My First Fondant

I've been thinking about Owen's first birthday cake already (yes, it's still a few months away but that's what happens when it's your firstborn and you have nothing better to do all day). Well, I've been considering a fondant cake because they always look SO nice and pretty! (I know Owen won't really care if it's 'pretty' or even halfway decent looking since he'll just want to smash and smear it anyway...I know the first cake is really just for me and the pictures).

Anway, I've never made fondant, I've never even had it before. So I thought I should probably practice making it before I made it for a special occasion, plus it would give me something to do. My sister Amy has gotten into cake decorating a little and she told me how *easy* marshmallow fondant is, so I found a recipe and went to work.

Let me just say, I hated nearly every part of making this cake!

I hated how sticky and impossible it was to knead.

I hated how it completely stuck to my hands, even though I covered every square inch with butter.

I didn't like how powdered sugar got everywhere as I made it.

I didn't like how hard and dry it was when I tried to knead it the next day.

I didn't like how hard it was to roll out.

I didn't like how it was completely stuck to the surface when I tried to pick it up after rolling it, despite putting tons of powdered sugar down, so I had to RE-roll it out.

I didn't like how it was nearly completely stuck to the surface when I rolled it the second time, despite putting both butter and powdered sugar down first.

I didn't like how my hands turned all blue when I mixed the coloring into the fondant.

I didn't like how bumpy it looked, when fondant is supposed to be smooth.

I didn't like how the fondant would hold any shape so the bow looks ridiculous.

I didn't like how long the whole process took.

I don't know, maybe I did something wrong.

Maybe it was because I used cheap, Ecuador brand marshmallows because that's all they have here.

Maybe it was because I added too much powdered sugar.

Maybe I should have used shortening instead of butter.

Maybe I shouldn't have added a little water to help soften it to knead the next day.

Maybe I should have rolled it on cornstarch instead of powdered sugar.

Maybe it was becuase I don't have a rolling pin here so I had to use a little toy baseball bat (embarrassing to admit, I know).
Maybe it would work better if I made it in the states.

Then, to top it all off, the fondant tasted horrible! And the cake mix I used was an Ecuador brand that was dry and not nearly as good as my favorite Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines.

So, unless I'm convinced otherwise, I think I'm through with fondant!!!

Guess that means Owen will be getting buttercream on his birthday cake.