Is the MMF recipe listed on this site by 'Cheryl' the one that you all use? I am going to attempt making it for a wedding cake next month. Any tips for a first timer?
Thanks!
~Wendy
not sure... I use the basic one that's posted all over the net...
16 oz bag of mini marshmellows
2 TB water
& confectioners sugar (most tell you up to 2 #'s but I don't even use 1#)
but I also add Vanilla flavoring to it
I'm sure the instructions are all the same.
The only tips I can tell you for the first time, is you will need time to do this, it can be frustrating and you'll maybe think you aren't getting anywhere. Have LOTS of space, and make more than you think you need, because you won't have enough, if you only make one small batch for even a decent sized one layer cake.
Also, it's gonna be HOT HOT HOT, don't go sticking your fingers in that hot MM goo. I regretted it right away. Use a wooden spoon coated with shortening or something.
Good luck.
I just made my first MMF cake yesterday. I agree with Cakeman66. The recipe I used said 2 pounds of powdered sugar and it was so hard and thick I couldn't roll it out thin enough so it ripped and it was impossible to lay it smooth down the whole cake so it looked bunched up in areas. I will never use that much powdered sugar again. But the MMF tasted yummy.
I add 1 T. of Crisco with the Marshmallow in addition to the recipe given earlier...I like the outcome...It is not dry and won't crack..
On first attempt it would always look like you failed...Keep kneading for a good 5 mins. until it comes to the consistency of play dough..
Wendy, I use Cheryl's recipe and I like it a lot. But if you are worried about experimenting on such an important cake but need really good fondant, you can also purchase Satin-Ice fondant which tastes great too, online.
I add 1 T. of Crisco with the Marshmallow in addition to the recipe given earlier...I like the outcome...It is not dry and won't crack..
On first attempt it would always look like you failed...Keep kneading for a good 5 mins. until it comes to the consistency of play dough..
I agree, the first time you make it, you think you are doing something wrong...Just be prepared to do a lot of kneading! (if you are an old breadmaker like me, then you will feel right at home! haha) The more you knead, the better it starts to feel, and gets much softer to work with.
I also add my colors at the melted marshmellow stage. It works better and has a more even color to it.
Also, when you are preparing your stuff to lay out, don't forget to put some crisco in a small bowl and grease up your hands! the first time I made it, my hands were full of a mess and I couldn't get to the cabinet to get crisco out!
I've never made MMF, but I'm very interested in trying it since I've read all the posts about it. My concern is, is this something that people actually eat? I mean, it seems like a waste to put this on the cake, then it not be edible!
Any tips?
MMF tastes a lot like candy circus peanuts. Most people think it tastes better than other kinds of fondant, in my experience. Some people just don't like the consistency or sweetness of fondant and will take it off the cake. Others love it. I always use a layer of yummy buttercream under my fondant--that way there's still icing for the cake if the fondant is removed.
I have a question for the pros. I have a Sunbeam stand mixer and wonder if you think it is powerful enough to mix this with. Also, how many batches do I need to make to cover a 2-layer 9 inch heart cake? Will one batch do it?
i've never added the crisco, however, i have greased my pyrex bowl for marshmellows, the bowl with the sugar and all utensils and fingers that will touch it, very, very thickly so when i pour my mm a LOT of melted crisco goes with it... i find it very theraputic... just kneading and kneading away getting my frustrations out on the dough instead of my boss.. <tee hee>
I have a question for the pros. I have a Sunbeam stand mixer and wonder if you think it is powerful enough to mix this with.
before i got my pro mixer i used an OSAR and it was okay.. but i actually prefer doing it by hand.. i think its actually faster and less messy .. the mm will stick to everything until the sugar is really worked in.. i still do it by hand ...
Cindy - I don't know that I would try it with a Sunbeam. I have a KA and I don't even use it, I just do it by hand. You get a better "feel" for when there is enough powdered sugar added then. Start out with a heavy wooden spoon, and when you can't stir it anymore, plop it out on the table and start kneading it. (grease up with crisco first!) It really isn't hard to make at all. I have never used the enitre amount of powdered sugar either. Good luck and have fun!
I'm a newbie all around. I've made one cake with fondant and it was store bought fondant.
I just made my first batch of MMF this weekend.
My first batch came out perfect and it was so easy to work with. It was super smooth on my cake.
My advice is not to add all the powdered sugar. I followed the first half of the instructions.....sifted 1lb into the mixing bowl, making a well for the melted marshmellows. I began mixing with with my kitchenaid paddle, then switched to the hook until the mixture was a thick ball. I removed the ball of fondant from the mixing bowl and kneaded in the rest of the sifted powdered sugar. I would say I used 1 and 3/4 a pound of powder sugar - not 2. I think the recipe will vary depending on your environment.
Thanks tye and quadcrew. Do you think I will need to make more than one batch if I'm doing a 9 inch heart with fondant decoartions? I want to do the cake in the Wilton Decorating Cakes book. It has a rope border and little fondant flowers on top and down the sides.
Thanks,
Cindy
one batch would be plenty for the 9 inch heart... also make sure you keep your left overs in a tightly sealed bag for future use..
Thanks tye. I want to make a practice cake with it because I haven't used it before and I have an order for a lingerie cake and I want to use fondant, but not Wilton's!!!
good luck.. i'd love to see pic's when youre done...
i do keep a box of Wiltons on hand just to do accessories.. sometimes the MMF is too soft to make flowers and stuff.. i also mix half mmf with gumpaste so it will be stiffer...
Tye is right - you will have some left over. When you go to roll it out, grease the area and your rolling pin too. (just a little, it doesn't take a lot) It makes it a lot easier to work with and it doesn't look all dusty from too much cornstarch or powdered sugar.
Put all of your scraps in a ziploc bag and smash the air out of it. The stuff keeps forever. Whenever you want to use it again, set it on a plate and microwave it a few seconds....it will soften right up. Knead it again with crisco greased hands and you're good to go for another project!
I just printed out this whole forum...God Bless the inventer of this site! Thanks alot to all ya'll! I will post pics of the cake with my wonderful MMF when its finished! Thanks a heap!!!
I've never made MMF, but I'm very interested in trying it since I've read all the posts about it. My concern is, is this something that people actually eat? I mean, it seems like a waste to put this on the cake, then it not be edible!
Any tips?
It depends on the person..Little kids love the stuff! Some people find it too sweet. But it is a 1000 percent better tasting then Wilton's fondant. I can tell you that much! hahaha!
(I have never used the Silk Fondant (Do I have that name right?) Have no idea how that taste...
Cindy - I don't know that I would try it with a Sunbeam. I have a KA and I don't even use it, I just do it by hand. You get a better "feel" for when there is enough powdered sugar added then. Start out with a heavy wooden spoon, and when you can't stir it anymore, plop it out on the table and start kneading it. (grease up with crisco first!) It really isn't hard to make at all. I have never used the enitre amount of powdered sugar either. Good luck and have fun!
Same here, I agree 100 precent! I don't use my mixer either, just put some powerered sugar in a bowl, put the melted marshmellow in and slowly work in more powedered sugar. It really is like making bread.
The way I make my MMF is to put a pile of shifted 10X sugar on the Silpat on the counter and make a well--like one makes homemade pasta. Then pour the melted MM mix in the well and start working it in. You must be a bit careful at the beginning as it is a hot mixture. It comes together very quickly, and you may not use all of the sugar in the MMF. Now I pretty much get the amount of sugar right so I don't have a lot of waste. Used the KA once--what a mess!!
MMF tastes pretty good to me. I save the extra that I cut away fromt he cake and store it in the fridge to snack on later. (sshhhhh).
I use my KA and after cracking the transmission housing in my 6qt (replacement part on the way so I can repair it - it was only a few months old!) I finally have it down right so that I've made it in my 5qt KA the whole way through without having to take it out and knead it by hand.
I dump the marshmallows into the KA after melting and the add the sugar a little at a time. I do use a full 2 lbs of sugar.
But here's my problem - I can't for the life of me find a 16 oz bag of marshmallows!!! I can only find 10oz. So I take one full bag (large or mini) then I use my kitchen scale to get the additional 6 oz. (usually about 25 marshmallows). Is it only in New England that we don't have 16oz bags of marshmallows?
I do love working with it!
But here's my problem - I can't for the life of me find a 16 oz bag of marshmallows!!! I can only find 10oz. So I take one full bag (large or mini) then I use my kitchen scale to get the additional 6 oz. (usually about 25 marshmallows). Is it only in New England that we don't have 16oz bags of marshmallows?
I do love working with it!
Nope... I have the same problem here in South Jersey! Frustrating to try to figure out how many marshmallows is equivalent to 6 oz!! I am painfully mathematically challenged !!
Glad I'm not alone!
Diane
Diane - according to my scale 25 large marshmallows is equal to 6oz. (I checked it again just now to make sure) So that should help a little bit. The bad part is that a 10oz bag holds about 40 marshmallows, so you always end up with extra marshmallows!
I have to add some 2 cents here...
I usually make mine in the Kithcen-Aide, but after hearing others discuss theirs brekaing, I am too nervous to use it! Someone on this site...and I have no idea who - suggested using the bread machine to make it.
I did this yesterday, and WOW - how great. No worries!
And also I used Marshmallow Fluff to make it. It took out the melting step. I just emptied the goo into the bread machine, turned it on and added powdered sugar! VIOLA! And I have stopped measuring. I use however much fluff I want and add powdered sugar until it looks right...
The only place that carries a 16 ounce bag of marshmallows where I live is Wal-mart. I really prefer not having to weigh it out. I guess I am lazy.
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