Making and Buying Fondant Cakes

Cake decorating has turned into one the fastest growing industries lately. With the launch of reality televisions shows such as “Ace of Cakes” which first aired in 2006 and chronicled the baking to selling process of a Baltimore bakery. This show opened up a niche in the market that was solely a professional thing. Then with the second reality television show “Cake Boss”, the cake decorating boom soared in popularity like never seen before. These shows which focused on fondant covered customised cakes, made it possible for people at home to pick up fondant and try decorating a cake themselves. The problem was that fondant was not readily available and could mostly only be bought wholesale to bakeries. This is where Wilton, one of the first companies, was able to capitalise in on the trend and mass produce fondant to be available to the home baker. Wilton is now one of the most diversified and largest companies in the craft industry and holds the number one position in cake decorating and bake ware. Soon after many other companies followed as the trend grew. Now fondant can be found in many places.

For those home bakers, as I, making fondant cakes takes lots of hours of labour. Many times, depending on the complexity of the design of the cake, things have to be prepared days in advance and once decorating is done, hours have gone by, especially if you are doing it solo. The cost of fondant is somewhat expensive ranging from $8/lb - $25/5lbs. All this is part of the cost that needs to be taking into consideration when selling the cakes - And here is the problem. Most people do not like paying the high price tag of fondant cakes and always try to get reductions or just simply reply with a "the price is too high". The trouble in these situations is that the customer expects a beautiful unique cake with attention to detail and great craftsmanship on the decorating but does not consider the hours of work, production costs and the skill of the baker. These are important thing to consider on both parts when making and buying a fondant cakes.

Designs can be simple or more complex and with many different components. Either way it is usually a labour of love and skill and should be appreciated.