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..figure out how to make fresh fondant more elastic?

post #1 of 22
1/2/11 at 7:17pm
Thread Starter 
I've always used Toba Garrett's or Colette's or Margaret Braun's fondant recipes, which are all easy and taste great,

BUT, I always find (usually Toba's), that they lack elasticity, and if I add enough gel paste (Americolor or Wilton) color to make anything more than a pastel, they lose all stretch and in fact seem to 'deteriorate' into a cookie-dough consistency that falls apart. ?? Then I'm running out to buy it anyway.

Anyone have the secret ingredient I'm missing? Is it a gum tragacanth or something? I hate buying fondant at retail prices, when I can make it AND it tastes better, but I have to have it more reliable for stretch.
Thanks!
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When pricing cake, remember mom's advice: Try taking 150 guests in formal wedding attire to a nice restaurant for dessert, and see if you can get them all a piece of fresh, decadent, custom-designed cake for less than $4.00/sv!
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www.cakesbystefanie.com
When pricing cake, remember mom's advice: Try taking 150 guests in formal wedding attire to a nice restaurant for dessert, and see if you can get them all a piece of fresh, decadent, custom-designed cake for less than $4.00/sv!
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post #2 of 22
1/2/11 at 7:45pm
I'm hoping you get responses that confirm my post or tell me I'm way off base. It "seems" like I read adding glycerin (the stuff you buy to thin out coloring gels) makes it more flexible.

Someone? Anyone?
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post #3 of 22
1/2/11 at 7:47pm
OK - just Googled it - yes - they are adding 1 tablespoon to a regular recipe of MMF.
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post #4 of 22
1/2/11 at 8:20pm
Thread Starter 
I don't make mmf, I'm making regular rolled fondant, and it already has glycerine, corn syrup (or glucose), and gelatine...just wondering if there's another ingredient to add, or more of something so I don't get the crumbling effect from a once-stretchy batch of fondant when I add color?

It starts out fine and works ok, then after working it awhile or adding color, it's like it's been overworked, and it begins to fall apart.

And...not always...but often enough that I'm wishing for a more reliable recipe.
www.cakesbystefanie.com
When pricing cake, remember mom's advice: Try taking 150 guests in formal wedding attire to a nice restaurant for dessert, and see if you can get them all a piece of fresh, decadent, custom-designed cake for less than $4.00/sv!
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www.cakesbystefanie.com
When pricing cake, remember mom's advice: Try taking 150 guests in formal wedding attire to a nice restaurant for dessert, and see if you can get them all a piece of fresh, decadent, custom-designed cake for less than $4.00/sv!
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post #5 of 22
1/2/11 at 8:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chef_Stef

..but often enough that I'm wishing for a more reliable recipe.



What's keeping you from trying another recipe? If you don't like the results of this one, it may be time to try another.

I've never made standard fondant. I've only made MMF and have always had success with that, so no need to venture out. I wouldn't know where to start helping you. Are you over kneading it?

Or maybe try adding more glycerin? I don't know. Out of ideas here. I don't think I'm much help tonight. I'm very curious to see other people's answers though. icon_biggrin.gif
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post #6 of 22
1/2/11 at 8:50pm
I only work with MMF, but I spray my vinyl gloves with cooking spray. It seems to help with the elasticity, as well as making it smoother. Wearing the gloves keeps the colors from staining my hands and it just feels right to wear them while working with food products. Make sure to keep them sprayed with the cooking spray or you will have a sticky mess. Not sure that this will help with the fondant that you make, but it may be worth a shot.
"Everything looks impossible for the people who never try anything."
Jean-Louis Etienne
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"Everything looks impossible for the people who never try anything."
Jean-Louis Etienne
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post #7 of 22
1/2/11 at 9:17pm
I would definately try a little gum trag or cmc don't forget gum trag won't have instant results.
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post #8 of 22
1/3/11 at 11:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by VickeyC

I only work with MMF, but I spray my vinyl gloves with cooking spray. It seems to help with the elasticity, as well as making it smoother. Wearing the gloves keeps the colors from staining my hands and it just feels right to wear them while working with food products. Make sure to keep them sprayed with the cooking spray or you will have a sticky mess. Not sure that this will help with the fondant that you make, but it may be worth a shot.



LOL- I do the same thing - but have actually over sprayed. I go to roll it and it stretches way to thin the first roll out. LOL.... right off the board. Then I have to add more powdered sugar again.
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post #9 of 22
1/3/11 at 12:10pm
I use MMF, and when things get a little dry I do one of two things -- Add a little Crisco or microwave it for a few seconds (up to 30 for a double batch to cover really large cakes like an 18" square).
I also use two sheets of heavy weight vinyl to roll fondant (The Mat from sweetwise [dot] com).
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post #10 of 22
1/3/11 at 12:29pm
I was just dealing with this with my recipe. I know I've read to add more glycerine, but I really haven't had that help. I had some older stuff that I wanted to use for a display cake, and was about to give up. I dissolved some gelatine in water, microwaved it, let it cool just a bit and added it to the fondant. Perked it right up. I'm thinking that I'm going to keep going down that avenue, because I have the same problem when coloring my recipe really deep colors like black and red.
life is short, get a cakesafe.
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life is short, get a cakesafe.
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post #11 of 22
1/3/11 at 12:31pm
i use toba's recipe as well ... i always thought the gelatin was for elasticity and the corn syrup and glycerin for for pliability ... dah, not sure if that makes sense or where i came up with that. i would like some light shed on this as well.
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Blog: http://cakeoricandothat.blogspot.com
Cake Calculator: http://shinymetalobjects.net/cake/calculator/cakulator.cgi
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post #12 of 22
1/3/11 at 12:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaPom

I use MMF, and when things get a little dry I do one of two things -- Add a little Crisco or microwave it for a few seconds (up to 30 for a double batch to cover really large cakes like an 18" square).
I also use two sheets of heavy weight vinyl to roll fondant (The Mat from sweetwise [dot] com).



I also do this with great results. Have not been brave enough to make other recipies of fondant. And since mine has worked so well don't really feel the need. It does sometimes get sticky, but that is usually when it is hot or to humid.
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post #13 of 22
1/3/11 at 12:53pm
I use Toba's recipe for fondant, but have never made a bright red or black color with it.

I do knead the fondant with Crisco lightly rubbed onto my hands to prevent it from drying out.

-Debbie B.
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post #14 of 22
1/3/11 at 7:20pm
Thread Starter 
thanks guys. I use Crisco on my hands a bit too, but it seems like there's always that chance that no matter how carefully I work it or knead or what temp it is, it *could* turn to junk.

sigh

maybe more gelatine in the recipe...have to experiment i guess
www.cakesbystefanie.com
When pricing cake, remember mom's advice: Try taking 150 guests in formal wedding attire to a nice restaurant for dessert, and see if you can get them all a piece of fresh, decadent, custom-designed cake for less than $4.00/sv!
Reply
www.cakesbystefanie.com
When pricing cake, remember mom's advice: Try taking 150 guests in formal wedding attire to a nice restaurant for dessert, and see if you can get them all a piece of fresh, decadent, custom-designed cake for less than $4.00/sv!
Reply
post #15 of 22
1/3/11 at 11:11pm
I recently discovered Jennifer Dontz's recipe, and I almost cried when I used it, it was SO easy to use! Her recipe is for candy clay added to regular fondant, and it makes it so elastic and easy to work with that I used about a third of the amount of fondant I used on the previous cake, and it was so much more sturdy. Detns and nicks were almost non existent. If you can get your hands on her DVD, give it a go, I can't say enough good things about how great the fondant is to work with.
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