Cake Central › Cake Forums › Cake Talk › Cake Decorating › How do I get icing sugar/cornstarch off of dark fondant...
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

How do I get icing sugar/cornstarch off of dark fondant...

post #1 of 15
2/6/12 at 6:07am
Thread Starter 
...without steaming? I had a disaster of water spots on my finished cake yesterday as a result of steaming to remove the white bits of icing sugar visible on the fondant. I was so upset! I've just started cake decorating this past August, and with every cake I do I learn a lesson, unfortunately for this one it was a lesson I couldn't fix before the customer picked up! They were happy with the cake and I know we're our own worst critic but I really don't want this to happen again! It was brand new, so not clogged, I probably didn't let it heat up enough, but aside from all of the things I could have done differently, is there any way to do this without steaming? I'm not a fan of the shiny look steaming gives anyway, but thought this was my only option. Or alternate ways to smooth without using icing sugar/cornstarch? That was how I was taught to smooth fondant.

Thanks in advance! I'm not a poster (yet) since i dont have much advice but I'm here reading almost every day!

Amy
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 15
2/6/12 at 6:19am
I use either of two methods: Buff with a soft paper towel and just a little bit of shortening, (I scrunch it up first to get a nice, soft pad); or spray it very lightly with a fine mist of Vodka. The vodka evaporates almost immediately and has never left me with a spot.

I'm glad they were happy with the cake, and I know what you mean about our being our worst critic! I'm not always satisfied, either. I hope this helps you...

Jan
If you have knowledge, let others light their candles on it.

Never fear shadows. They simply mean there's a light shining somewhere nearby.
Reply
If you have knowledge, let others light their candles on it.

Never fear shadows. They simply mean there's a light shining somewhere nearby.
Reply
post #3 of 15
2/6/12 at 6:22am
I have used a barely damp (almost dry) cloth and rub softly. Never tried steaming though, it scares me!
Christine

When my wires are frayed I think of shiny happy people holding hands!
Reply
Christine

When my wires are frayed I think of shiny happy people holding hands!
Reply
post #4 of 15
2/6/12 at 6:23am
I use either of two methods: Buff with a soft paper towel and just a little bit of shortening, (I scrunch it up first to get a nice, soft pad); or spray it very lightly with a fine mist of Vodka. The vodka evaporates almost immediately and has never left me with a spot.

I'm glad they were happy with the cake, and I know what you mean about our being our worst critic! I'm not always satisfied, either. I hope this helps you...

Jan
If you have knowledge, let others light their candles on it.

Never fear shadows. They simply mean there's a light shining somewhere nearby.
Reply
If you have knowledge, let others light their candles on it.

Never fear shadows. They simply mean there's a light shining somewhere nearby.
Reply
post #5 of 15
2/6/12 at 6:51am
The easiest is simply not to use powdered sugar or cornstarch. I use the thinnest film of veg shortening on the counter to roll it out.
Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
Reply
Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
Reply
post #6 of 15
2/6/12 at 6:54am
I have purchased various non stick mats to roll out my fondant. I don't have to icing sugar it at all. I just roll it out and it never sticks. I got mine from:

http://www.goldaskitchen.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=6082&step=4

I also use a small one for making decorations.

I never liked to steam. It is such a fine line to getting it right.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 15
2/6/12 at 7:05am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the replies! It's not while rolling out that I'm using powdered sugar, it's while smoothing with a fondant smoother. Can I use shortening then also?
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 15
2/6/12 at 9:27am
That is exactly what I was talking about. I use The Mat, so don't roll out on PS or cornstarch. It is when smoothing that I encountered the problem. And yes, you can use the shortening trick. I learned it from one of Sharon Zambito's DVDs. It leaves a soft glow on the fondant, not shiny.
If you have knowledge, let others light their candles on it.

Never fear shadows. They simply mean there's a light shining somewhere nearby.
Reply
If you have knowledge, let others light their candles on it.

Never fear shadows. They simply mean there's a light shining somewhere nearby.
Reply
post #9 of 15
2/6/12 at 9:48am
Rubbing it with a small ball of leftover fondant sometimes works. I usually brush with a dry brush first to remove most of it, then buff with a fondant ball. If there are still marks, I use the shortening on a paper towel method as others have described.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 15
2/6/12 at 12:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Soco119

Thanks for the replies! It's not while rolling out that I'm using powdered sugar, it's while smoothing with a fondant smoother. Can I use shortening then also?



I've never heard of needing to put on PS in order to smooth with a fondant smoother.

I, too, roll out on a fine film of shortening. I put the fondant on the cake "rolled-on side up" and use my smoother on the surface very easily. I don't turn my fondant over to the side that was on the mat--that side will be somewhat tacky.

Rae
I love you, but your emergency is not my crisis!

They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.--Terry Pratchett (b.194
Reply
I love you, but your emergency is not my crisis!

They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.--Terry Pratchett (b.194
Reply
post #11 of 15
2/6/12 at 1:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Soco119

Thanks for the replies! It's not while rolling out that I'm using powdered sugar, it's while smoothing with a fondant smoother. Can I use shortening then also?



Using shortening at this point will make it harder to use the smoother. You have to use cornstarch or powdered sugar. I use The Mat too and sometimes have this problem. I just try to use as little as possible. Then use the other tricks to get the cornstarch off afterwards.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 15
2/6/12 at 2:02pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone! Great suggestions, I knew there had to be a way around it. I'll try some of these suggestions to see what works best. I was taught to use the PS with the fondant smoother but would much prefer not to if I didn't need to. Such a learning process!
Thanks again.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 15
2/6/12 at 3:39pm
On the cake, I put some rose alcohol in a spritz bottle and spritz that. The rose alcohol is almost pure, so it dries immediately and does a good job of 'cleaning'. If it's on flowers, I just pass each one through some steam, it's gone in a wink.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 15
2/6/12 at 3:58pm
a very thin wipe down with shortening will get it all off; the shortening will absorb and the fondant will look fabulous!

Sharon

Intsructional DVDs and Supplies
www.sugaredproductions.com
www.sharonssugarshack.com

Reply

Sharon

Intsructional DVDs and Supplies
www.sugaredproductions.com
www.sharonssugarshack.com

Reply
post #15 of 15
2/16/12 at 9:38am
I'm a little "late to the party" but came across this thread and wanted to throw in my 2 cents!

I use The Mat to roll out my fondant, so no PS or shortening needed... but sometimes after putting it on the cake and smoothing with my hands first, it's a little to tacky for the fondant smoother... so what I've been doing lately is using a ball of fondant and it works like a charm! After I'm done with the that, if I need to, I can usually go back over with the fondant smoother.

http://www.happycakesbyrenee.com

http://happycakesbakes.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/HappyCakesBakes

https://twitter.com/HappyCakesbyRen

Bridal Shower
(3 photos)
Baby Shower
(6 photos)
Children's Birthday Cakes
(4 photos)
Reply

http://www.happycakesbyrenee.com

http://happycakesbakes.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/HappyCakesBakes

https://twitter.com/HappyCakesbyRen

Bridal Shower
(3 photos)
Baby Shower
(6 photos)
Children's Birthday Cakes
(4 photos)
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Cake Decorating
Cake Central › Cake Forums › Cake Talk › Cake Decorating › How do I get icing sugar/cornstarch off of dark fondant...