I keep seeing on shows and various places, modeling chocolate being used (I believe this is what they are calling it). It almost looks like fondant the way it was spread out and they were covering the cake with it. Anyone that can tell me something about this? Is it similar to fondant as far as covering the cakes and its uses? I have a cowboy hat cake to do (my first one) and was wondering if there was an alternative to fondant/gumpaste for this cake. I am wondering if modeling chocoalte would work. Also, the picture of the hat she gave me shows a brown thin line around the outside brim of the hat, so I would like to replicate that if possible...maybe using modeling chocolate? If anyone has any other suggestions that I might use, I'd love to hear them!

Modeling chocolate can be used in many of the same ways as fondant. It is somewhat easier to shape and repair.

You can make it (recipe in the recipe section) or buy it from several sources. pastrychef.com is just one site.

I don't know if it will hold the shape of the hat brim, but try it ahead of time just in case.

I think it will hold the hat brim..If I'm thinking of the same thing..I just made some "chocolate clay" that I found on CC.. I made ribbons out of it and a loop bow. Just let it dry for a couple days. It will get hard!

Anyone else out there that works with modeling chocolate or has used this for a hat or other similar item instead of fondant/gumpaste??

I think you mean chocolate plastique aka choc plastic, choc paper.

It's made from a mix of chocolate and corn syrup. If you google chocolate plastic you'll find lots of recipes and tips. I've uploaded some cakes in my gallery using this medium. It's very easy to work with. White stays soft and is particularly good for covering cakes whilst the dark is good for making decorations as it dries hard.

i use it all the time and love it!!! it has brought me some frustration, though. usually my frustration came about when i had a cake covered in modeling chocolate and it is 98 degrees outside. If it gets hot for even a second it just starts to get so soft and almost melty. I made a bow with it once that was half modeling chocolate half gumpaste and it went flat in the heat (it was outside for 45 seconds from the car to the building). I was able to stuff it with tissue inside and once cooled it firmed up again.

I do love the stuff though. It is a great resource to have and it is cheap and super easy to make!!! try playing around with it.

sjlarby - do you buy it premade or do you have a recipe that you use for it? Will it dry hard like fondant?
I am wondering if it will dry hard enough to curve for the hat brim?? Do you happen to know how long it would need to dry for something like that?

If not, I'm definitely thinking I could use it for the other part of the hat (the part that goes on the head) and cover the cake in it.

My experience with candy clay (14oz to 1/3 cup corn syrup), is that it does not dry completely hard, it still remains a little pliable.

Dark dries fairly hard and you can certainly use it to sculpt, I think a hat brim would be fine. If you look in my photos there's a cake with stars coming out of the top, thats all done in dark choc plastic and the upright pieces were very stable.