Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

for the past two years my friends Christmas cake has had this problem,she does everything you would expect but still it happens any ideas ?

Hi hemingway

Marzipan should to be brushed with a clear alcohol or lemon juice to make it tacky so icing can adhere to it, perhaps your friend doesn’t wet it enough and the marzipan dries out before the fondant has had a chance to settle. Air bubbles in the icing which are not dispersed can also cause icing to lift and crack, so it’s important to pop them and smooth the icing to ensure the fondant is fully stuck down.

thank you. I will let her know .Although I do think she has done this but maybe this year all will be well ??
It is royal icing that she is using would that make a difference
.

Ah, now that’s different, it may be that the Royal Icing is too stiff and so over dries and becomes brittle. Do you know whether she uses egg white or egg powder to make her icing with? RI made with egg power sometimes will become powdery and start to fall off. A little glycerine in the icing helps to keep it softer, not too much, otherwise it won’t set. There will be other answers so lots of advice to follow.

thank you so much for all your help.I will let her know and I am sure she will have better luck this year.I am so pleased to have signed up for the on line courses this is a perfect resource.Thank you

You’re very welcome, and I agree this is a brilliant site with so many people on hand to give advice very quickly.
I hope your friend has better luck this year too. x

I have to colour 5kg of fondant pale pink. Is there an easier way to do it other than muscle power?!

Hi Kmmein

Divide the 5k into 1k portions. Colour one, 1k block one shade darker than the pale pink you want. Go easy on how pink you make it because colour develops after a while. Divide that portion into four and knead them equally into the remaining 1k portions. Knead all the portions together or knead 2.5k portions together for less heavy kneading. That’s how I do it, in bite size portions!
I did read on one site where a person kneaded her paste in the stand mixer. It was done using the paddle attachment on low speed just enough to soften the paste so it wasn’t as hard to knead by hand. I have never tried this for fear of incorporating too much air into the paste which in turn will make lots of air bubbles when rolling out. There was no mention of adding colour. I expect other members will share how they do their’s.