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Fondant is a thick icing used to cover and decorate cakes. Our fondant recipe uses only four ingredients and is easy to work with and color. It also tastes much better than store-bought!
My mom made the most beautiful wedding cake for me when I got married. It was around the time when large, fancy, buttercream-frosted wedding cakes were going out of style, and the smaller, more simple fondant covered wedding cakes were becoming more popular. My wedding cake was covered with a smooth white fondant and then decorated with fresh flowers. Since then, I have loved decorating with fondant, especially for my kids’ birthdays, and this recipe is my favorite. It is quick and easy to make with just 4 ingredients!
What is Fondant?
Fondant is a soft, thick icing that is used to coat and decorate cakes. It is pliable, similar to the texture and consistency of play dough, which makes it easy to work with and shape. This recipe is made by combining marshmallows and powdered sugar. It has way better flavor than store bought fondant and it’s easy to color with food coloring.
Ingredients
Surprisingly, there are only 4 ingredients to make this fondant!
- Mini marshmallows
- Powdered sugar
- Shortening
- Water
How to Make Fondant
Fondant is simple to make, and when made correctly, it is also easy to work with when decorating. Here are the steps we recommend to beginners for this easy recipe to be a success:
Start With the Marshmallow Mixture
- Start with white mini marshmallows. The mini marshmallows work best for melting and mixing. Do not use the colored and flavored mini marshmallows. Coloring and flavoring can be added later.
- Make sure the marshmallows are fresh! Marshmallows that have been in an opened bag or are past the freshness date will be stale and/or sticky, and the fondant won’t turn out as well. When you purchase the marshmallows, check the expiration date and shake the bag a little to make sure they aren’t all clumped together.
- Use a glass bowl to melt the marshmallows in the microwave and stir, stir, stir! If the melted marshmallows are still a little lumpy, they will smooth out completely in the mixture.
Use a Mixer with a Dough Hook
As you reach the needed consistency for the fondant, it becomes thick and more stiff. It is still pliable, but a hand mixer just won’t cut it. Think freshly opened play dough. The dough hook is a life saver! Most standard mixers like Bosch (pictured) and KitchenAid have a dough hook accessory.
Watch for Consistency
Recognizing when to stop adding sugar and stop mixing is key when making fondant. It is ready to remove from the mixer when the color is no longer glossy and has a matte appearance, and the consistency is thick (again, think play dough).
Kneading the Fondant
Once the fondant is ready to knead and color, be sure to keep your hands and all surfaces lightly covered with shortening. Flour or powdered sugar will make it too stiff. Make sure it is pure white shortening. Butter-flavored shortening or cooking spray has a yellow tint, consequently turning fondant an off-white or yellowish color.
Rolling the Fondant
Use an adjustable long rolling pin or dough roller to roll fondant. Most long rolling pins have thickness rings to get a smooth, even finish. A regular rolling pin works for most projects, however the long rolling pin is an essential tool for projects like wedding cakes, making it possible to roll the fondant into a large enough circle to cover a large cake. It may be worth the investment if you plan to make fondant often. Adjustable long rolling pins can be found at bakery supply stores or on Amazon. This gives you an idea of what they look like.
Covering and Decorating Cakes
Once you have the fondant rolled out and the cake frosted with a layer of buttercream frosting (to help the fondant stick to the cake), covering the cake is easy! First, gently lift the fondant using the rolling pin and lay it evenly over the frosted cake. Next, press the fondant gently around the cake so it sticks evenly to the frosting. Cut off the excess using a fondant cutter or knife. Smooth out the fondant with a flat spatula or a fondant smoothing tool. Shape and smooth as needed. Finally, decorate the cake with fondant designs, ribbons, or flowers. This recipe makes enough to cover three 8″ round (2″ deep) cakes.
Decorating with Fondant
Fondant is a lot of fun to work and play with when it comes to decorating. It works beautifully on wedding cakes with fresh flowers, and it is easy to color for bright and fun birthday cakes, like the Barbie Cake pictured below. This easy recipe has been used over and over in our family to decorate cakes for special events. Don’t be intimidated – it’s very simple to make! Once you get it down, you will see that the possibilities are endless. Be ready for birthday cake requests, you are about to become a cake boss!
This Hamburger Cake is a fun cake to make for the hamburger lovers out there. The cheese, lettuce, and onions are all made out of fondant. It’s perfect for BBQ’s, potlucks, or birthday parties. I recently made this with my sons for a Cub Scout cake decorating contest. The scouts loved it!
Storage
Fondant can be made ahead and stored for later use. However, it will dry out, so it is important to keep it in an airtight container. It can also be wrapped completely in plastic wrap. It is not necessary to refrigerate fondant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fondant is edible. It is also very sweet. Some people love it and some prefer to remove it before eating their cake.
It is always a good idea to practice laying fondant on a cake. As I was learning, I found an extra set of hands was helpful. Practice on single layer cakes and work on getting all the bubbles and bumps out. Once you are comfortable with it, move onto layers.
Fondant tastes like a dense marshmallow, or kind of like the cream filling in an Oreo.
Fondant Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 16 ounces mini marshmallows
- 32 ounces powdered sugar
- 4 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon shortening
Instructions
- Put marshmallows, water, and shortening in a glass microwavable bowl.
- Microwave for 20 seconds, then stir. Repeat 4 times.
- Pour into a mixer and mix well using the dough attachment. Add in powdered sugar a cup at a time. Mix until the shine is completely gone. You may not need to use all the sugar, just keep adding until it has the consistency of play dough. The final result should not be sticky to the touch.
- When the fondant becomes too stiff to mix in the mixer, pull the fondant out and knead it on the counter, adding more sugar if needed. Knead in food coloring, if desired.
- From this point, you can roll the fondant out to place on a cake, cupcakes, or to create something amazing! When working with fondant, keep all surfaces and hands lightly covered in shortening to prevent sticking. Makes enough fondant to cover approximately three round 8" (2" deep) cakes.
Notes
- This recipe makes enough to cover three 8-inch cakes (2″ deep).
- Fondant can be made ahead and stored for later. Wrap it well in plastic wrap or keep it in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Practice placing your on single-layer cakes before attempting layer cakes. Placing fondant and smoothing it out takes practice!
Hey, loved this
I used it to decorate some cookies and I have heaps left over. Is it ok to freeze?
We haven’t had great results when freezing fondant. The condensation from freezing and thawing changing the consistency of the fondant. It can also become brittle in the freezer.
Hi. I want to attempt to make this. I was wondering if I could use coconut oil? And how much should I make to cover a sheet cake?
We have not tried it with coconut oil, so I can say how that would turn out. How big of a sheet cake are you making?
amazing a bit thick but amazing my granddaughter used this for her moms baby shower it looked great
it was a little bit thick but still great i loved it
Just wondering if you put icing on before you put the fondant on the cake? I’m trying to make a Bluey cake for my daughters first birthday. I just got done with chemo so ordering a cake isn’t in the budget! But I have been making my own homemade cakes and icing lately but having really gotten the taste amazing yet. Although I have tried quite a few different recipes that claim they’re the best.. 😂 I’m going to see what your cakes taste like though. Thank you!
Yes you coat the cake with a thin layer of icing before adding fondant! Good luck with your cake!
as far as taste it is like really sweet marshmallow but my sons like to torch their frosting because it has a roasted marshmallow flavor. It smells great torched. You may have trouble with the flavor because of the chemo tho. That can be a side effect.
This worked amazing! First time success at fondant and such a simple recipe! Used less sugar than called for and microwaved shorter amount time (did it by the book and it was overdone a bit, so added in a teeny bit more to loosen it up). Making North Pole stamps with the fondant! Merry Christmas!
This seems like a super quick easy recipe! Definitly gonna gibe it a try for mt daughters christmas party tomorrow! Question tho.. What if you dont have the dough attachment? What would work in place?
You could try the paddle attachment!
i’m going to try this recipe to secure edible logo toppers for my client holiday orders. i’m curious of the yield for this recipe – 1x = 24 servings ? 24 cupcakes? 24 cakes?
i only need 50 spoonfuls. any suggestions?
thank you!!
Sorry for the confusion – serving size is hard with fondant. This makes enough fondant to cover one double layer 8-inch cake. You might need to double the recipe!
I’m going to give a try.. I got our renewal coming up and I’d like to do my own cake for it..
First try at fondant and was amazing! My 10 year granddaughter wanted to make her own birthday cake with fondant flowers. Was so beautiful
Cool, I hope it works I’m gonna try it on my 12th birthday cake!:)
Hi does this fondant mix dry well for figures
Yes it should!
can i use cookie cutters with this recipe?
Sure!
Amazing
The flavor, cost and ease of this recipe is great. It worked perfectly to build a pancake stack looking cake. Thank you so much for posting this!
Wow! Highly educative
It was good but you need to make a smaller batch two pounds of powdered sugar is crazy
This recipe does make a lot of fondant!
Is it possible to make this fondant without a stand mixer and by hand?
Yes, but you might need some serious elbow grease!
what kind of icing do you use over fondant if you want to make flowers or other decorations.
Royal icing works really well for designs over fondant! https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/royal-icing/
I just wanted to say, with the answer that your recipe doesn’t contain gelatin and instead contains marshmallows, the person might be asking because they’re vegan and gelatin is an animal product, or due to a gelatin allergy. In which case, marshmallows themselves contain gelatin.
I wonder if you can make fondant using vegan marshmallows, or if you would need to use a different technique to get a similar result.
Thanks for making that point! We haven’t tried it with vegan marshmallows, but we’ll keep the post updated if we do!
This recipe looks great – I’m attempting fondant for the first time to make my kiddo’s bday cake (Spiderverse theme…wish me luck!). Can I assume that using a double boiler on the stove to melt the marshmallows is also acceptable or is it best to use a microwave? Also, I’ll need to make some black, red and possibly blue fondant. Will this recipe stand up to that much food coloring?
Thank you!
I haven’t tried double boiling the marshmallows – we always use the microwave and it turns out great. It should hold up really well to food coloring! We like to use gel food coloring for the best results.
Thank you!
It’s my first time making this recipe. I’m trying to roll the fondant with a lite coating of shortening it sticks to the rolling pin. Then I add a bit of powdered sugar to avoid it; it helps a bit. Then I roll it out and it starts cracking. What have I done wrong or what can I do to adjust?
I had to add more powdered sugar since mine was still shiny and sticky on the mixer. Till I took it out and started kneading it and adding a bit more sugar it finally got to the consistency I needed.
I’m sorry I don’t think I understand the question – was the fondant too sticky or too dry?
Any chance you have the powdered sugar and marshmallow measurements in g or cups?
32 ounces of powdered sugar is about 908 grams. 16 ounces of marshmallows is about 454 grams. I hope this helps!
FYI in your FAQs about Fondant it says, “Is there a way to make cake fondant without using gelatin? Yes! Our recipe does not require gelatin and instead uses marshmallows.” However, traditional marshmallows, including the ones linked, do contain gelatin, which makes this statement incorrect. Along those lines, I wonder if the recipe would still work with vegan, gelatin-free marshmallows, such as Dandie’s. https://a.co/d/ib13MjW
We haven’t tried making it with vegan marshmallows so we can’t say for sure. Let us know how it turns out if you try it!
Would it be best to halve this recipe if I’m only needing to make a decorative treasure map for a 9×13 cake?
Yes! That would be good!
Omg so easy and to make from scratch is so much better
This web site is so prefect
Thank you for making cooking so easy
Hi there! I am wondering how this dries and if it can be used for decorative elements, disks for cupcakes for example? Thanks!
It is very soft and stays fairly soft when it dries. I don’t think it would work for discs.
Thanks so much!
Can you use butter instead of shortening
We get the best results when we use shortening!
Hi, How do I attach this fondant to a cookie?
Thanks
I would slice it or cut it with a cookie cutter and then attach it to the cookie with a little bit of buttercream or icing.
Can I replace the shortening with light olive oil?
We haven’t tried that substitution so I can’t say!
Just wondering if this recipe would work for forming critters and creatures ie dinosaurs?
Yes! That would be so cute!
Can I leave out the marshmallows? What would that do?
Sorry, the marshmallows are key ingredient in this recipe. It won’t work if you leave it out.
Do you use gel or food dye?
Gel is the best because it doesn’t mess with the consistency.
I hope this is as easy as it sounds – I am not a baker
How many ounces of fondant does this receipe make? I want to decorate a topsy turvy cake and I think I need about 8 lbs – is this cheaper to make or should I buy already made fondant?
I’m not sure of the exact ounces this makes but it should be enough to cover 2 9″-round cakes. It really depends on how thin you roll it. Hope this helps!
Short sweet and to the point
Hi,
Thanks for the tips on the four ingredient fondant but where is the recipe ingredient amounts please.
Thank you
The amounts are at the bottom of the page in the recipe card. If you click “Jump to Recipe” at the top of the page, it will take you right to it!
This a great recipe for a first-timer. Your tips and suggestions were a lifesaver too. Thank you!
Do you think this recipe would work with vegan/vegetarian marshmallows?
We haven’t tried that, so we can’t say for sure. Let us know how it turns out if you try it!
Made this for my granddaughter’s 19th birthday cake. Never made fondant before! I mixed and colored; she cut out and placed it on the cake. It was a great hit. The only modification was I added almond extract. The kids at the party ran up to her and said her fondant tasted like cookies!
Already have requests for more granddaughters’ cakes. Thanks for an easy and great tasting fondant.
How much almond extract was added?
Sorry I just saw this – I think it was about a half teaspoon? I don’t know that I measured – just added and tasted till it seemed to taste good.
How big of a cake can this cover ? How many pounds are in 24 servings ?
This recipe makes enough fondant to cover one 8-inch round cake that’s 4 inches high or one 10-inch round cake that’s 3 inches high. For a 10 x 10-inch square cake or a 9 x 13-inch sheet cake, you will need to double the recipe.
How to make the fondant shiney?
You can brush egg white onto the fondant to make it shiny.
Love it thanks
I want to make a dummy wedding cake for my anniversary. If i wanted to add embellishments (like dog footprints up the side of my cake covered in fondant) could i do the prints with fondant and if so, how would I stick it to the cake?
Yes you can do the dog prints with fondant! You can stick them to the cake with a little bit of regular icing, like buttercream.
Thanks for this receipe!
May I ask what kind of shortening you are using?
I just used regular Crisco!
It’s nice. Keep it up
This was interesting to make for the first time. But it took more than a bag of powdered sugar for it to lose the stickiness.
Love this
Will this recipe cover one whole cake, or should I double it to cover the cake I’m making?
This recipe makes enough fondant to cover one 8-inch round cake that’s 4 inches high or one 10-inch round cake that’s 3 inches high. For a 10 x 10-inch square cake or a 9 x 13-inch sheet cake, you will need to double the recipe.
Hello! I am making chocolate covered cherries. Will this fondant liquify if I soak my cherries in rum?
Thank you!
We don’t use this fondant recipe for chocolate covered cherries. You can see what we use here: https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/chocolate-covered-cherries/
Are you able to use a hand-held mixer? We don’t have a stand mixer at home. also please respond quickly as I need to know as I need to make fondant for a class project.
Yes you should be able to make this recipe with a hand mixer!
I was so nervous to make fondant, but I managed to follow the recipe, step by step, and made a cake to decorate with. My daughter helped me with some designs. This was so fun I’ll definitely have to try this again!
Wow, you make it so easy! Thanks so much!
I am no expert in fondant, but you have made it so easy & fool proof! Love all the different ways you can use it on dessert!
I would like to use the fondant to make cut out rocking horses for cupcakes. Is this recipe what I would use? If so, how far ahead can I cut out the rocking horses and how would I store them until the day before event? Thx
Are you cutting them out with a cookie cutter? The fondant won’t be strong enough to stand up on its own unless it is a little thicker. Fondant can keep for 1-2 months at room temperature. Just make sure to cover it in a little bit of shortening and plastic wrap and store it in an airtight container.
Can you use Domino sugar instead of powdered sugar
I haven’t heard of Domino sugar. What is it?
No you can’t use regular table sugar to make this recipe, it calls for icing sugar or powdered sugar for a reason, regular sugar wouldn’t dissolve enough and you would end up with very grainy fondant, and your looking for a very smooth texture..
Common white sugar only comes in two main types, granulated or powdered. The Domino brand sells both, so not sure what you are asking.
If you have a food process or high speed blender..you can powder regular sugar by grinding it.
Am learning
I have never made stuff like this but i want to do it to show my granddaughter how to.she is learing
I do not have a dough mixer can i do it by hand
It would be difficult to get the right consistency by hand.
i got a mixer and it came with a dough hook
How do you store the fondant once made or placed on the cake? I’m new to fondant. And how long could you make this in advance and how to store ? Thanks so much!
You can store fondant wrapped in cling wrap at room temperature in an air-tight container if you are going to use it within a couple of days. If you are making it farther ahead in advance, you can store it in the fridge or even the freezer. Just make sure to let it come to room temperature and then knead it again until it is soft before using.
What can I use to stick fondant together. I’m making a cake topper and I have to stick few pieces together
There are a few things you can use to get fondant to stick together. Wilton recommends using their piping gel. You can lightly moisten the pieces with water to get them to stick together. Or you can make a “sugar glue” by microwaving a small amount of fondant with some water. See instructions here: https://rosebakes.com/make-fondant-sugar-glue/
It works out much better if you wait to add coloring into the fondant until after it has uniform color and texture (no longer glossy). Before then you will want to look at the color and texture to tell if more sugar is needed, and to gauge when it’s mixed well enough.
Hi! I am making a cake for my moms birthday and I was wondering if it would be fine to use bigger marshmallows instead of mini ones? And also if I could add food coloring to it? Thanks for your help!
We haven’t tested this recipe with the bigger marshmallows so I can’t give you an accurate amount or weight. I’m not sure if it will turn out the same. As for food coloring, absolutely! Make sure you use the premium food coloring that you can find at Hobby Lobby or any craft store that carries cake-making supplies. You don’t want to use the watery stuff from the grocery store. Hope this helps!
In the uk we don’t have shortening. What can I use instead
You can try substituting butter!
I want to make flowers with the fondant can I use this recipe to make them and can I use a cookie cutter with it?
Yes!
Hi! When do you add coloring in the recipe if you want to add color?
In step 5! You add the color while kneading the fondant.
It worked perfectly! My cake is beautiful!
if there is no powdered sugar what you will used instead
You can easily make your own powdered sugar using granulated sugar and cornstarch. Click this link for directions: https://www.bettycrocker.com/how-to/ask-betty/answer/can-substitute-powdered-sugar-granulated-sugar/43d23e54-493e-5597-9b1e-c4c665e05f3f
I was wondering if flavored marshmellows would work.. and if they had color would it mess it up?
I wouldn’t substitute flavored marshmallows. Some of them have an extra powdery coating that will mess up the fondant. The colors will also come through in the fondant and will probably turn it a brownish color. Thank you for asking!
Super awesome recipe! I loved it so so so much!
I am trying to make this for graduation cake for my sisters. It sounds wonderful! I am wondering how much it makes. It says 24 servings, How much is one serving? Could you let me know at my email?
This recipe makes enough fondant1 to cover one 8-inch round cake that’s 4 inches high or one 10-inch round cake that’s 3 inches high. For a 10 x 10-inch square cake or a 9 x 13-inch sheet cake, you will need to double the recipe.
is there an alternative one can use to shortening (don’t get it here in Norway)
Yes, you can use butter or margarine in place of the shortening. Thank you for asking!
I just used this recipe today. The only question I have is I was hoping for it to be a bit stiffer. It was ready to cone out of my mixer as my mixer was struggling to spin it. It seemed like my shortening made the fondant weak… but it tastes good. It did the job. I just need practice maybe?
Usually if the fondant isn’t stiff enough, I add a little more sugar. Hope this helps!
I was actually looking for an easy fondant recipe for my Christmas cake. So glad I found this recipe. This looks easy and only 4 ingredients. Amazing recipe.
I can’t wait to try this out! I hate the taste of store bought fondant. Thanks for including all the troubleshooting and tips!
I am not a baker but my mother in law will love this! I will forward the recipe to her right away!
This looks so simple, definitely need to try it!
I am just starting back with baking my cakes from scratch so I really can’t wait to try my hand at making this easy 4 ingredients fondant
This is by far the best and easiest fondant recipe! It was perfect for my cakes, but they didn’t turn out as beautiful as yours!
Thank you so much gonna try this soon
Hi! Thank you! Can’t wait to try this!
Is there a way not to use a microwave for this recipe?
Thanks so much ☺️
Yes, you can heat the marshmallows up over the stove. Just be careful not to overheat them and keep the temperature low.
I’m assuming a double boiler would do the trick?
Yes! That will work great!
Super fun! I’ve always wondered how fondant is made, and of course was too lazy to find out until now! Wonderful! My kids would love to play with (and eat) fondant!
I’ve never worked with fondant before now, and I was surprised how easy and fun it was! Going to be making some fun desserts with this recipe, from now on!
I loved this recipe, it’s simple but with amazing quality. It didnt crack or even tear apart. It’s very smooth & consistent and the best part, you don’t have to spend so much money on expensive products!
I’ve always been intimidated to try fondant, but I love how easy this is to make! Great recipe!
This is a tried and true recipe that actually tastes good to eat, unlike the commercial stuff that tastes like cardboard. Thanks for the recipe!
Such a great recipe and tutorial! It was way easier than I thought it would be and worked like a charm!
This recipe is an absolute keeper. I haven’t seen a fondant recipe in quite a while, so this is quite unique, too!
Seeing all the steps, it looks so easy. Will definitely try it.
Can you make fondant cake decorations in advance and store them with this recipe?
I think that would work!
Thanks for sharing your fondant recipe! I’ve never tried to make my own, but I need to now.
Just happened upon your blog today and I love it! I want to try everything! I have made my own fondant and use it to make cakes all the time. A lot of people I know don't like the super sweet of the marshmallow fondant, but like you I can't stand the store bought. I add some butter and a little almond extract to my marshmallow fondant. I love the taste you get and have had rave reviews. Thanks for sharing so many yummy recipes!
That turned out absolutely ADORABLE! We are actually doing an "Alice in Wonderland" 3rd birthday party as well. I have NEVER used or made fondant before. I will have to give it a try. Could you tell me what exact size and kind of mixing bowls you used to bake the cakes and some further directions. I am SO intimidated with making cakes, not good at it. But I would love to give this one a chance. If you could, could you email me some of those directions? Thank you so much. I always love turning to your blog for great recipes 🙂
mandyfrazier80@gmail.com
The candles can be found at: http://www.theamazingcandle.com/en/
VERY CUTE!
I want to try this. Your photo makes it look worth trying. So plese tell the candle? Where on earth did you find such a wonderful singing candle????
That is the most adorable cake I have ever seen!!! You guys are so creative!!! I'm curious to know if the kids ate the fondant as part of the frosting when you cut the cake… and where did you get the candle?