Marshmallow Fondant

I little over a year ago, I tried to make a batch of marshmallow fondant.  It did not turn out very well.  It was gooey, overly stretchy (it stretched right off my cake) and very, very shiny (I prefer a matte look). It refused to dry, causing a bow I had created to collapse and was such a pain to work with, not to mention a mess to make, that I decided never to use MMF again.  One thing it did have in its favor is it tasted good.  I do not like the taste of store bought fondant plus it is expensive.

I stopped using fondant to cover cakes and worked on my technique to smooth buttercream using the Viva paper towel method.  I think I got pretty good at it, because often times when I delivered a cake, someone would poke their finger in the frosting while asking if it was fondant.  Even though I was pleased with my buttercream smoothing, which continues to improve with each cake I do, I still prefer the look of fondant and recently decided to give Marshmallow Fondant another try.

I found the recipe I used on allrecipes.

These are the ingredients needed

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 (16 ounce) package miniature marshmallows
• 4 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 pounds confectioners' sugar, divided.

The butter is for your hands when you start kneading the fondant.  After reading the reviews, I opted to use Crisco in place of the butter.

I am going to mention right now that I have decided yellow countertops are the worst color I could have as a backdrop for photos.  I told my husband we needed new countertops, but that was not well received.  I then changed tactics and asked if I could have a new camera.  I explained that the problem is the camera...not the photographer.  I should have remembered that I had used that argument before when I tried to convince him new golf clubs would improve my game...didn't work then, isn't working now.

First I melted the marshmallows in the microwave.

Then I added the water and vanilla.

Finally I mixed in the powdered sugar.  You need to set some aside to use when you are kneading.

When I could no longer mix it in the bowl

I dumped in on the counter and started kneading.  It was so sticky!  I did not have the Crisco ready so I had to have my daughter keep putting it in my hands.  That's Crisco all over my hands in the photo below.  When the fondant started sticking to my hands, it was time to coat them with Crisco again.

 Still kneading!

Finally it was ready. 

The instructions said to wrap the fondant in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight.  The last time I made MMF, I used it right after I made it.  I was hopeful that letting it sit in the fridge would make this experience better.

The next day I planned to use it on a Transformers cake I was working on.  Check back tomorrow to see the end result.

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