Has Anyone Made Fondant Animals?
 

I don't know if this should go here or hobbies. I will try this first.
Has anyone made jungle animals with fondant before?
This is my first time trying to make figures like this before, but I need to make a few jungle animals.
I was wondering if Marshmallow fondant would be OK to use of if it would be better buy premade since no one will eat them, and if anyone had any tips.

Re: Has Anyone Made Fondant Animals?
 

i never have, but the mmf i made was pretty moldable. :shrug3

Re: Has Anyone Made Fondant Animals?
 

How big will they be? You may need to mix it with some gumpaste...I've used toothpicks before, too....I'd recommend making the pieces unassembled and letting them dry out a bit before assembling. I'm not a pro, and I've not done a lot of work with it, but from what I've done with figures (not animals in particular) thats what I'd recommend :tu I use vodka leftover from making vanilla to 'glue' them together :)

Re: Has Anyone Made Fondant Animals?
 

Yea you may need gumpaste because fondant won't hold as well. I haven't made animals but I just did two cakes this week with fondant toppings...one was a football and the other a mickey hat. I use rice krispie treats as the base and cover them in fondant. They are more basic than a jungle animal would be I'd think! Here's pics of the two I did. :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...7/IMG_0138.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...687/photo6.jpg

---------- Post added at 11:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:24 PM ----------

:think Interesting! How does vodka glue it? I always just used icing for glue. But on the football I didn't use anything...just sorta pressed the seems into it...I can see how vodka if that works would have been helpful!

Re: Has Anyone Made Fondant Animals?
 

I use corn syrup for glue.

Re: Has Anyone Made Fondant Animals?
 

As far as size, they will be maybe 4 inches high at the most? I also need to make trees. They are supposed to be sitting down. (the animals, not the trees.)
I had no idea I'd have to use gumpaste, but I can see how that would be helpful....I guess that is already made in a bag, right? I have never used that before. I just mix it in with the fondant? Is it edible?

I am all nervous now. The last thing I want is for their heads to fall off or something! Toothpicks and vodka...got it! :ty4
:nails
I have a week to get it done.

Some really good friends of ours are moving to Africa, and I am making them a cake for their farewell party. We camp with them all the time, so I thought I'd do a camping scene, but with an African twist, and the animals are going to be sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows.
Maybe I should do something else, LOL. Now that I type it out, not only does that sound like it is rather above my skill level :giggle, it sounds kind of silly. Whimsical, maybe? :shifty

Re: Has Anyone Made Fondant Animals?
 

I've made marshmallow fondant to use as playdough before, I think it's very moldable, but I don't know how well figurines made out of it would last. They got eaten here.

Re: Has Anyone Made Fondant Animals?
 

Have you tried googling youtube videos of others making them? I've found lots of good cake videos on youtube. I "think" there's a mix for gumpaste you buy. I've never actually worked with it but I've seen the powder and some gel stuff at michaels. I think it sounds like a great idea though! How long do you have? I'd start trying to make them and have a back up plan if it turns out to be harder than you thought. :D

---------- Post added at 12:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:41 AM ----------

Looks like there are some step by step tutorials here on how to make a monkey and another just on animals in general. :)
http://www.cakescanada.com/HowTo/

Re: Has Anyone Made Fondant Animals?
 

You could also use rice crispy treats as the filler with the MMF overtop for the details. I did a Pooh head that way. You can do trees with pretzels and marshmallows - they look pretty cute, actually.http://www.greenwayfamily.com/serend...s/dsc04131.jpg

http://www.greenwayfamily.com/serend...s/dsc04046.jpg

http://www.greenwayfamily.com/serend...s/dsc03867.jpg

Re: Has Anyone Made Fondant Animals?
 

Following this thread with interest. :popcorn Your planned cake sounds WONDERFUL!

Re: Has Anyone Made Fondant Animals?
 

After you mold it, put it in the freezer to harden.

Vodka is also great for using as a base for paint - mix the gel color with vodka, and then you can handpaint the fondant.

I think the MM fondant is more pliable than the premade stuff.

You can do a dome tent out of an upside down pyrex bowl.

Re: Has Anyone Made Fondant Animals?
 

I've had problems when I tried to freeze fondant to speed up the hardening process. It made the fondant wet from condensation and it appeared "hard" from being frozen and when it warmed up it was softer than it started! :doh

Re: Has Anyone Made Fondant Animals?
 

I've never frozen it, I think I'd be too scared, lol! rice krispy treats work well under the larger things, but for a 4" animal figure, I'd probably not do that...

the vodka moistens the fondant so when you put two pieces together, they stick. It dries so fast b/c of the alcohol, so it's much faster (and less messy) than water/etc. I've used icing before as well, but I think the vodka works best. I paint it on the areas I'm wanting to 'glue' with a paintbrush.

Niki -- LOVE the mickey hat cake!!!

---------- Post added at 09:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:21 AM ----------

interesting! I'll have to try that! :tu

Re: Has Anyone Made Fondant Animals?
 

I put all my cakes in the freezer. So do the cake places on TV.......??? usually there's a fair amount of time before the cake is eaten, and usually involves transport in the car....

maybe MMF is different though.

here's a handpainted flower, using vodka...
http://www.greenwayfamily.com/serend...e/IMG_4435.JPG

Re: Has Anyone Made Fondant Animals?
 

I made a fondant elephant for the top of DD's first birthday cake. I considered using the powder stuff that turns it into gum paste (can't remember the name) but just kept it simple. I made the elephant a day or two in advance and he was fine. :tu He lasted a few more months, as well, and I think he might even still be around somewhere, although he started to settle and kind of sink after a few months.

I used pre-made fondant and kneaded the gel color into each section individually. I didn't use any glue other than water to help the sections stick.

This was my first cake, so please excuse the rough edges and such. :bag

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g7...3/IMG_3268.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g7...3/IMG_3277.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g7...3/IMG_3281.jpg