I've noticed some cakes that have fondant...the fondant has a "wet" appearance to it? Does anyone know how you get that effect?

Here are some examples...

http://www.freedsbakery.com/other-las-vegas-cakes/graduation-cakes/congratulatons-christopher-unlv-class-of-2006#lbc35gcH1pcH2eja4QkTUQ

and

http://www.freedsbakery.com/other-las-vegas-cakes/other-cakes/the-icake#wd4Or0R67DZsygm7a26S6g


Thanks
Kim

I have made a few cakes with the "wet" fondant look. You can see them in my pictures, the specific one is the red, white and blue one. I just greased a silpat with crisco (more than I usually use) and rolled out my fondant. I then flipped the fondant over and put the bottom that was rolled on the crisco face up onto the cake. Does that make sense. I am not sure if this is the "professional" way to do it but it worked great for me and many people commented on the shiny look.

You can airbrush a corn syrup water mixture on the fondant covered cake and it will dry like a glaze on the cake. (found this out by accident). But it does give it that beautiful glossy finish.
When I saw that on the cake I airbrushed some fondant roses that I made and they look like wonderful ceramic roses all shiny and glossy they are just gorgeous

I accidentally did it to my cake today trying to repair cracks I just rubbed crisco on it.

I made a Darth Vader cake today (in my pics), that was covered in red fondant. I used cornstarch to roll it out and it was dusty from that when I finished smoothing. I brushed the fondant all over with a wide pastry brush dampened with vodka to remove the dustiness, and it has left the fondant very shiny even though the alcohol has evaporated leaving the fondant dry!

I think what happens is that whatever liquid you put on there "melts" the top layer of sugar and it glazes. Making it shiny.

I rub butter flavor Pam on the fondant for a shiny look.

I use confectioners glaze from CK:

http://www.countrykitchensa.com/catalog/product.aspx?T=1&productId=617861

The sell it in a smaller size I think.

There are so many ways--
Humidity will always make it look shiny!
Taking steam to the cake
Airbrushing some sort of glaze or shine
Piping gel for a little while!
Crisco and a brush

WOW...thanks for all the replies...that Vodka way does seem pretty interesting.

the simplist way is with water has someone stated with humidity it does it.
i just use a small soft paint brush with water or just my finger dipped in water. very simple and effective. have fun.

Crisco.

Help, my fondant is always coming out shiny when all i'm wanting is that nice matt finish.

I don't use steam or anything like that and have tried using only powdered colours instead of gel colours hoping it would help.

It's not all that humid here although it has been really wet as we've had a lot of rain so i'm not sure if that's what the problem is.

Is there anyway to get rid of the shine - mine is more than shiny it really looks very very wet and not so nice at all

I use the steam method to get the fondant shiny, just be sure not to steam it too much as you will get it wet and the colors may drip into each other.

One reason why ther person who wants a matte finish but is getting a shine is that she may be using too much shortening when blending it or rolling out. I use cornstarch when rolling out my fondant on a piece of large vinyl. I don't usually get too much cornstarch left on the fondant but you can brush it off with a pastry brush easier than powdered sugar.

Hi Shayla,

Thanks for the response. I only use cornstarch for rolling out the fondant. I don't make mine either it's store bought.

I think it may have been very moist due to using the gel colours to get the intensity of colour required (red / black) or perhaps the amount of BC under the fondant. The BC recipe I use is purley woodenspoon marg and icing sugar so could cause it to be a lot more moist.

I did a cowboy hat yesterday and used the vodka and powdered colour method instead and although the top of the cake was shiny for a long time, by this morning it had dried out and I was much happier with the result. I'll have to play with the "painting" method as it isn't as even as massaging the colours in and I find if only add powdered colour to the fondant that it cracks very easily. I guess i'll get there through trail and error.

Any other suggestions would be most appreciated.

PS I can't seem to add an attachment photo of the cake mentioned so i've uploaded the image to misc / cake disasters.

Regards,
Lee-Ann
South Africa

Thanks, I don't have an aircon as we very rarely get any humidity this far inland. It's been a really wet summer though.

I did play around a little with using the vodka and dry colour and less BC under the fondant and that has definately helped a great deal.

Thanks to everyone that's commented, I really have appreciated your comments

If I use an air brush with corn syrup and water what is the ratio of one to the other? I have tried steaming MMF and rubbing Crisco on and neither have worked well for me