Fondant decorations can add a beautiful, artistic touch to cakes and cupcakes for special occasions like birthdays, weddings, baby showers and more. However, fondant is made from ingredients like powdered sugar and gelatin that allow it to dry out quickly. This means those elegant fondant accents won’t last long after the party ends without taking proper preservation steps. Fortunately, there are several effective techniques for keeping fondant decorations looking pristine far beyond the big day.
Should You Refrigerate or Freeze Fondant Decorations?
Many people wonder if refrigerating or freezing is the best way to make fondant decorations last. While this can help retain moisture compared to leaving decorations out at room temperature, refrigeration and freezing bring their own set of problems. Condensation can form on cold decorations when they are taken out of the fridge or freezer, causing moisture damage. Fondant also absorbs fridge and freezer odors easily, potentially ruining the decoration. The temperature change from very cold to room temp can also cause cracking or sweating. For these reasons, refrigeration and freezing are not recommended for fondant.
Room Temperature Storage
The ideal way to store fondant decorations for the longest lifespan is at normal room temperature. Avoid temperature extremes and humidity. Find an interior room in your home that maintains a pretty even, moderate temp and low humidity. Placing decorations in a sealable plastic storage container or bag helps protect against dust and keeps a small amount of moisture from evaporating out. Just be sure not to seal fondant decorations until they are completely dry or it could cause moisture damage. With the right room temperature storage conditions, fondant decorations can last for several months.
Display Case
For very special fondant decorations you want to keep looking pristine indefinitely, consider displaying them in a glass case or acrylic box with ventilation. This protects decorations against dust, direct sunlight, swings in humidity and more. Place a drying agent like silica gel packs in the display case to absorb excess moisture without drying the fondant out too much. Decorations can last for many years in the right display case in a temperature and humidity controlled environment. This is ideal for wedding cake toppers, commemorative decorations and more.
Prepare Surfaces Properly
To maximize how long fondant decorations last, start with proper preparation:
Let Cake Cool Completely
Before adding any fondant decorations to a cake, let the cake cool completely first. Any lingering warmth and moisture from the cake can cause fondant to sweat and lose shape. Cooling takes patience but pays off.
Apply Nonstick Coating
Brush a very thin layer of shortening or nonstick cooking spray onto the cake surface before applying fondant pieces. This creates a moisture barrier and also allows you to reposition the decorations easily if needed.
Use Support rods
Insert food safe support rods into any upright fondant decorations that need reinforcement. This prevents tipping from gravity over time.
Seal with Edible Glue
After placing fondant decorations as desired on the cake, brush a small amount of edible glue beneath and around the edges. This helps seal in moisture and prevents cracking or lifting.
Use Proper Ingredients
The ingredients and supplies used to make and prepare fondant play a huge role in how well decorations hold up over time.
Tylose Powder
Adding a pinch of tylose powder to fondant helps retain flexibility and prevents drying out.
Gum Paste
For intricate fondant pieces, gum paste gives the best durability. It dries very firm and holds shape extremely well.
Stable Food Colors
Liquid and gel food colors addvivibrant hues to fondant but can bleed or fade over time. Dust soft food color powders or petal powders on the surface instead for color that won’t budge.
Pasteurized Egg Whites
Using powdered egg whites can introduce food safety issues. Opt for microwave or steam pasteurized egg whites in fondant for safety and stability.
Avoid Excess Water
It’s tempting to add more water to fondant to make it smoother to work with but this creates a very weak product prone to tearing. Only use as much liquid as needed for the consistency you want.
Dry Thoroughly Before Storage
It’s critical to let any fondant decorations dry out completely before sealing up for storage. Any lingering moisture will allow mold to grow and cause decorations to lose shape. Thorough drying takes 12-24 hours. Speed up the process with these tips:
Blot With Paper Towels
Gently blot any condensation or sweat from fondant decorations with clean paper towels. Replace towels if they absorb moisture.
Air Circulation
Place decorations spaced apart on a wire rack over a parchment lined baking sheet for air access all around.
Low Humidity
Create a low humidity environment by positioning decorations away from moist areas like sinks or placing bowls of uncooked rice nearby to absorb ambient moisture.
Fan Assistance
Use a small desk fan directed across the fondant pieces to accelerate drying time.
Careful Transport
Getting elaborate fondant decorations safely to the venue requires strategic planning. Here are some tips:
Assemble On Site
When possible, bring unassembled components of larger decorations and assemble on site. This avoids risky transport.
Braced Box
Pack decorations gently cushioned in a sturdy box with braces or support rods to prevent shifting during transport. Avoid overpacking the box.
Cover Decorations
Cover fully dried fondant pieces with plastic wrap before boxing to protect from dust and humidity during transit.
Transport Decorated Cakes Vertically
Place the cake with decorations on a sturdy cake board and transport upright in a vehicle to avoid smashing delicate pieces.
No Trunk Transport
Avoid transporting fondant decorations in open truck beds or hot trunks which can damage colors and warp shapes .
Repair Methods
Even with the best preservation methods, fondant decorations can still pick up minor cracks, dents or color transfer over time. Here are some easy repair techniques:
Kneaded Eraser
For small surface scuffs, gently buff the area with a clean art gum eraser to refresh the decoration.
Cornstarch Filler
Work a tiny bit of cornstarch into cracks or crevices as filler then buff gently with a soft brush.
Color Touch Up
Use a food decorating pen or dust soft food colors onto any areas that lost vibrancy to refresh the original hue.
Patch and Blend
For damaged spots, patch with a thin layer of fondant blended into the surrounding area with cornstarch dusted on top before smoothing.
Coat With Edible Shellac
Brush a thin layer of edible shellac or glaze on decorations and let dry thoroughly to create a protective surface layer.
When To Remake Decorations
While minor repairs can fix small flaws, at a certain point decorations with significant damage or deterioration need to be remade from scratch for the best quality. Here are signs it’s time to remake fondant decorations:
Warped Shape
If the structure has warped substantially out of shape and can’t be reshaped, remaking it is best.
Major Cracks
Deep cracks that weaken the integrity or show even after filling indicate the decoration should be remade.
Mold Growth
Discard and remake decorations at the first signs of mold growth. Mold can be hazardous to health.
Stained Appearance
If staining or color transfer is extensive over the surface and can’t be fixed with touch ups, re-decorating is recommended.
Brittle, Dry Fondant
Fondant that turns hard, stiff and brittle indicates the moisture has fully evaporated. Remake with fresh fondant.
Fondant Decoration Storage Chart
| Storage Method | Benefits | Downsides |
|---|---|---|
| Room Temperature | – Maintains ideal fondant consistency – Prevents extremes of drying or sweating |
– Requires diligent dusting and monitoring |
| Refrigeration | – Slows fondant drying slightly | – Risks condensation damage – Absorbs fridge odors -Causes cracking when warmed |
| Freezing | – Pauses any fondant deterioration | – Almost guaranteed cracking and sweating after thawing -Difficult to thaw fully |
| Airtight Container | – Protects from dust – Retains some moisture |
– Can cause moisture damage if not fully dried first |
| Display Case | – Preserves pristine condition indefinitely | – More expensive – Requires climate control |
Conclusion
While fondant decorates cakes beautifully, it requires specific care and technique for the decorations to survive storage in flawless condition. Allow adequate drying time, prep surfaces properly, reinforce structures as needed, and avoid refrigeration or freezing. When preserved and transported with care, fondant accents can be cherished for special occasions down the road rather than being ephemeral one day wonders. With so much time and artistry invested in fondant decorations for milestone events, taking steps to keep these hand crafted designs intact for years to come is well worth the effort.
