Fondant Tiara help?

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Permalink Reply by Theresa on May 28, 2010 at 10:00am

Here are the instructions I was given by another decorator. They worked really well, just make sure your gumpaste is a lil thick other wise it will break easier. Good Luck.

So, figure out how big you want the crown to be. I typically use an empty Ovaltine container (It's just what we had at the time and it worked really well). A smaller coffee can, iced tea container or anything of the sort should work for you. I cover the sides with a piece of wax paper...tape each end with a small piece...just enough to hold it on to the can. Insert a dowel down through the top and bottom of can (kinda like you are roasting the can- like a pig on a spit over the fire!) Suspend the can between two supports...I use a large Tupperware container. (Gosh...does this make sense? I sound like McGyver the cake decorator, huh?)

Roll a piece of fondant (or gumpaste) into a snake to desired thickness for your base and wrap this around your can. It should not go all the way around, but like 3/4 of the way. Use blue painter's tape if you have some (I've also used a tiny piece of regular tape as well- when I'm desperate) to hold the fondant to the can. Allow it to dry for a few minutes.

If you have the wilton cookie press for these next steps, it is much simpler, but if not you'll be hand rolling snakes from here to eternity! (I nuke the fondant for about 5 seconds, put it in cookie press with round tip that has all been sprayed with Pam spray. Cut the snakes off to desired length and start forming your design. I like to start in the middle and make a heart (takes up a fair amount of space). Attach the heart to the base...the more contact you have to the base (and to the other pieces) the better your chances are of it staying together when it's dry. Try to not make your design any more than about 3" tall....gravity can be your enemy later. Also, keep in mind that bc you nuke it, it seems to dry a lot faster, so don't roll out too much in advance...it will crack.

To attach the pieces, I use clear vodka. It dries really fast and leaves no taste behind. Use it sparingly. You want to slightly moisten the sides of the pieces so they stick together, but you'll also want to try to limit the amount of sticking to the wax paper. (You can also use any clear extracts)

I attach one piece at a time...let it dry for about 15-20 minutes (a small tabletop fan helps the drying process too) then add another. I work the center piece first as I mentioned earlier...then add one to each side. The can will start to roll bc you have more weight on one side or the other. Get the cursing about this out of the way and then secure that dowel any way you can...pieces of styrofoam, heavy tape, what ever it takes, but make sure it is easy enough to change when you want to add the matching piece to the other side.

Let the piece dry over night- 24 hours (again...a fan is an added benefit). Check it the next day to see if it is hardened enough to take off. Use a sharp knife to cut the tape that is holding the wax paper. Set the can upright and slide the crown to a plate (or cake board) and slowly lift the can up and out. Slowly work the wax paper away from the back of the crown.

If anything comes loose, try to repair it with more vodka. If it doesn't work, DRINK ANY REMAINING VODKA! You're crown won't be perfect, but you'll sure feel better! Just kidding!!! Allow things to dry more on the back side of the crown...it will still be pretty pliable. Try not to move it much and let it dry, dry, dry... if you have any trouble with any of the pieces, don't fret....9 out of 10 chances says that no one will be eating the crown anyway bc it is so stinkin' hard, so you can always go back and do some reinforcements with some clear hot glue...non edible I know, but again...no one will be eating it and it is imparative this all be in one piece. Again, I can't stress the fan enough considering this is due in just a few days...

Transport the crown in a small box (like a shoe box) with lots of crumpled papertowels surrounding it. Place it on the cake only after it has arrived. Just remember..the longer it sits on top of the cake, the more chances it has of absorbing moisture from your icing which could equal a droopy crown.

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Permalink Reply by Angela Mullican on May 28, 2010 at 11:11am

LOL Love the "Drink any remaining vodka" technique. Makes all my cakes come out better ;)
Here's an idea Meera: I did one where I used a smaller layer cake on the top and attached my tiara to it. you may not like that idea but mine had to travel a distance and I didn't want to risk it just sitting on top. Here's the pic ...... I used a the cake craft extruder similar to the cookie press method Theresa mentioned. I used little balls of fondant to 'weld' all the pieces.

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• tiaracake.jpg, 46 KB

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Permalink Reply by Mizztry on May 28, 2010 at 11:53am

Ha ha i love the vodka as well!! Theresa those are awesome instructions I will try it out!

Since this is my first time using fondant i really want to make it simple for me...i was looking to doing something like this (i've attached picture).

So once I am done with the crown I just leave it to dry (in room temp or fridge?), and it will harden?

Also can i use clear vodka to stick any fondant on fondant??

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Permalink Reply by diane kilgore on May 30, 2010 at 7:56pm

hi all are you making fondant or gum paste tiara, i would use 50/50 it will hold up much better and dry faster, i've seen them in royal icing, followed the directions used parchment paper the second time went over 3 times between drying, first one what a mess, second almost had off then crumbled you can patch back togeather, but mine turned out to be a puzzle, remember royal icing and bc don't mix melts it,. personally i'd never do one in gum paste or royal icing, way to much work and all piping has to touch in at least 2 or 3 areas, there are some templates on cake central, under gallery, and some in the other galleries like children cakes with tiara on a fondant pillow cake. that you could do in 50/50 i like the one below also, don't put it in the fridge to dry, it will sweat when you take it out

Meera said:

Ha ha i love the vodka as well!! Theresa those are awesome instructions I will try it out!

Since this is my first time using fondant i really want to make it simple for me...i was looking to doing something like this (i've attached picture).

So once I am done with the crown I just leave it to dry (in room temp or fridge?), and it will harden?

Also can i use clear vodka to stick any fondant on fondant??

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