Ready-to-roll icing always comes in white. What’s the best way to colour it evenly?
Estimate the amount of fondant you need to cover your cake, then knead it for a minute or so until it is smooth and pliable. Use a toothpick dipped in food colouring to transfer colour to the icing and then knead the colour and fondant together as you would work bread dough. For best results, layer colour little by little until the desired shade is achieved and make sure you colour enough fondant for the size of the cake, because trying to match tones if you have to colour another batch can be very tricky. It’s best to leave a bit of plain fondant so that you can add some white if you initially over-colour – don’t worry about making too much, because fondant keeps well for several weeks in an airtight container.
Is it easy to make your own fondant roll-on icing?
Homemade fondant can be tricky because a slight imbalance in the recipe can result in it becoming too sticky or greasy. Most people buy fondant because it assures you consistency in flavour and texture, and of course it’s easier. By all means have a go, but be prepared for a margin of error.
We’ve heard it’s good to ice a cake that’s been in the fridge or even frozen first because it provides a firmer base to work with. What’s your take on this?
I am not a big fan of freezing cakes before decorating them. I would only advise you to chill a cake prior to carving it into shape because this makes it firmer. If you try to cover a frozen cake with fondant, the icing will start to ‘sweat’, which makes it difficult to work with. A cake should be cool – but not too cold to achieve the best results.
What’s the best way to stick roll-on icing to a cake?
A thin layer of buttercream icing works really well. Make sure your cake is cool, apply the buttercream to the sponge, and then you can simply place the fondant directly over the top and it will stick. Just be sure to smooth it down and ensure there are no air pockets, as they can cause the fondant to drop when the air has come out.
What are some handy tips when icing difficult parts of the cake like the sides?
Invest in a good set of spatulas (with a sharp edge) and a turntable. To get the fondant really smooth, you can also get a tool called a fondant smoother. It looks like a small iron and it literally works wonders.
How can I make my cakes look great without my lack of expertise becoming obvious?
Practice makes perfect, but if you don’t have time to practice, just go for a simple design. A cake doesn’t have to be complicated to look good. Roll out some coloured fondant and use pastry or cookie cutters to cut out nice, clean, regular shapes that you can then stick on to a plain fondant-covered cake. Use dabs of buttercream or jam to make the shapes stick.
If you don’t have time to whip up your own creation, try these great places in Abu Dhabi
Tickls Cakes
Tickls Cakes offers a wide range of cakes and cup cakes to suit all occasions. Jump online to check out their great gallery of cakes but if these don’t suit they encourage you to contact them with any design that you require and they will be glad to personalise it. You can even pick your favourite flavour and frosting.
Tickls Cakes, www.ticklscakes.com or call (055 516 0825).
ChoCo’a
ChoCo’a does a beautiful range of cakes for children that can be made to order, or if you are looking for something a little simpler, their speciality is a spectacular chocolate cake.
Marina Plaza Tower, Al Muroor Sreet (02 628 9939).
Mister Baker
Mister Baker is well known in Abu Dhabi and is a great place to get a cake for your child. They can provide a range of cakes including number cakes, picture cakes and you can even stock up on candles, wrapping paper and decorations.
Hamdan Street (02 678 0055) or Airport Road (02 445 5591).
