Sugarpaste, fondant, and modelling paste What is the difference?
I get asked this question a lot, especially from my learners. In the first weeks of teaching them If I mention sugarpaste they get confused. But if I say fondant they understand. So fondant and sugar paste are the same things, It is fondant icing.
What is fondant used for?
Fondant can be used for many things – covering a cake, making flowers, modeling animals, shapes, cookies, and decorating cupcakes. It can also be used for putting into moulds as it is stretchy. You can make fondant yourself but I prefer to buy it.
Brands of Fondant I have used
Renshaws
This fondant comes in many colours and sizes ranging from 250g to 10kg. You would knead it first on a clean and dry work surface with a little icing sugar but not too much as the fondant will dry out. Sometimes it can be quite hard in the packet so it needs softening. Please have a look at their website below for hints and tips
https://www.renshawbaking.com/gb/fondant-icing/
The cake below I used Renshaw fondant on
The Sugarpaste
I have used The Sugarpaste a lot and you get a free workout while using it. It is a very hard fondant icing and is the only one to my knowledge that is nut-free. It has a high elasticity and is great for covering small and large cakes. How to use it?? Cut the fondant into chunks and put it into the microwave for 10 seconds. Then knead the pieces on a clean surface with a little icing sugar as normal. You can roll out the sugar paste very thinly to cover the cake and you don’t get elephant skin which is cracks in the fondant.
This fondant comes in different colours and sizes again from 250g to 1kg blocks. They are individually wrapped and you can even buy a box of 6 kg. It is more expensive to purchase but worth it. I use it on birthday and celebration cakes. Below is information from Vanilla Valley about The Sugarpaste
https://thevanillavalley.co.uk/the-sugar-paste-white-6kg/
Couture
I have used Couture on wedding cakes and I find this is a lovely fondant to work with. It also has good elasticity and doesn’t have any elephant skin which again is great. This fondant also needs kneading well before use but it isn’t as hard as the sugarpaste. It is available in 2.5, 5, and 7kg packs and comes in limited colours including white, ivory, black, and red.
See below for information about couture from Purple Cupcakes
One of my cakes below which I used the Sugarpaste on.
The cake below I have used Couture on
Modeling paste/flower paste
Modeling paste looks like fondant icing but is harder and used for making models. It can also be used in moulds. It sets hard but not as hard as flower paste. Depending on the time of year you need to plan to make your models as they take longer to set.
Picture of modeled animals below
Flower paste
This media is soft and very stretchy like elastic and the advantage of it is that it can be rolled out very thinly and is great for making flowers. If you are making a large wired rose you are better off making a few layers of petals and leave to dry before making more layers. It has to be left to dry fully before wiring into a spray to put on a wedding cake
The picture below is of modeled roses on a cake and the sugar paste fondant used
Hope you have a better understanding of fondant icing and modeling paste and what they are used for.
Happy baking
Caroline x
PS Have a look at other cakes I have made