I decided to go for it and make my first ever layer cake with fondant. I decided on a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. I used a recipe from a shortening company's website. I used to use these recipes whenever I would make cookies. The recipes would turn out ok and were pretty fool-proof. This recipe did turn out a little dry, which I do attribute to using shortening instead of butter. I have quickly learned the benefit of using high-quality ingredients! I did a standard chocolate frosting, which tasted ok.
Now for the fondant...I used a full bag of marshmallow and melted them in the microwave (about 2 minutes or so). I then started adding the loads and loads of powdered sugar. Then, the messy part begins...incorporating the sugar with the marshmallows by hand. I wish I would've taken pictures of this debacle, but hubby was at work, and my 21 month old really doesn't have the most accurate photography skills yet. It definitely was a mess. However, after about 6 minutes or so, the gooey mess turned into a smooth ball of fondant. I split a small portion off to add food coloring to....I decided to do purple in honor of my alma mater...the University of Washington Huskies, who were about to play a HUGE game against USC that weekend. I wrapped both sections and placed them in the fridge.
After allowing the cake layers to cool, I decided it was time to frost them. I had 2- 9" rounds. I decided against splitting each of the layers...I was too chicken to try it on my first homemade cake! Everything went pretty smoothly...and I was ready for the fondant fun. I have to say, it was easier than I expected! I rolled it out, rolled it back on the pin and rolled it back out over the cake! I then rolled out the purple fondant and cut out butterflies to put on top of the cake. All in all, it was a big success! It looked beautiful!
Later that night, it was time to do the taste test. We had had a wonderful dinner of parmesean chicken, rice pilaf and a good bottle of wine for dinner and were ready for our dessert! I cut thin slices for my hubby and myself. It looked beautiful! Then...my husband took his first bite and said..."Well...it's a bit dry." Shot in the heart!!!! Ouch! Personally, I thought it was ok. It was a dense cake, and, yes, a bit dry. But, it was ok. My husband took two more bites and was done with the cake. I munched on the cake for a couple of days, then threw half of it away.
Later that night, it was time to do the taste test. We had had a wonderful dinner of parmesean chicken, rice pilaf and a good bottle of wine for dinner and were ready for our dessert! I cut thin slices for my hubby and myself. It looked beautiful! Then...my husband took his first bite and said..."Well...it's a bit dry." Shot in the heart!!!! Ouch! Personally, I thought it was ok. It was a dense cake, and, yes, a bit dry. But, it was ok. My husband took two more bites and was done with the cake. I munched on the cake for a couple of days, then threw half of it away.
I called it a visual success...but, I am now on a mission to bake the tastiest of all tasty cakes that are beautiful, too!
