I have to make a number 16 to stand on top of a cake. The 16 needs to be about 5 - 6 inches tall. And about 1/4 of an inch wide. Should I just use fondant? Or add tylose powder to the fondant? Every time I practice making it, it ends up cracking or breaking. Ugh!! I have only got it to work once, without breaking. I have never used tylose powder, so not sure of the benefits. I know it makes your fondant more pliable for flowers, but that is about the extent of my knowledge. Any other suggestions are welcome! Please help...and thanks in advance for your help!

Definitely use tylose or it will never dry. The more tylose you add the faster the drying time - so just beware.

Good Luck!

thank you Kimmers! Will the tylose help it from cracking?

tylose powder will harden your fondant, but it'll give your fondant also a bit of elasticity Dried out fondant with break or crack sooner than fondant with tylose powder :Y

I would use Tylose too. It dries faster with the tylose and makes a stronger piece.
Edna

thank you everybody. i will post pic when i am done

How much tylose? I use MFF and I always buy the CK gum paste, mix it up a day in advance (according to package) and mix them 50/50. I have tylose around here somewhere, but have no clue how much to add to the fondant! So, if you have a chunk of MFF the size of a baseball, how much tylose do you use? Or a tennis ball? I jest need some kind of a ratio, and have no idea!

annabakescakes: I have only used it once, but I read somewhere to put about 1 tbsp per lb. I just took the shaker part on my tylose powder and put a little in and kind of worked with and played until it "felt" right. Hope this helps

Is tylose the same as gumtex?

Tylose is much better than gumtex..in my opinion.
Edna

Thanks Edna!
So I can add it just like the gumtex to my fondant?

Hi Sandy. I learned to make a modelling fondant that one can roll out thickly 3-5mm and cut what ever 2d shape you need. I've made a card that stood on a cake with this. 1 egg white, 1 cup icing sugar, quarter teaspoon tylose. mix to a soft dough, if still very sticky add icing sugar 1 tbls at a time till nice and pliable. roll out using icing sugar. shape as desired Dries in 1-2 days.

thank you Sharonvdberg! I will give it a try. This is for a cake I am doing on the 18th, so I have time to play with it. I will let you know how it all turns out,

After you knead it in let the fondant rest for a few hours otherwise you don't get the benefit of the strengthener you've mixed in.

Gum tragacanth mixed in at about 1 tsp to 500g fondant also works well (for what you want to do with it I'd bump that up to 2 good teaspoons, just to make it really strong).

AI think 1 tsp for a golf ball sized ball of fondant is perfect! :)