How to: cover cakes with rolled fondant

How do you cover a cake with fondant that's perfectly smooth,
without wrinkles or air bubbles? The flexibility of fondant is your
secret weapon. Just follow our instructions for the right ways to knead,
roll out and lift the fondant, and you'll find that covering a cake is easy.

Round cake

step 1

Prepare cake by lightly covering with buttercream icing.

step 2

Before rolling out fondant, knead it until it is a workable consistency.
If fondant is sticky, knead in a little confectioners' sugar. Lightly dust
your work surface and your rolling pin with confectioners' sugar to prevent
sticking. Roll out fondant sized to your cake. To keep fondant from sticking,
 lift and move as you roll. Add more confectioners' sugar if needed.

step 3

Gently lift fondant over rolling pin or slip cake circle under fondant to
move; position on cake.

step 4

Shape fondant to sides of cake with a Smoother. We recommend using
 the Smoother because the pressure of your hands may leave impressions
 on the fondant. Beginning in the middle of the cake top, move the Smoother
 outward and down the sides to smooth and shape fondant to the cake and
 remove air bubbles. If an air bubble appears, insert a pin on an angle,
release air and smooth the area again. Use the straight edge of the
Smoother to mark fondant at the base of cake. Trim off excess fondant
using a sharp knife.

step 5

Your cake is now ready to decorate.

Covering large rounds with rolled fondant

In most cases, the smaller your cake, the easier it will be to cover with rolled fondant. However,
there is an easy way to position and smooth fondant on cakes that are 12 in. diameter or larger.
Follow the steps below to lift fondant onto the cake without tearing.

step 1

Cover cake lightly with buttercream icing. Roll out fondant sized to your
cake.

step 2

Slide a large cake circle that has been dusted with confectioners' sugar
under the rolled fondant. Lift the circle and the fondant and position over
cake. Gently shake the circle to slide the fondant off the board and into
position on the cake. Smooth and trim as described above.

Square cake

step 1

Position fondant on cake, smoothing the top with a Smoother. Pull the
corner flaps gently out and away from the cake; smooth the corners
with hand to eliminate the creases. Smooth sides with Smoother.

step 2

Trim off excess fondant at bottom with a spatula or sharp knife.

step 3

To give a finished look, smooth top, all sides and bottom edge of
cake again with the Smoother.

Tip: Don't use to much confectioners sugar, it makes the fondant dry.
Tip: Don't know how much fondant to buy to cover te cake?
Click on this link to see the post with the fondant coverage chart.