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HELP! Need fondant palm tree by next weekend!

post #1 of 12
7/16/08 at 1:56pm
Thread Starter 
I'm making a Hawaiian themed cake for a 9 year old's birthday party next weekend. I know what I want to do, but can't make a palm tree out of fondant that looks right. My last attempt looked good except the leaves just hung down. Any suggestions? Do I need to make a frame first? Because I can't just think of any way to get it to look good and get the leaves to attach to the trunk. I'm really quite new to all of this. TIA.
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post #2 of 12
7/16/08 at 1:59pm
I would make the palm fronds first, on wires, let them dry for a day or so, then insert the wires into the soft fondant trunk (dip the wires in water or make a little "glue" by melting a little fondant in a tiny bit of water) and then let that dry.
Tara
<---wonders if anyone uses REAL ingredients anymore--sugar fruit nuts, cream, butter etc--instead of flavoring chemical cream from a bucket with pudding & jello and calling it "mousse"
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Tara
<---wonders if anyone uses REAL ingredients anymore--sugar fruit nuts, cream, butter etc--instead of flavoring chemical cream from a bucket with pudding & jello and calling it "mousse"
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post #3 of 12
7/16/08 at 2:01pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you SO much! How heavy of wire would you suggest? Like I said, I'm new and this is my first request for a cake and I want it to be perfect. My family and the girl's family are getting kind of tired of all my practice cakes. LOL.
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post #4 of 12
7/16/08 at 2:21pm
I would probably form the tree from RKT and cover it in fondant. You would get more strength that way.


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post #5 of 12
7/16/08 at 2:24pm
I did a safari baby shower cake. I had palm trees on it made from large pretzel rods. They were frustrating to do at first, but by the time I did the 4th one, I felt like I knew what I was doing.

I used the Wilton leaf fondant cutter to cut out the palm leaves. I let them dry on a paper towel cardboard cut in half. (Flower formers work, too.) Once they were dry/hard, I made some green royal icing, and put a big blob on parchment paper(about the diameter of a silver dollar-be sure to mound it up a bit). I began sticking my leaves in the royal icing, sticking cotton balls inbetween layers to help give shape and fullness. Once they were dry, I put a blob of royal icing on the end of my pretzel rod, and attached the palm leaves piece. To "hide" the place where the two were attached, I used the leaf tip, and made royal icing leaves underneath the fondant leaves. This helped to give the palm leaves more support, too. I also put some inbetween leaves and on the very tip-top to hide the center of the palm leaves. I think it helped it look a little more realistic.

Here is a link to the pic of my cake: Hope this helps you some... Good luck!

http:www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1214526.html
Philippians 4:13
I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength!
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Philippians 4:13
I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength!
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post #6 of 12
7/16/08 at 2:33pm
Thread Starter 
Sorry don't mean to sound dense, but RKT?

Thanks for both suggestions!
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post #7 of 12
7/16/08 at 2:40pm
RKT = Rice Krispie Treats icon_biggrin.gif
Even if you're on the right track, if you don't keep moving you'll get run over!
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Even if you're on the right track, if you don't keep moving you'll get run over!
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post #8 of 12
7/16/08 at 3:52pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jocmom

RKT = Rice Krispie Treats icon_biggrin.gif

Oh DUH! Boy, do I feel like a goober now! LOL. Thanks alot! That sounds like a VERY good idea, at least for the trunk.
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post #9 of 12
7/16/08 at 4:13pm
here's some palm trees. thumbs_up.gif
LL
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
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Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
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post #10 of 12
7/16/08 at 4:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by knel

I did a safari baby shower cake. I had palm trees on it made from large pretzel rods. They were frustrating to do at first, but by the time I did the 4th one, I felt like I knew what I was doing.

I used the Wilton leaf fondant cutter to cut out the palm leaves. I let them dry on a paper towel cardboard cut in half. (Flower formers work, too.) Once they were dry/hard, I made some green royal icing, and put a big blob on parchment paper(about the diameter of a silver dollar-be sure to mound it up a bit). I began sticking my leaves in the royal icing, sticking cotton balls inbetween layers to help give shape and fullness. Once they were dry, I put a blob of royal icing on the end of my pretzel rod, and attached the palm leaves piece. To "hide" the place where the two were attached, I used the leaf tip, and made royal icing leaves underneath the fondant leaves. This helped to give the palm leaves more support, too. I also put some inbetween leaves and on the very tip-top to hide the center of the palm leaves. I think it helped it look a little more realistic.

Here is a link to the pic of my cake: Hope this helps you some... Good luck!

http:www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1214526.html



That cake is so aforable! I want to know how you learned to make those cute animals. they are great!
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post #11 of 12
7/16/08 at 5:22pm
I'm doing a cake that requires palm trees and I am using large pretzel sticks and a wilton leaf cutter. I than attach the leaves (mix of fondant and gumpaste) to the top of the pretzel. I brush a little water so they "glue" together. I than shape them how I want and use cotton balls to hold the shape. So far so good!!! Hopefully that may help??
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post #12 of 12
7/16/08 at 7:51pm
I was not too smart when I tried to do trees for my son's birthday cake (jungle/safari). I did the trunks and let them dry. Then I did leaves and let them dry. The only way to stick them together, was glucose. It did OK, but was not great. This was my first fondant figure experience, and I learned a lot. I am glad to find this thread. Glucose really is good glue.
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