I'm doing a wedding cake for a couple with a safari theme. The top layer will be zebraprint, the middle layer will be white with a giraffe band and the bottom layer will have green leaves around it. I made a miniature sample last week and it turned out great. I've been making Toba's Fondant all week and I have 20 lbs, all wrapped up.

I torted and filled and crumb coated all three layers last night and they're all very nice, very straight, etc. Today I started to work with my fondant and it's kind of hard, like dried out. When I started rolling it out I had to keep pulling chunks out that were really dry. I tried to cover the bottom layer and it broke apart so I had big holes to try to fill in. I don't even know if I can salvage it. I don't know what to. I'm making gumpaste leaves that I can put all the way around and cover it, but the top part, that shows still seems pretty bad.

Plus I don't know about the rest of it. I thought I planned so well and now I don't know what to do! I'm so upset I just want to climb in bed and pretend none of this is happening.

I don't know if I should pull the fondant off the 16" and throw it out and make new fondant to use tomorrow or what. I'm usually not such a basketcase, but I'm at a loss!

YIKES!!! I don't know what to tell you about making more fondant, except go with your gut, do what you think will give you the best result for your cake.
Good luck, let us know how everything turns out!
Erin

I haven't done a wedding cake yet, but I did work with a bit of fondant before. It seems the fondant may have dried out or you need to soften it a few seconds in the microwave on high no more than 10 seconds and try that on one of the layers. You may want to try it on a sample and see what happens. I hate you're having these problems but it happens to the best of us. Also you may want to add a bit of moisture to the fondant to see what happens. Good luck and HTH.

when is the cake due? I'm not an expert at tobas fondant as I prefer MMF but I can usually rub in a little shortening and/or warm it and it becomes more pliable. I also use cornstarch to roll it out vs powdered sugar. hope this helps.

You might be able to salvage the fondant if you knead crisco into it. Don't even try to work the dry chunks out of it, just pull them out. It sounds like it got dried out somehow, but that's strange since it seems to have happened so quickly after you made it. I think that Toba's recipe is similar to the one that I use, but I use crisco to knead it and roll it out, not corn starch or sugar since that dries it out. Try to use the last batch that you made first, since it will have had the least time to dry out. Also, chill the cake in the fridge before you cover it so that it will be harder and less likely to tear apart.

If your fondant is too dry, try putting some shortening on your hands and working it into the fondant. You could also try to warm it up for 10sec. on in the microwave too to help make it soft again. I really hope your find a solution to it.
Best of luck
Jen

Have you tried to microwave it for very short periods (10-15 seconds at at time)? I would try that to get it softer and then just knead very well.

I have had to use the microwave a couple of times for my homemade fondant that was being difficult.

Hope it helps! Let us know how it turns out!

Amy

Peel off the fondant and start over- it can be saved! If you're pressed for time head for your local cake shoppe and look for Satin Ice or another good brand of fondant... It can be done and you can make it lovely still! Take a deep breath and try to calmly refocus!
Best wishes

I have done that before with fondant (microwave). It works. Try that and then knead it and maybe add more crisco or a few drops of water.

I'm so sorry you're having this problem. I'm not a fondant expert, but I have used it several times. I've only used Satin Ice, MMF and Michelle Foster's Delicious Fonant and haven't had any problems with it. It just sounds like you didn't have the fondant sealed enough to keep the air out.

If you have it seperated, like in 5lb hunks, I'd feel of it before kneading it and pull off the dry chunks. I've even taken a knife before to fondant that's dried out on the surface and "peeled it" like a potato to get the dried parts off of it . If you knead it with those chunks in it, you can't use it.

I would take the fondant off and redo it. If you can't use the fondant you've made, I'd find some Satin Ice and use that. I'm really sorry if you have to do that because you've worked so hard on making it.

I hope I've helped. Good luck and I hope to see your results.

I would take a break maybe 15-20 minutes and then go to it again. Try the microwave or the crisco, they might work and if it doesn't try to go buy fondant. Everyone has had great suggestions. I'm so sorry you're feeling this way, it's the worst isn't it!

Best of luck, everything will turn out just fine!

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. I didn't even think about the microwave, but of course that makes sense. I took a little break and then I rolled out my gumpaste and started making some leaves. I put them out to dry and then I looked at some cornstarch and applied it to the "back" of the leaf I was working it on and laid it across a yucky area of fondant. It totally covered it up. I'm going to go all the way around and see how it looks when I'm done. Worst case scenario, I'll have to cut the fondant off and make some more tonight and put it on tomorrow, but this may work.

Okay, I'm focused, chilled out and ready to roll.

xoxo

Okay, I know there's no such thing as a perfect cake, but I swear, all I can see are the flaws.

I saw the groom when I was putting it together and he seemed very happy with it and the woman who handles events loved it and came and took pictures of it. (the wedding was at Safari West www.safariwest.com) Fortunately the cake went into a corner no one could get behind so I had two "sides" that couldn't be seen. Everything that could go wrong with this cake did. When I got there they had those flowers for me so I was able to hide some stuff with those.

Be honest, I can take it.

Okay, you asked for it!! I'll be honest with you..It's great, I think you did an awesome job!

Oh I love the leaves! They are so cool!

I'm so sorry that you had so many problems. I had my first wedding cake last week and it was a nightmare. I also have tried Toba Garrett's fondant about half a dozen times and I always have the same problem: it always dries out on me. I have gone back to marshmellow fondant because it is reliable for me. Lastly, your cake came out BEAUTIFUL. I love it. Great job. Pat yourself on the back and feel proud that despite all the headaches, you came through with flying colors.

Your cake is beautiful, I had my first paid wedding cake last week, and I was a mess, worrying about it and I used bought fondant. I didn't want to chance the MMF. It was great to use, the first time also. I have always made the MMF, but didn't want to chance it this time.
I had a disaster the week before with MMF, on a retirement cake, so it worked out alright.
Remember, you are the only one that sees the flaws. Looks great in the photo's.
Lorene

ITA, your cake is cool! I love how it is safari themed, but still says wedding!
Had my first battle with Toba's fondant last week with DS's birthday cake. It was a bit dry even thought it was saran-wrapped and plastic bagged. I kneaded in some corn syrup and shortening and it was good as new! This was left over from August when I made DD's sweet 16 cake, I had kept it in the freezer until I needed it, but left it on the counter for two days.

I think you did an awesome job. Dont be so hard on yourself

When I'm covering a cake with Toba's fondant I use it freshly made. I find it performs much better and I dont worry about it drying out.

wow that is a cool cake!!! way to go!!! you did a terrific job!!!! live and learn....this experience is just a learning one for the next cake!!!! you pulled it off wonderfully!!!!!!

great job! love, love your cake. Lots of stress, why do we do it? I guess we just love to decorate cakes!!!