Let them eat cake! Fondant, or Buttercream?

[DaPookie]

Hiyas!

Anyone have an opinion on fondant or buttercream for your wedding cake? I like the look of fondant, but I'm wondering if it's a waste if they're going to peel it off and throw it away before it's served.

What do you think?

 

[scarlett873]

It truly depends on the kind of fondant used. When I decorate a fondant covered cake, I use a brand called Choco-Pan. It tastes like Tootsie Rolls! Or i've even made my own marshmallow fondant...

But I don't think Disney uses a variety of brands and if i'm not mistaken, don't they remove the fondant when serving it? I thought that's what they did on one of those specials that I watched. If there's not much price difference, I say go for the fondant as you like that look.

I'm a buttercream kind of gal and if it's done right, it can look as stunning as a fondant covered cake!

 

[BayouPrincess]

Hiyas!

Anyone have an opinion on fondant or buttercream for your wedding cake? I like the look of fondant, but I'm wondering if it's a waste if they're going to peel it off and throw it away before it's served.

What do you think?

From what I understand, there is buttercream icing under the fondant. So technically, you'll get both (if you go with a fondant cake)!

I agree about the look of a fondant cake, they are really pretty. Good Luck choosing

 

[ampooh]

I'd love to see a good pick of cake after the fondant has been removed. How much icing could there be left? I'd love to see how it really works. I'm a buttercream person myself even though fondant makes a gorgeous cake.

(course all I've had are local cakes with fondant. maybe Disney does a much much better job)

 

[29apr00]

Fondant costs more than Buttercream, and if I were paying $1500+ for a Fondant covered cake, than the reception venue pulled it off and totally ruined my cake, i would be *(&(!*&($# mad!!! Do you know what a cake looks like after the fondant is pulled off?? It looks sloppy and messy, and almost as if the cake were DROPPED after cut, and placed your plate. Is that what you want your guests eating?? There is no need for the cake to be served without the fondant. Each guests tastes are different, and many will enjoy the taste of teh fondant, those that don't can choose to remove it themselves.

If you go for a planning session, i'd try and get a taste of the fondant that Disney uses and see if it's something YOU like. I also agree with PP that a buttercream cake can look just as beautiful as fondant if done right, and without the extra cost!

 

[caryndisneydiva]

the fondant that they used was good, but hard as a rock! we actually had a hard time cutting it,so i bet that's why they took it off. when we had a mini party to eat the top layer of the cake, my aunts ate the fondant like it was hard candy!

 

[Starr W.]

Checkout Lurkyloo's TR day 6. She has a small cake with Fondant!

Personally I'm a buttercream type.

 

[29apr00]

the fondant that they used was good, but hard as a rock! we actually had a hard time cutting it,so i bet that's why they took it off. when we had a mini party to eat the top layer of the cake, my aunts ate the fondant like it was hard candy!

That's just nasty!! Fondant is supposed to be soft and plyable, almost with a gumlike texture! I hope you complained to the chef about that!

 

[IntheKnow]

Scarlett873: you are correct, Disney only uses one brand of fondant. This is due to 2 reasons. One is the property wide initiative to eliminate trans fats from Disney offering, secondly is that the fondant used has been tested for appearance and workability.

BayouPrincess: you are correct as well. A layer of buttercream is applied to all cakes to insure a smooth surface for the fondant. Fondant can not be applied to a rough uniced surface,as it will magnify any imperfections.

Am when the fondant is applied it is rolled out very thin, so when it is removed before cutting, it leaves the majority of the butter cream intact. The cakes are usually cut by the room captains, who are well versed in this procedure.

Caryndisneydiva: when the fondant is applied and served, it is a pliable surface, but it does not remain this way indefinately. As with any food product that is not wrapped, it will dry out within a short period of time. Your wedding topper was removed intact with the fondant in place, and boxed "to-go". Even in a box, the fondant will dry and become more solid.

29apr00: as stated above, when the fondant is removed, it is done carefully and with almost all of the butter cream in place. Presentation does not suffer. If anything, the removal of the fondant is the better of the 2 choices.

You appear to be familiar with cake construction, so I'm sure you know what kind of results come from attempting to cut a soft cake with a layer of fondant in place.

As the wedding cake warms at the reception, the underlying butter cream and fillings become softer than when they were removed from refrigeration. Most wedding cakes are displayed in the room for 4 hours before cutting.At the same time, the fondant is still, as you put it "gumlike". Even with a sharp knife, the fondant will stretch before the knife goes through it and crush the soft cake beneath.
To correctly cut a soft, fondant covered cake, the server must 1: dip a sharp knife in warm water,2, dry the knife with a clean towel, 3 cut the slice and plate it, 4 repeat the process. Imagine doing this for 200 guests. The wedding cake would need to be removed from the guests view at the start of the dinner service in order for it to be plated in time for dessert.

Also, many fondant cakes have layers of additional decorations on them. Draped effects, heavy piping, etc. Would you want these extra remnants on your plate? To me, this would appear "sloppy". I would rather eat cake then have to dissect these remains.


Fondants primary function is appearance. And while it is true that it is more costly, the effects done in fondant can not be done in butter cream. It is all a matter of the brides vision as to what her cake should look like.

Don't get caught up thinking you will waste the fondant if it isnt consumed. If your cake is the cake of your dreams, then the fondant has done it's job.

 

[lurkyloo]

If you want cool-looking decorations, you have to have fondant. Luckily, you get tasty buttercream underneath, so it isn't like you sacrifice taste for appearance.

Here's what our cake looked like after the fondant was removed (that's ice cream on the right, not a frosting blob):

Here's me not following IntheKnow's steps for proper cutting of a fondant-covered cake (in this case, our topper):

Here's what our cake looked like with the fondant still on it:

 

[PrincessBride07]

I just wanted to add that my cake was served with the fondant. We asked that one of our guests get some of the fondant (per his request). Once they served it, my planner came over and said that normally they don't serve the fondant because it is to hard to cut. It pulls at the cake and makes a mess much like InTheKnow discribed. Our cake didn't do that for some reason. She said that it was possible that the sugar crystals all over our cake kept it from doing that. It was gum like with a little crunch (from the sugar crystals), and I am glad it was served with it.

 

[29apr00]

I've never had any of my fondant covered cakes had the fondant removed before cutting. And my cakes have never been soft or mushy or difficult to cut either. , granted I don't make 3000 wedding cakes a year either. Perhaps there is something that Disney is doing differently. I don't refigerate my fondant covered cakes either though, as the water condenstation from the refigeration would make the fondant sticky and icky. Regarding removing teh excess decorations, ie. bows and swags, that's fine to remove. But then i wouldn't eat those on a buttercream cake either. Too much icing!

 

[KellyJo18]

Here is a picture of our cake after the fondant was removed. We ate our anniversary layer during the rest of our trip and the fondant was still soft so it must just depend on when/how they make it or maybe even the weather?

If you are trying to save money I would suggest having Disney look at the design of your cake to see if it can be done without the fondant. I originally asked for our cake without fondant but they could not do the design without the smooth surface of fondant.

 

[cryssi]

They pulled the fondant off our cake to serve it. The buttercream Disney (well, DL anyway) used was nice, firm, buttery, and not sweet. I could have eaten it by itself. LOL Anyway, I don't have any pics of cut cake, but there was a substantial amount of buttercream on the cake slices.

When I make cakes, I always use fondant over buttercream. I make marshmallow fondant, though, and serve the cake with it...

 

[DaPookie]

Thanks, everyone! Especially for the pictures of the cakes after the fondant had been removed.

Next question...can ANY cake that can be done with fondant be done with buttercream?

 

[lurkyloo]

Thanks, everyone! Especially for the pictures of the cakes after the fondant had been removed.

Next question...can ANY cake that can be done with fondant be done with buttercream?

Unfortunately, no. Buttercream is soft and creamy, whereas fondant is like Play-doh. You just can't make all those decorations out of buttercream.