Jack of All Trades, Master of None

This is the final product of the marshmallow fondant cake. My writing, well...sucks, (hence the title) but have you ever tried to write with a bag of icing and a small tip?
I am most proud of the flowers and the diploma.

IF you decide to try the fondant, my only tip would be to make it and use it the same day. I made mine yesterday and it was a bit of a headache to get it rolled out nice and flat (it was stiff and I had to add a lil water and work that in, before it gave in to what I was asking it to do).

I ask that you be kind when critiquing this (this is my first time playing with fondant).

*I was told that this fondant would not dry enough. But if you roll it out nice and thin, it will dry (mind you still mildly pliable - the petals would move if you tried, but not snap off).

*it wasn't a very large cake, but I wasn't trying to feed an Army....just a few folks. I baked in 2 - 8"x8" (vintage Pyrex) brownie pans. I cut the second layer in half and placed that on the first.

Figured I Would Try Something 'New'

*back story*

Back when my older brother and I were in elementary school; the school would hold contests to raise money. Mom would always sign us (me and brother) up for the cake decorating. Mom would make a cake for each of us and also one for herself. She would decorate her cake (making icing from scratch, I use the same recipe today), and my brother and I would have to copy her design onto our cake ourselves (draw what you see, only with icing). Wanna know what, we (brother and I) always won the contest.

***WARNING, picture heavy*** (sorry for the quality of the pictures, I took with my phone).

After 12 years, I have a girlfriend graduate college. Another girlfriend of mine asked if I would make a cake for her party.

Now, I could do the same ol' same ol' with the super sweet sugar icing, but I wanted to try something different. FONDANT (wipe that look off your face). I, too, hate fondant (and I can't for the life of me figure out why people would spend $$$-$$$$ for a cake that they will just pull off all the fondant/decoration).

I have a friend that told me about homemade marshmallow fondant, she said it is really easy to make and a lot cheaper than buying the fondant at the store.

What you need is: bag of mini marshmallows, a microwave safe bowl, powdered sugar and a few drops water.

Nuke marshmallows til melted (stir with plastic spatula. If there are still a few 'solid' marshmallows - nuke for another 40 sec).


Mix in 4 cups powdered sugar.



Stir. When it is somewhat 'together', pour out onto a powdered sugar covered cutting board. Knead and then knead some more.



When it no longer sticks, wrap in plastic wrap (I cut off a small portion 'cause I wanted to make decorations).



Roll it out nice and thin. If you think it is thin enough...roll it out even more.



Using a tip (I don't know what size) and started cutting lots of little circles.



This is a really blurry, up close shot of my 'flower', using 5 circles (using my index finger - I flattened out half the circle). Using a drop of water 'glue' I combined 5 and with a toothpick with a lil drop of fondant to the tip, I stuck it threw the 'flower'.



These last 2 pictures are the finished product for today (I still have to add color to the flowers and ribbon (around the diploma). I plan to leave it all out so it will have plenty of time to dry (before I color and then eventually add to the cake).





My girlfriend is from Southern California, so the flower I chose to imitate is a tropical flower (has 5 petals and is white with a yellow center - I don't know the name).