I'm looking at the book on the top left side here "Decorating with Rolled Buttercream Icing" (the prize for the Hallow'een cake) and wondering what exactly the difference is (save for a couple of ingredients, none of which are butter) between the two "mediums". What is the advantage of one over the other?

I guess I need to ask first: Who here's made rolled buttercream? Who's made rolled fondant (not MMF!) from scratch? What, comparing the two, did you find good/bad about each one?

For the curious: Here's the Rolled Buttercream recipe and the Rolled Fondant recipe, both from this site.

I've recently made both rolled buttercream and rolled fondant from scratch to try to find an alternative to Wilton's pre-packaged fondant and to save on some shipping of Satin Ice. I liked the taste of the rolled buttercream better compared to the fondant but it was hard to work with because it is kind of soft and not as forgiving to mistakes. Was easy to color and flavor though. The rolled fondant was not bad and easier to color and change the taste of than the pre-made Wilton but I still did not like the consisistency much and the ingredients are readily available if you don't have a craft store like a Hobby Lobby or Michael's locally. Personally I will stick to Satin Ice or MMF. Just have better luck wtih those.

if you use rolled buttercream and follow the directions about rolling it between 2 sheets of plastic, removing one and bringing the other to the cake, fliping it on..you will do ok.

I think, from what I remember that it's easier to work with than fondant. If you make a tear in it...you can repair it by 'rubbing' it..yes..a warm hand is all you need.

You can push it into any of your molds and freeze it and it comes out a dream.

You can thin it out a bit and you can pipe the most incredible roses..


and it tastes like candy corn!

HTH

Ick I hate candy corn...

I have my very first batch of rolled buttercream in the fridge - to use later today. I tasted it and it's pretty good. I used Creme Bouquet for the flavoring.

I hope it performs like fondant.

I am very new to cakes - but I used the Wilton fondant once and never will again. I felt bad when everyone made a face after taking a bite. No one took two bites.

I don't use anything with marshmallows (for my family) because we have three vegetarians who won't eat anything with gelatin.