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Can Fondant Decorations Be Made in Advance?

Can Fondant Decorations Be Made in Advance?

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Making fondant decorations ahead of time can save you plenty of time whether you’re planning a party or delivering cakes to clients.

Pre-made fondant gives you a great head start and lets you focus on other aspects of cake and event preparation.

The question is, can fondant decorations be made in advance? Today’s guide answers this question and walks you through the process.

Can You Make Fondant Decorations in Advance?

Yes, you can make fondant decorations in advance. You can store your fondant creations ahead of time whether you’re making them edible or only for show.

The difference in storage methods comes down to the purpose of your fondant decorations.

How to Store Fondant Decorations for Later

While it’s possible to whip up fondant decorations beforehand, the storage process will vary depending on what you intend to do with your creations.

Storing Soft Fondant Decorations

If you’re aiming for your fondant decorations to remain soft so people can eat them, here’s what you need to do:

  1. Coat your fondant decorations in a thin layer of shortening such as lard, margarine, or vegetable oil (hydrogenated). Shortening forms a protective barrier to lock in moisture.
  2. Once you’re sure you’ve covered all exposed parts of your fondant decorations with shortening, place each one on a piece of plastic wrap.
  3. Then tightly yet gently seal it around the fondant. Be sure to wrap decorations separately.
  4. Transfer each of your wrapped decorations to an airtight glass or plastic container. Alternatively, you can use a zip-lock plastic bag with the air squeezed out.
  5. Transfer the airtight container or bag to a cool place away from sunlight. This can be a pantry or a closet where it’s dark and protected from temperature changes.

Storing Dry Fondant Decorations

If you want your fondant decorations to harden and better keep their shape for show purposes, here’s what you should do:

  1. Grab a baking pan and line it with parchment paper.
  2. Place your fondant decorations on the baking pan. They won’t stick thanks to the parchment paper, but you can make further sure the decorations won’t stick by coating the parchment paper with cornstarch.
  3. Park the baking pan in a spot away from sunlight to prevent your fondant from drying too fast and forming cracks. Don’t cover the decorations.
  4. Wait at least 24 hours for the decorations to harden.
  5. Check the consistency of your decorations carefully; you can move to the next step if the outside of the fondant decorations is firm, otherwise, wait for an extra 24 hours.
  6. Once your decorations are hard on the outside (thin fondant dries faster), transfer them to a plastic container or resealable bag lined with parchment paper.
  7. Lay a piece of parchment paper between each decoration so they don’t stick together as you stack them on top of one another.
  8. Seal the container or bag after you’re done loading all your fondant creations.
  9. Keep the container or bag in a dark, cool spot protected from sunlight and temperature changes such as a pantry or a cabinet.

Notes and Precautions

  • Don’t keep your fondant decorations in the fridge or freezer because they can collect condensation when you take them out at the time of use. This can cause sagging or deformation.
  • Don’t expose fondant decorations to sunlight. They can develop cracks as they dry or end up with faded colors.
  • If you’re storing fondant to be eaten and it begins hardening, you can use a little bit of shortening to form it into a ball and reshape it.
  • When checking if your fondant is firm on the outside, poke gently because it may still be soft in the middle.

How Far in Advance Can You Make Fondant Decorations?

If you’re storing your fondant decorations to stay soft so people can eat them, you can make them up to 2 months beforehand.

If you’re storing your fondant decorations to harden and keep their shape for show purposes only, you can make them 4 months up to years in advance (until they go bad).

Final Thoughts

So, can fondant decorations be made in advance? The answer is yes, but the storage steps depend on how you plan to use your decorations.

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