Hi all,

This is probably a dumb question, but I'll ask anyway....

I'm new to cake decorating and I just started the course III class this week (so I haven't dealt with Fondant yet) and have done part I of a 2 day Gumpaste workshop.

I wanted to know the difference in making fondant flowers, etc vs. gumpaste. The techniques look similar but what are the differences? Is gumpaste more pliable or longer lasting, costlier..why choose one over the other?

Thanks in advance.

tanyap

I'm bumping you up to the top of the list because I want to know the answer to this too.

Gumpaste can be rolled much thinner, sets harder and looks more realistic. Fondant has a nicer taste.

Hello,
Fondant is used mostly for a cake covering. You can make decorations with it also but it is softer than gumpaste which I think makes it more difficult to work with when making flowers and things like that. It will dry eventually but it does take longer. Gumpaste on the other hand is more for making flowers and decorations. You wouldn't want to use it as a cake covering because it's not as sweet as fondant and would get to hard. It is really not meant to eat but can be. It is more elastic and easier to work with when it has to be handled alot like when making flowers. You can mix gumpaste with fondant to make the fondant more workable but I find it easier to just use the gumpaste by itself. Wilton has a great gumpaste mix you can buy if you ever want to try it out. It come in a canister and is a powder. You add water and powdered sugar to it. It is the best mix I have used. As far as premade, I prefer Satin Ice. They make both fondant and gumpaste and it is yummy and great to work with.
Hope thats not to longwinded
Heather

Thanks you guys!

thanks Heathermari!

I figured that it was tastier with regards to cake covering but didn't know why people preferred one over the other for flowers/modeling. Thanks!!

Tanya

I have tried both and I prefer the fondant for making flowers...dries faster.

I haven't made flowers but figures instead. I prefer working with fondant because it doesn't dr out as fast. Gumpaste dries out a lot faster but you can roll it a lot thinner which would be better for flowers.