled.

Poured fondant is usually cooked and glazed on cakes or desserts. It is made of water, sugar, and corn syrup or cream of tartar. You can use this type of fondant to create thin coatings and as a topping for savory appetizers like petite fours.

On the other hand, rolled fondant is made with the same ingredients of poured fondant, but with the addition of gelatin, shortening, and glycerin. This type of fondant has a pliable consistency that can be kneaded to create thicker coatings. Most cake decorators use rolled fondant because of its versatility and perfectly smooth finish.

So, Can You Eat Fondant?

can you eat fondant

Yes, you can eat fondant because it’s absolutely edible, but it’s not something you’d want to eat. Since this is made of sugar, you can expect nothing but sweetness. While some people find it delicious, others have a strong aversion against its sweetness and thickness.

When fondant was first sold in the market, it has a chemical aftertaste because of the preservatives added. Since then changes were made to make the taste better. Now, a lot of fondant tastes similar to marshmallows without the extra softness.

My favorite pre-made fondant mix is the Amanda Oakleaf Cakes Marshmallow Fondant because it works easier and sets more quickly than regular fondant. It tastes a lot like marshmallows, too.

Making Your Own Marshmallow Fondant

can you eat fondant

Fondant is actually easy to make, but it can be a bit messy. You can get an idea on how it’s done in this video here.
[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/FXvVj8CtvQM”]
To begin, prepare these following ingredients:

  • 2 cups of marshmallows
  • 1 tablespoon of water
  • 3-4 cups powdered sugar

In a large bowl, place the marshmallows and add water. The water will keep the marshmallows from sticking to the bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds.

With a silicone spatula, stir the mixture until all the marshmallows are melted. After all the marshmallows have melted, add a cup of powdered sugar. Fold the mixture slowly for about a minute and add another cup of powdered sugar.

Mix again for another minute and add another cup of powdered sugar. Continue mixing and once the mixture has reached a dough-like consistency, remove from the bowl and knead until it’s no longer sticky. Before you start kneading, sprinkle some powdered sugar into your hands to keep it from sticking to your hands.

For storage, wrap the fondant with a saran wrap and an airtight container. You can keep it in the fridge for about a month.

Applying the Fondant to Cake

can you eat fondant

  • Before you cover the cake with the fondant, frost the cake with buttercream. The buttercream will serve as the glue to neatly stick the fondant onto the cake. Alternatively, you can glaze the cake to create a nice sticky surface.
  • Now that your cake is prepared for the fondant cover, start flattening the fondant with a rolling pin. Make sure that you have dusted some cornstarch on your work surface. You need a bigger size to cover the whole cake.
  • Gently place the fondant over to the cake with the excess draping to the sides. With your hands, carefully press the fondant into the surface of the cake. After all sides of the cake are covered, trim the excess with a pizza wheel cutter.
  • To get that smooth and flat finish, use a cake smoother to press the sides and top of the cake. You can see how it’s done in this video here.

Read more:

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What’s The Difference Between The Panera Bread Bowl And Cup?

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Try Some Fondant Now!

Now, that I know that fondant tastes better if it’s made with marshmallows, I can finally answer yes if someone asks me this question, “Can you eat fondant?”

To save cost and be in control of the sweetness of your fondant, you can make it at home. All you’ll need are powdered sugar, water and marshmallows.

If you’ve tasted some fondant, let us know in the comments section below. If you like this article, feel free to share it with anyone you know.