Marshmallow Fondant - MMF

If you've never worked with fondant before, making it yourself can be a challenge. I always recommend that my students use store-bought fondant a few times before trying to do their own because then you will know what kind of consistency you're looking for.

What you need
This recipe is for a small batch. It makes about a pound to a pound and a half of fondant. If you want enough to cover a cake, you'll need to double it.
1 10.5-oz. bag of mini-marshmallows
1 Tbsp. water
1 tsp. clear vanilla extract
1 tsp. clear butter extract 
2-3 cups of powdered sugar 
butter or shortening to grease 

Fondant 101

This week is going to be all about fondant here on the Beki Cook's Cakes Blog.

Fondant is everywhere. ALL of the cake shows use - in my opinion - entirely too much fondant. But if you talk to most people, they have rarely, if ever, eaten the stuff. They talk about peeling it off of the cake before eating it. So, what's the point?! Well, it is beautiful! And if you're at all artistic, it's amazing the kinds of 'sculptures' you can do with it.

This post serves as a kind of introduction to fondant. Although, I will recommend that if you really don't know much about fondant, but would like to get into it, take a real class! It's nice to have someone who knows what they're talking about to answer your questions along the way, and help correct you if there's something you misunderstand. Check out your local craft store, kitchen store or community education catalog. I teach Wilton cake decorating classes at JoAnn Fabrics in Edina, Minnesota. I also teach other cake classes of my own through community education programs around the East Metro of the Twin Cities.

Beach Ball Cupcakes

These cupcakes were made for a good friend's daughters' birthday party. I liked them, and wanted to make them again.

What you need
Standard-sized cupcakes
1 recipe Marshmallow Fondant
Blue, Yellow & Red coloring
- (or one box primary-colored fondant and one box white fondant)
Biscuit cutter or round cookie or fondant cutter, a little larger diameter as your cupcake
Rolling pin
Waxed paper or a rolling mat
Shortening for spreading on rolling surface