what's your secret to making perfect little fondant balls around a cake without it taking forever??

I can't imagine someone rolling each and every one by hand. I'm too impatient. There's got to be a better way!

I've always wondered about that too,
I'm a patient person but not that patient...!
Anyone have any idea?

There are tools like former and fondant extruders (so) but I do my own. I make a "snake" with the fondant then use a ruler to guide me to cut into the size I need. I cut little pieces each the same length then roll. This method does take time but saves me from buying yet another tool lol

Does that even make sense, I haven't had coffee yet haha

There is a silicone mold that does a string of them at a time - it still takes a while, but not forever. Another option is to pipe RI or stiff consistency BC with a round tip - with enough practice you can get it exact as the mold.

What a good question! I was wondering about this the other day as I was well into my 2nd hour rolling balls for a cake boarder!

You could try and use one of these to do more than one at a time:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thecraftbarn.co.uk/shopimages/products/thumbnails/krs_118003_8712s%2520Fimo%2520tri-bead%2520roller.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thecraftbarn.co.uk/section.php/1014/1/bead-rollers-and-other-bead-making-tools&usg=__JuDpiVwU0PTF1gezTztxAuGadlU=&h=182&w=223&sz=41&hl=en&start=37&zoom=1&tbnid=m7n1FWYn8LT5PM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=107&ei=GqTdXbO4_rgQeUk_zzBQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbead%2Brollers%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DG%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-USfficial%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D551%26tbm%3Disch0%2C912&um=1&itbs=1&biw=1280&bih=551

but other than that I haven't found a quicker way yet!!

http://www.countrykitchensa.com/catalog/mini.aspx?T=1&SubCatId=1284

based on the size of balls i need i use cake decorating frosting tips...the big end.roll out a piece of fondant and cut..makes perfect circles and when rolled into balls they will all be uniform in size...no guessing..

I roll.....

I hand roll them , too

I roll them by hand.

I use the bead maker and then still end up rolling. Or a large sheet thru the pasta machine with a round tips. It is a great way to use up down time

I delegate this task out to my 2 kids

Here's a brilliant step-by-step for perfectly even-sized fondant balls for borders...

http://www.creativecelebrationcakes.co.uk/page35.htm

I roll, say a few four letter words, roll some more, say a few more four letter words, more rolling.......you get the idea!

....and it always seems to take a lot more than you think it will!

thanks for all the suggestions!

I have been doing anything to NOT make the balls. I will look into the roller thing. I am lazy! and proud of it!

I have just recently taught myself to make more consistent balls by laying out a piece of fondant between two narrow glue sticks to roll over and get the same depth across the entire surface. I then use my small (1/2" maybe?) round fondant cutter to cut out consistent sized disks. I then roll by hand to form the ball. It works pretty well. I'm using the exact same amount of MMF for each ball.
I have no fancy fondant tools yet, so I have to think outside the box most of the time!! lol

Hope that helps someone.

I do the roll out, cut with large end of a piping tip, then pop in a video and sit in front of the tube and roll, roll, roll! Seems to make the chore less a pain and the time flies!

This is a good tutorial too

http://www.earlenescakes.com/prlinstruct.htm

Thanks for the link!

and all your suggestions. thought there might be a magic button. I like the child labor suggestion too!

I use candy Sixlets instead of making a million balls out of fondant. they come in a ton of colors, are all exactly the same size and taste yummy