Fondant

Prep: 45 mins

Cook: 10 mins

Total: 55 mins

Yield: 2 cups

Fondant is a versatile candy paste that can be used to make cream centers, dipped fondant candies, rolled fondant, or poured fondant treats. This recipe is for basic fondant.

In addition, tips for curing fondant, as well as variations of this recipe for flavoring and coloring the fondant, as well as for creating both rolled and poured fondant candies.

Ingredients

2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons corn syrup

Steps to Make It

Make The Basic Fondant

Gather the ingredients.
Combine the sugar, water, and corn syrup in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
Cover the pan and allow the sugar syrup to boil for 2 to 3 minutes.
Remove the lid, and continue to cook the syrup, without stirring, until it reaches 240 F.
Immediately pour the sugar syrup onto a large baking sheet that has been slightly moistened with water. Allow it to sit at room temperature for several minutes. After 2 to 3 minutes, lightly touch the syrup with a fingertip. When it is warm but not hot, it is ready to be worked.
Dampen a metal spatula or dough scraper with water, and use the scraper to push the syrup into a pile in the middle of the sheet.

Using a dampened plastic spatula or wooden spoon, begin to “cream,” or work, the fondant in a figure-8 pattern. Continually scrape the fondant into the center, draw a figure-8, then scrape it together again.
At first, the fondant will be very clear and fluid, but it will gradually become more opaque and creamy. Continue to cream the fondant in a figure-8 pattern for 5 to 10 minutes.
After 5 to 10 minutes, the fondant will become very stiff, crumbly, and hard to manipulate. You may have to use two hands to push the spatula through the fondant. Continue to work it until it becomes impossible to cream the fondant further.
Once the fondant reaches the stiff, crumbly state, moisten your hands and begin kneading it into a ball like bread dough. As you knead, the fondant will begin to come together and will get softer and smoother. Stop kneading once your fondant is a smooth ball without lumps.

At this point, your fondant can be used for rolling, melting, and pouring to create candies.

Adding Coloring and Flavoring to Fondant

If you want to ripen the fondant prior to adding coloring and flavoring, see note below. If you need to use the fondant immediately, flatten it and place it back on a baking sheet in a warm (250 F) oven very briefly, just until the baking sheet feels warm. Knead the fondant and spread it out again and warm it briefly. Repeat until the fondant is warmed through and soft, but still holds its shape. You can now continue on to coloring and flavoring your fondant.

Dust your workstation with powdered sugar, and lightly press your fondant flat. Cut several slits in the fondant, and pour the flavorings (like extracts, melted and cooled chocolate, or fruit purees) and food coloring in the slits.
Dust your hands with powdered sugar and knead the fondant as you did before until the coloring and flavoring are evenly distributed throughout the fondant. It can now be used to make rolled or poured fondant candies (see notes below).

Ripening Fondant

If you want to make flavored fondant candies, it is best to “ripen” your fondant for at least 12 hours to obtain the best flavor and texture. To ripen the fondant, place it in an airtight plastic container, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the fondant, and seal the lid on tightly. Ripen the fondant at room temperature, or if it is hot, in the refrigerator. After ripening, the fondant can be flavored, rolled, and shaped in whatever manner you wish.

Rolled Fondant Candies

If you would like to make fondant balls, pinch off small walnut-sized portions of fondant, and roll them between your palms to create a smooth, even ball. Fondant balls can be served as-is, rolled in chopped nuts, or dipped in chocolate for a quick and tasty candy. Serve fondant candies at room temperature, and store in an airtight container in a cool location.

Poured Fondant Candies

Cut premade fondant into small pieces and place them in the top of a double boiler set over gently boiling water. Stir while the fondant melts, and add a teaspoon or two of water to thin the fondant to the desired consistency. If the fondant has not already been colored and flavored, coloring and flavoring can be added at this stage. Heat until the fondant is melted, but do not let it exceed 140 degrees, otherwise, it will be too hard.
Once the fondant is melted and smooth, pour it into your desired receptacle. Fondant can be poured directly into small candy cups and topped with other candies or nuts. You can also pour fondant into premade chocolate candy cups, for an easy chocolate-and-fondant candy.

Fondant Dipped Candies

Melted fondant can also be used to create fondant-dipped candies. You can dip many different types of fruit (strawberries, grapes, citrus segments, or apple slices) and large nuts.
To dip fondant, prepare a baking sheet by covering it with a sheet of aluminum foil. Make sure that the items you are dipping are dry (and in the case of fruit, clean). Using two forks, submerge the fruit, nuts, or fondant balls in the melted fondant and remove it, scraping the bottom against the lip of the pan to remove excess chocolate.
Place the dipped candy onto the prepared baking sheet, and repeat for remaining fondant. It is important to work quickly so that the fondant does not harden too much in the pan. If the fondant does get too stiff, it can be briefly re-warmed over the double boiler to get it back to melting consistency.

Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Calories	1671
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 36mg	2%
Total Carbohydrate 433g	158%
Dietary Fiber 0g	0%
Total Sugars 432g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Calcium 13mg	1%
Iron 0mg	1%
Potassium 8mg	0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.