In this article, I’ll help you understand why your fondant is gritty and address some problems you might be having with your fondant recipe. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll feel more confident about retrying the recipe that’s been giving you so much trouble.
You cannot fix grainy fondant. However, you can avoid this from happening next time by ensuring that the sugar is completely incorporated into your mixture. You should also add in the sugar slowly.
The rest of the article will give you all the info you need to make fondant like a pro.
Why Is My Fondant Gritty?
If your fondant has turned out too grainy, you cannot fix the issue. If you don’t mind the texture too much, you can still use it for decoration – the grittiness shouldn’t affect its usability or taste too much.
However, if the texture bothers you, the only solution is to throw the fondant away and start again.
Your fondant is gritty because you did not wholly incorporate the sugar into the gelatin, glucose, and glycerin mixture. Alternatively, you may have added in your sugar too fast.
Can You Overwork Fondant?
You can overwork fondant. This happens if you add too much powdered sugar while kneading your fondant. If you knead it too much, you can overwork it by turning it soft.
If you add in too much powdered sugar to your fondant, it will dry out and start to crack. However, unlike grainy fondant, you can fix this issue.
It’s a relatively simple fix – all you need to do is place the fondant in the microwave and heat it for 5-10 seconds. Once you’ve warmed your fondant, remove it and add a drop or two of vegetable shortening before kneading once again.
That said, make sure you don’t add too much vegetable shortening to the fondant when fixing the overworking issue. Too much vegetable shortening will cause your fondant to tear and develop more cracks.
If the reason for your overworked fondant is over-kneading, you can fix this problem as well.
First, allow your fondant to rest for about 30-75 minutes. Make sure it’s sitting in a cool, dry space where it cannot absorb any additional moisture. Additionally, when kneading your dried fondant, make sure you use confectioner’s sugar that can absorb some of the excess moisture – though, as mentioned above, don’t use too much.
Related How Long Does Fondant Last? | With Storage Guidelines.
Why Is My Fondant Not Elastic?
Your fondant is not elastic because it is too soft or too dry to stretch out properly. You can fix dry fondant by adding a drop or two of vegetable shortening and kneading. If the fondant is too soft, allow it to sit for 30-75 minutes in a cool, dry place. You can also add some Gum-Tex.
We’ve covered how to fix dry and cracking fondant above. However, if it is too soft, you can try the method mentioned above – allowing the fondant to sit before trying to knead and stretch it again.
However, there are times when this solution won’t work. In this situation, you have two options:
- Use a different batch of fondant
- Use some Gum-Tex
This fondant stiffener, found on Amazon, makes your fondant elastic and helps it hold its shape better. It’s a good option if you live in a humid climate and struggle to have your fondant hold its shape.
You can see how to use this type of product in the YouTube video below:
Related 4 Easy Ways to Fix Grainy Frosting (And Avoid it Next Time).
How To Make Fondant Smooth
You can make your fondant smooth by ensuring your cake is smooth. Fondant takes on the texture of the cake it is draped over, and a bumpy, uneven cake increases the risk that it will be imperfect.
Once you’ve draped the fondant on the cake, you will have to smoothen it down. This applies even if you’ve draped your fondant perfectly. To smooth down your fondant, you should:
- Use a smoothing tool to smooth the fondant at the top of the cake.
- Smooth the fondant at the side with your hands.
- Stretch the fondant away from the cake, and use your hands to get rid of creases.
- Cut away about 90% of the excess fondant with a pizza cutter.
- Use the smoothing tool to smooth the top and the sides. Do not use your hands in this step to avoid fingerprint marks.
- Cut away the remaining excess fondant.
You can see how to smooth fondant in the YouTube video below:
If you’re looking for a fondant smoothing tool, I recommend this fondant cake decorating set. It includes several tools that will help make working with fondant easier. I recommend making sure you use a high-quality smoothening tool made of BPA-free, food-grade plastic.
Final Thoughts
To avoid grainy fondant, you need to be careful when incorporating sugar into the recipe. Make sure you don’t add it in too quickly, and take the time to ensure it is dissolved fully. Using a good quality smoothening tool will help you keep your fondant nice.
Thanks for stoppin’ by!
For more, don’t miss How to Fix Undercooked Cake (That Is Too Moist).
Anne James has a wealth of experience in a wide array of interests and is an expert in quilting, cooking, gardening, camping, mixing drinks (worked as a professional bartender), and making jelly.
Anne has a professional canning business, has been featured in the local newspaper as well as on the Hershey website, and has been her family canner for decades. Anyone growing up in the South knows that there is always a person in the family who has knowledge of the “old ways,” and this is exactly what Anne is.
With over 55 years of experience in these endeavors, she brings a level of hands-on knowledge that is hard to surpass. Amazingly, she doesn’t need to reference many resources due to her vast wealth of experience. She IS the source.
Anne wants nothing more than to pass on her extensive knowledge to the next generations, whether that be family or anyone visiting her website, her YouTube channel, or preservingsweetness.com.