Never do these things with Fondant...

As you're working with fondant, there are some major pitfalls you want to avoid if you're hoping to master fondant along your cake decorating journey. Here are the top five things you should never do when working with fondant. These essential tips will help you save time and frustration while decorating your next cake with fondant!

First, never handle fondant in an unclean environment. Surfaces covered in dust, lint, and other debris create an unsanitary condition, setting the stage for contamination. Make sure to thoroughly clean and sanitize your work surfaces and fondant tools before working with fondant. Keeping your hands clean is very important because you'll mainly be working with your hands!

Never handle fondant while wearing hand and wrist jewelry. Be sure to remove all rings and bracelets before you start. Additionally, prepare yourself by tying your hair back. This will help minimize the likelihood of stray hairs showing up in your fondant. This tip directly relates to keeping your work area tidy.

Next, never place fondant directly onto a bare, unfrosted cake. Always ice your cake first, wait for it to set, and then cover your cake with fondant. The layer of icing serves two purposes: it helps the fondant adhere to the cake, keeping it in place, and it's a backup for people who strongly dislike fondant and will peel it off before eating the cake!

Never place your cake in a cold refrigerator. The important word here is "cold". The extreme temperature change that occurs when you move a cold cake to room temperature results in unsightly condensation, also referred to as "sweating". This condensation will leave water spots on your fondant and make it sticky. Instead, store your fondant cake in a cool refrigerator. Placing the cake in a box also reduces the likelihood of condensation!

Are you adding a fondant topper to your cake? These often weigh more than other types of cake toppers because they have a solid core. For that reason, never travel with a fondant topper already placed on top of your cake. I know from experience that bumps in the road could be disastrous. Instead, travel with the cake topper separate from the cake and place it once it has reached its final destination!