How Do I Paint On Fondant

Decorating By Ellen0602 Updated 26 Apr 2016 , 1:25pm by Mkanz

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Ellen0602 Posted 29 Sep 2009 , 11:09am
post #1 of 62

What is the best thing to use to paint on fondant? I have the edible pens but there must be somethingelse. Thanks in advance for any ideas. icon_biggrin.gif

61 replies
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Justbeck101 Posted 29 Sep 2009 , 11:40am
post #2 of 62

powdered colors mixed with alcohol. Like everclear or or vodka, just mix til it is of painting consistency but not too runny

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Caths_Cakes Posted 29 Sep 2009 , 11:52am
post #3 of 62

You dont have to use powdered colours, you can also use gel colours. I use them all the time. mixed with vodka, always vodka (its just my prefrence) . As above, dont make it too runny, if its too runny, it will be sloppy and your fondant will go soggy.

and as your painting, make sure you use a good quality brush, one where the hairs wont fall out. Also, when loading your brush with the 'paint' Dont over load it, keep it as dry as possible. Sometimes you may need to do two or 3 coats of paint before you get a really strong colour, but let each coat dry inbetween completey before the next. It takes longer, but this way you dont run risk of your fondant going gooey.

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Miffy Posted 29 Sep 2009 , 11:53am
post #4 of 62

I just use Wilton colour paste mixed with a little vodka. I really should buy some powdered colours as I am sure you might get a better result....but the paste works fine icon_smile.gif

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cakesrock Posted 29 Sep 2009 , 12:10pm
post #5 of 62

I also use a bit of corn syrup mixed with the vodka and gel color- gives the 'paint' a nice consistency. I also find it's better to do more than one coat.

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terrijproductions Posted 29 Sep 2009 , 12:32pm
post #6 of 62

I'm so glad this question was asked as I was just wondering about what to use to paint on fondant. I'm a newbie and am very happy I found this site!

So what would the ratio be of color to vodka? Any suggestions on the amount of each to start with?

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beachcakes Posted 29 Sep 2009 , 1:30pm
post #7 of 62

I use vodka with gel color. Just use a little at a time until you get the right consistency. If you add too much alcohol, just let it sit a bit - it will evaporate off. I find it helpful to tint the fondant a complimentary color first - I just uploaded a guitar cake where i tinted the fondant a tan color first, then painted over. this way the white won't show through.

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kitcae Posted 29 Sep 2009 , 2:21pm
post #8 of 62

Is there a way to do it without vodka?

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Justbeck101 Posted 29 Sep 2009 , 2:25pm
post #9 of 62

Ya, I use all the other stuff too, I just prefer the powder most of the time but I do like the Wilton paste colors also.

You can use Lemon extract.

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CutiePieCakes-Ontario Posted 29 Sep 2009 , 2:36pm
post #10 of 62

Most people use vodka because it evaporates much better than water, and doesn't soak in or run like water. Some use lemon juice, too.

You need to thin out the gel, or it just globs on and doesn't move like paint - and you use such a small amount, it'll take you ages to go thru even an airplane size bottle of vodka.

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-K8memphis Posted 29 Sep 2009 , 2:39pm
post #11 of 62

I use air brush color mixed with alcohol--I use everclear.

I haven't had good success with just the color alone--maybe lemon extract which has a high alcohol content could work too instead of liquor.

Lemon extract--not lemon juice.

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Musings9 Posted 29 Sep 2009 , 2:40pm
post #12 of 62

I prefer painting with gel or paste mixed with just a little clear vanilla. When I'm pressed for time, I'll hand paint the fondant as opposed to kneading the color in. I like this look better.

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beachcakes Posted 29 Sep 2009 , 2:52pm
post #13 of 62

You can use any extract, but the higher the alcohol content the quicker it evaporates off. Vodka has an average of 40% alcohol, by comaprison, Mccormick lemon extract has 34% alcohol for imitation and 84% for pure!

eta: vodka is cheaper! icon_smile.gif

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Musings9 Posted 29 Sep 2009 , 3:04pm
post #14 of 62
Quote:
Originally Posted by beachcakes

You can use any extract, but the higher the alcohol content the quicker it evaporates off. Vodka has an average of 40% alcohol, by comaprison, Mccormick lemon extract has 34% alcohol for imitation and 84% for pure!

eta: vodka is cheaper! icon_smile.gif




I've always wondered about evaporation time, thanks for clearing that up. thumbs_up.gif

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kitcae Posted 29 Sep 2009 , 4:12pm
post #15 of 62

So...how do you exactly make the mixture,(without vodka)?

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Miffy Posted 30 Sep 2009 , 12:21am
post #16 of 62

You would use the same amount of liquid as you would with vodka. I tried using lemon extract once and rose water (didn't like the taste). Just load your paint brush with the colour paste then using a dropper if you want, just drop in a small amount of the liquid and mix. Keep doing that till you are happy with consistency. Just test it on a small bit of fondant.

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MiriamG Posted 30 Sep 2009 , 1:38am
post #17 of 62

I just did my first painted cake, with gel color and lemon extract. I experimented first on a 'test' piece of fondant until I got the right consistency and color (I mixed a couple colors), and then I applied it to the cake.

It took a while to dry, was still kind of tacky in the morning, but it came out the way I envisioned it. It's the violin cake posted in my photos.

I did find that I had to keep adding some lemon extract every once in a while, as it tended to evaporate quickly from my pallete and then the colors got kind of gloppy. I guess it helps to work fast!

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Ellen0602 Posted 1 Oct 2009 , 2:00am
post #18 of 62

Thank you everyone for your advice, It was really helpful. I cant wait to try it.

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Tee-Y Posted 3 Oct 2009 , 11:38pm
post #19 of 62

I use paste colour thinned with water and a damp(not wet)brush.It dries fast too and is more economical icon_lol.gif .I actually took a short class on painting on cakes which I've been practicing and I'll put up pics for you to see what I'm talking about.
LL
LL
LL

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3GCakes Posted 3 Oct 2009 , 11:48pm
post #20 of 62

I use gel colors and vanilla extract.

The Yu-gi-oh cake in my pics was painted this way.

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TexasSugar Posted 3 Oct 2009 , 11:55pm
post #21 of 62

I use airbrush colors to paint with. You can paint with them on buttercream or fondant and you don't have to thin them down. If you want a lighter color you can also add white to it.

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deliciously_decadent Posted 4 Oct 2009 , 6:31am
post #22 of 62

i hand paint on most of my cakes and i use either lustre mixed with pure alcohol that acheives your metalic or shimmery colours or for your matte/bright colours i mix powdered colour with a little vodka, you can reuse left over 'paint' again as it will dry out and back to powder so i have a colection of litttle jars to avoid wastage

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agentdorkfish Posted 5 Oct 2009 , 1:07am
post #23 of 62

When using vodka, does it leave any taste on the fondant?

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deliciously_decadent Posted 5 Oct 2009 , 1:55am
post #24 of 62

nope it evaporates, but vodka barely has a taste to start with that is why we use it in the first place i use it to stick all my fonadnt to all my cakes and fondant on the fondant covered cakes etc icon_smile.gif that way it is also acting to steralise as well as stick

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kentuckyjode Posted 5 Oct 2009 , 2:19am
post #25 of 62

you can also use powders with a little canola oil...sounds weird but works beautifully!

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agentdorkfish Posted 5 Oct 2009 , 2:31am
post #26 of 62
Quote:
Originally Posted by deliciously_decadent

nope it evaporates, but vodka barely has a taste to start with that is why we use it in the first place i use it to stick all my fonadnt to all my cakes and fondant on the fondant covered cakes etc icon_smile.gif that way it is also acting to steralise as well as stick



I have never had any experience with vodka, haha. So I didn't even know it didn't have a taste! I'm still not too sure if that's what is best for me, haha. Do extracts work just as well?

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KristinAnn Posted 5 Oct 2009 , 3:00am
post #27 of 62

I just painted a bunch of fondant gourds for a fall cake I need to drop off tomorrow afternoon. I used gel paste colors and clear vanilla. Is there anything I can do to make sure the pieces will be dry by tomorrow? This was a last-minute cake, so I couldn't paint the fondant until tonight.

Thanks in advance!
Kristin

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deliciously_decadent Posted 5 Oct 2009 , 3:06am
post #28 of 62

yes you can use esxtracts also but they have more alcohol than vodka content if that is your concern and also they wiill leave the taste i know people use lemon extract but it definately leaves the lemon flavour icon_smile.gif

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agentdorkfish Posted 5 Oct 2009 , 3:44am
post #29 of 62

I tried using pure almond extract once with the gel colors. It looked like watercolor paints that kids use. It was just a quick experiment on some scrap MMF I had. I plan on trying again.

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kitcae Posted 8 Oct 2009 , 4:28pm
post #30 of 62

Thank you all so much! I'll have to try painting on cakes soon... maybe on the cake I'm going to make for church!

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