Fondant is the go-to ingredient for professional and home bakers alike when it comes to achieving a smooth, elegant finish on cakes. With several fondant brands available, it can be tricky to choose the right one for your needs. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most popular fondant brands available here at Lollipop Cakes Supplies and break down their pros and cons to help you make an informed choice for your next cake decorating project.
Satin Ice Fondant
Pros:
- Smooth and Pliable: Satin Ice is known for its smooth, silky texture that makes it easy to work with, whether you’re covering a cake or creating detailed decorations.
- Great Taste: Satin Ice offers two flavours: a subtle vanilla flavour that complements cakes beautifully without overpowering them and a buttercream flavour if you're after something a little different.
- Durable: It holds up well in warmer climates, which is perfect for Australia’s hot weather.
Cons:
- Price: Satin Ice is a premium fondant from the US, and its price point may not be ideal for those on a budget.
- Availability: While available in specialty cake supply stores and online, it can be harder to find in smaller, local shops.
- Lack of Colours: Although in available in 1kg, 2.5kg, 5kg and 10kg tubs, white is the only colour choice. It's easily coloured using gel colours though.
Bakels Pettinice Fondant
Pros:
- Widely Available: Pettinice is one of the most popular and accessible fondant brands in Australia, available at most cake supply shops.
- Affordable: Offering great value for money, Pettinice is a fantastic option for both hobbyists and professional decorators on a budget.
- Smooth Finish: Pettinice provides a smooth, glossy finish on cakes, making it reliable and easy to work with.
- Stretchable: It’s highly flexible, which makes it easier to cover large cakes without tearing or cracking.
- Wide variety of colours: the 750g packets come in highly saturated, vibrant colours.
Cons:
- Sweet Taste: It’s quite sweet, which may not be appealing to everyone, especially those who prefer a more subtle flavour.
- Can Dry Out: In hot or dry conditions, Pettinice can dry out and become brittle, causing cracks or tears if not handled properly.
Vizyon Fondant
Pros:
- Premium Quality: Vizyon is a high-end fondant known for its smooth texture and ease of use, making it ideal for both covering cakes and creating detailed decorations.
- Less Sweet: Unlike many fondants, Vizyon has a more balanced, less sweet flavour, making it a great choice for decorators who want the fondant to complement, not overpower, the cake.
- Great for Sculpting: Vizyon is firm enough for detailed work such as figures and flowers but still pliable enough to cover large surfaces.
- Durable: It handles humidity well, making it suitable for Australia’s climate.
- Long working time: Vizyon fondant doesn't dry out as quickly as other brands, giving you longer to work with it and avoiding the dreaded "elephant skin."
Cons:
- Price: Vizyon is a premium brand, so it comes at a higher cost than some of the more budget-friendly options.
- Firmness: It can be a bit firmer straight from the packet than other fondants, so it may require more kneading and softening before use, which might be tricky for beginners.
Over The Top Fondant
Pros:
- Affordable: Over The Top is an economical fondant brand, perfect for bakers on a budget or those just starting out in cake decorating.
- Easy to Use: This fondant is known for its smooth, pliable texture, making it easy to work with, even for beginners.
- Good Flavour: Over The Top has a mild, pleasant taste that isn’t overwhelmingly sweet, making it a good choice for those who don’t want the fondant to overpower the cake.
- Wide Colour Range: It comes in many vibrant colours, reducing the need to colour the fondant yourself.
- Available in small quantities: when you just need a little bit of fondant, OTT is great as it comes in 250g packets.
Cons:
- Sticky in Humid Conditions: Over The Top can become sticky in humid conditions, which may require extra icing sugar or cornflour to handle.
- Soft for Sculpting: While perfect for covering cakes, it is softer than other fondants, making it less ideal for detailed sculpting or intricate work.
Queen Fondant
Pros:
- Smooth Texture: Queen Fondant offers a smooth, satin-like finish that is easy to work with and ideal for covering cakes evenly.
- Taste: It has a less sweet taste compared to other commercial fondants, making it a good option for decorators who prefer a more subtle flavour.
- Affordable: Queen Fondant is competitively priced and is easily accessible, making it a great choice for home bakers.
- Great for cookies: Queen fondant is the choice for many cookie decorators as it embosses really nicely.
Cons:
- Firmness: Some users find that Queen Fondant can be a little stiff, which may require kneading or warming up before use.
- Limited Colours: Only available in white
Fondtastic Fondant
Pros:
- Great for Beginners: Fondtastic is known for its ease of use and smooth, stretchable texture, making it perfect for those new to cake decorating.
- Affordable: This fondant is one of the more budget-friendly options, making it ideal for home bakers and small businesses.
- Pliable and Smooth: It rolls out easily, and its pliability makes it ideal for covering cakes and creating simple decorations.
- Good Taste: Fondtastic has a more neutral taste compared to some other fondants, which is a plus for those who prefer the flavour of their cake to shine through.
Cons:
- Can Be Sticky: Like Over The Top, Fondtastic can get sticky in humid conditions, so you may need to use extra icing sugar or cornflour to work with it.
- May Dry Out: It can also dry out more quickly than other fondants if not properly stored, which may result in cracks or tears on the cake surface.
Conclusion
Choosing the right fondant for your cake decorating project in Australia depends on your needs — whether you’re looking for a premium fondant with excellent taste, a budget-friendly option, or something that’s easy to work with. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:
- Satin Ice: Perfect for those who want a premium fondant that offers a smooth finish and excellent taste. It’s ideal for both beginners and professionals, though it’s a bit pricier.
- Bakels Pettinice: A reliable, affordable option that’s easy to work with, though it’s quite sweet and can dry out in hot conditions.
- Vizyon: A premium, firm fondant that’s great for sculpting and detailed work, but its price and firmness may not be ideal for beginners.
- Over The Top: Best for beginners or those on a budget, Over The Top offers a smooth, pleasant texture but is softer and can be sticky in humid conditions.
- Queen Fondant: A good, affordable fondant with a smooth finish and subtle flavour. It may need some kneading before use and offers limited colours.
- Fondtastic: Ideal for beginners due to its ease of use and affordability, but it can be sticky and dry out quickly if not stored properly.
Each fondant brand has its strengths and weaknesses, so the best choice will depend on your specific project and personal preferences. Some decorators like to mix two brands together to create their own signature fondant! Our last piece of advice would be to test out a few brands and see which one you like best. There is no wrong or right fondant, just the right one that works for you!