Fondant is one of the most popular materials in cake decoration. That’s because it gives the cake a smooth finish, and it can be used in many ways.
However, many struggle to stick fondant to their cakes. Don’t fret! Your cake isn’t ruined.
There are many ways to make your fondant stickier and secure it on the cake. Some materials can act like glue to hold fondant in place.
Do you want to find out more?
In today’s article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about how to make fondant stick to a cake. Let’s dive into the details!
How to Make Fondant Stick to a Cake
The best way to make the fondant stick to your cake is by using a sticky material that acts as glue. You can also use liquids to make the icing stickier.
That said, here are some of the most effective ways to make the fondant layer stick to your cake:
1 – Water
As simple as it may sound, plain water can fix this issue. You can brush or spray a small amount of water on the back of the fondant to make it stickier.
Be careful not to add too much water though, as it can ruin the fondant layer. Additionally, water dissolves sugar, so it might leave some marks on the cake.
Unfortunately, if you live in a hot climate, water might evaporate quickly. So, you’ll need to stick the fondant before the water evaporates.
2 – Sugar Syrup
Sugar syrup, also known as simple syrup, is easy to prepare, as you only need sugar and water. To make simple syrup, you need to boil equal parts of sugar and water.
Then, stir the solution until the sugar dissolves. Finally, let it cool to room temperature.
You can brush the syrup or spray it on the surface of the cake or the back of the fondant.
Keep in mind that the syrup is highly sticky. So, it won’t be easy to remove or adjust the decorations.
3 – Edible Sugar Glue
Sugar glue is one of the best ways to make your fondant stickier. Typically, we make sugar glue with tylose powder and water.
You can also use any type of powdered gum to make sugar glue, like gum arabic. To make sugar glue, mix around ¼ tsp of gum with a small amount of water.
Stir the mixture until the gum dissolves completely. In case it becomes too dry, you add some water to thin it down.
If that seems like a hassle to you, there are a lot of commercial sugar glues you can use.
Generally, sugar glue is highly sticky, so we mainly use it for figurines and decorations. It’s best not to use too much glue.
That’s because it can be hard to deal with, and it might leave messy marks.
4 – Melted Fondant
Are you struggling to make the fondant stick to your cake? Well, you can melt some fondant and use it as glue!
To do so, cut a small piece of fondant and place it in a microwave-safe bowl. Then, add a small amount of water and microwave it in short bursts.
After that, stir the melted fondant until it becomes a sticky paste. If it’s too thick, you can thin it down with a few drops of hot water.
Keep in mind that melted fondant hardens quickly. So, you should prepare all the other cake ingredients before microwaving the fondant.
You need to be careful while handling melted fondant, as it can be extremely hot.
5 – Shortening
Shortening can come in handy if you want to attach flat pieces of fondant. While it’s not highly sticky, it can get the job done.
Additionally, you can easily remove or adjust any piece of fondant without leaving marks on the cake. On top of that, you can wipe the extra shortening off the cake without leaving any marks.
Ideally, you want to rub a thin layer of shortening on the cake or the back of the fondant. Overall, soft shortening works best.
Can I Use Jam to Stick Fondant on Cake?
Yes! Most types of jams are sticky enough to hold the fondant layer to the cake.
Commercial jam is typically made from fruit, pectin, sugar, and acid. The pectin gives the jam a sticky, dense consistency.
Additionally, according to the FDA, jams should contain at least 55% sugar. The high sugar percentage in a jam can make it sticky.
For that reason, jam is perfect for sticking fondant on a cake. However, make sure to not add a lot of jam, as it may alter the flavor of the cake.
Moreover, jams with big fruit pieces might not be the best option. It might be a good idea to thin the jam with water. Then, you can strain it through a sieve to remove the fruit pieces.
Will Fondant Stick To Chocolate?
Fondant can stick to chocolate, as it’s highly sticky. What’s even better than traditional chocolate is a ganache.
It’s a mixture of cream and chocolate. It can be easier to spread than traditional chocolate, and it helps the fondant stick. Plus, chocolate ganache has a less intense flavor.
Keep in mind that ganache tends to harden quickly in cool weather. So, you’ll have to apply the fondant layer on the chocolate before it cools off.
Will Fondant Stick To Frosting?
While we mainly use frosting for cakes and cupcakes decorations, we can also use it to make the fondant stick to the cake.
Typically, frosting is made by whipping butter and sugar. It’s fluffy, light, and smooth.
You can apply a layer of frosting to your cake before adding the fondant. Buttercream frosting is a good option, as it has a light flavor.
It’s essential for the frosting to be smooth and free of any lumps as well. Otherwise, the fondant might not stick.
Can Fondant Stick To Cream Cheese Frosting?
The answer is yes! Cream cheese frosting can be a good glue for the fondant.
Cream cheese is a variation of buttercream frosting. It has the same ingredients, along with cream cheese, hence the name.
Can Fondant Stick To Icing?
Icing is different from frosting, as it’s made with powdered sugar and a liquid. The liquid we use to make icing is usually water, milk, cream, or lemon juice.
Typically, icing is more like a runny liquid, but it hardens on cooling. Luckily, fondant can easily stick to the icing layer on the cake.
Can Fondant Stick To Whipped Cream?
Whipped cream, as the name suggests, is made by whipping cream with powdered sugar. Since it’s a type of frosting, fondant can easily stick to whipped cream.
Final Thoughts
So, how to make fondant stick to a cake?
There are many ways to do so. For starters, you can spray a small amount of water on the back of the fondant to make it stickier.
You can also use sugar syrup as glue to make the fondant stick to your cake. In case that doesn’t work, sugar glue is highly sticky.
Unfortunately, not everyone has sugar glue lying around their house. So, you can melt a small piece of fondant and use it as glue.
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.