I had quite a few requests asking me to share how I made the fondant shells on my giant cupcake. They are very fast and easy to make but they look very impressive!
First start with fondant. You can either make your own (there are recipes online) or you can buy it premade.
Fondant doesn't taste very good but I heard that this brand "Satin Ice" is the best tasting. (available at Global Sugar Art) I'm still using the fondant left over from my cake decorating class so I haven't opened this one yet to try it. There is also recipes for marshmallow fondant that I heard taste better as well. You can do a google search to find those. You will also need a silicon shell mold, which you can buy online at Global Sugar Art, small paint brushes and lustre dust. I bought my lustre dust at Michaels in the cake decorating section.
First you want to knead a little bit of fondant. If it's sticky you can use a little corn starch or powdered sugar. You can either use the fondant white or add some paste food coloring. If you've never used this before...a little goes a long way. Just dip the tip of a toothpick in the color and dab it on the fondant and knead it until the color is blended.
I like to combine two colors and knead them together just a little so you get a two toned effect.
Take a small amount of the fondant and place it in the mold.
Press down and remove any excess.
Turn the mold over and bend it to get the shell to release.
You can let these harden a bit overnight or you can continue on with brushing on the lustre dust. Just dip your brush in the bottle and brush on the shell. Lustre dust can also be used by mixing a little with some clear vanilla extract or vodka to make a liquid paint. I used mine dry though.
I like to use multiple colors on each shell. The colors I've used are a bronze, pink, gold, yellow and pearl white.
That's it! You can store these a LONG time in an airtight container until you are ready to use them.
This would be a great project to do with kids...it's so easy!
45 comments:
Those are so pretty and look like real shells. Wow, impressive fun things!
Linda
That looks like so much fun! I didn't know you could do that. When I got married (years ago) I made my own cake. I wanted shells... but not knowing what I was doing at all... I just decorated the cake with real ones (cleaned). I still use those same shells to decorate with!
Thanks for the how-to, Cindy! You've made these look so easy, maybe I'll try to make some.
Great job - they are so pretty.
Makes me want to make some. :)
Glenda
That cupcake is absolutely beautiful. It's a real work of art.
I'm flabbergasted that the shells are so easy to make. Love projects like that. Thanks for taking the time to show us how its done.
Marilyn (in Dallas)
I'd be tempted to lay a piece of the fondant onto the left over lustre dust and then try sticking it into the mold...... I hate to waste stuff lol
Thanks for the tutorial! I can't wait to start on some fondant projects with my boys!
Toodles.
I see what you mean, by the picture did not do it justice with the cupcake. I am sure these are so pretty in person. Do they have something like that mold for easter ?
Ciao
Cindy,
I am in awe of those cupcakes and shells. Thank you so much for sharing! I hate to say this but I am positive that living near the beach, my girls will want to make them and post on my blog but I promise to link to your beautiful blog when we do.
Many blessings,
Suzanne
Wow ~ I never would've dreamed something that impressive-looking could actually be uncomplicated to create! How exciting! If you wouldn't have taken the time to demonstrate the process, I would've been way too intimidated to even try!
Thanks,
Karin
Will you show us a picture of your birdies in their new home?? Pretty please??
Karin,
The birds aren't in their new home yet. I got one in but I realized the top bars are too far apart and I think they can get out. Luckily he flew right back out into his old cage. I'm weaving some wire in and out of the top rails and then I'll have to paint the top again.
Very creative! You have a lovely site...hope you'll check out my new blog and give-away.
Looks like fun. I took cake decorating years ago.... I still have a bunch of stuff. I guess maybe I should get it out one of these days! :) Thanks for sharing.
Are you supposed to eat fondant? I thought you could, that it would be something like white chocolate. But what do I know.
You can eat it but it doesn't really taste that good...at least to me!
Great tutorial Cindy! I may have to try this one now. I've always looked at the supplies & walked away, but I think I can manage this one! ☺
Did you see the cottage/house cake pans at Michaels? I didn't buy one yet, but I'm thinking about it. The cake/house is supposed to stand up. The pictures is adorable. ☺
Diane
Man, those are COOOL. Wouldn't they look great on a beach wedding cake?
The luster dust is really pretty too!
They look so real!! Thanks for the tutorial!
You sure made that look easy! And here we all thought you were Wonder Woman. Well, maybe we still feel that way. Yep, I think so. Thanks for the tutorial!
Those are so pretty! I love working with fondant. They look awesome on that giant cupcake.
Tami
Oh Cindy! I have a great tip for you to save lots of money on molds, you can get the plastic chocolate molds that only cost like $2.00-$3.00.
You can use them just like the more costly molds.
If you have any trouble getting the fondant to come out just pop the tray in the freezer for a few minutes and then they pop right out.
So if you have a large order you can get several plastic trays and make lots all at one time.
But, I do love the molds you used. They get really detailed on some of them.
You can also buy stuff even at Michael's to make your own molds. That way if you have a figure or something special you can make your own mold to use on cakes, cupcakes or cookies.
I didn't even know Michael's sold luster dust. I thought they only had some other kind of powder, I forget what it was called. It's good to know they have it now.
Oh one last thing, Satin Ice is ok flavor but the best is Choco Pan. It's made with white chocolate and is so good. The brown is made with chocolate but it tastes just like tootsie rolls. Here is the link to order
http://www.sugarcraft.com/catalog/misc/chocopan.htm
It gets pretty soft to work with so it's best to mix with the other white fondant.
Oh and you can always add flavors to fondant to make it taste better. Lemon works really good.
I'm so happy you are really getting into your cake decorating and enjoy it.
When I come up there I'll have to bring you some of my stuff. I don't use it much anymore. I have so much stuff that I bought and never even used it once. So it would be great to give it to someone who will use it.
Hugs,
Joanne
I have my Michaels coupon and hope to buy that cupcake mold. This was truly inspiring blog! Love the shell mold and all the information you shared. Thanks!
They look great! I have never done any fondant. I have done flowers with clay. Kathy
Hey, Cindy, I'm so behind this week trying to catch up with everyone. Love your new birdcage, what a pretty thing for your birds. You've been busy as usual!
I can't wait to try this Cindy, thanks for posting the directions. I'm sure there will be a run at Michaels for luster dust! Mary
Beautiful!! Thanks for the step by step!
very easy, who would have thought.
%*_*%
Thank You! It would be great if you could post the "How to" on your sidebar.
~elaine~
Thank You! It would be great if you could post the "How to" on your sidebar.
~elaine~
Hi Cindy,
I just posted a pic of my latest gathering of shells (the real ones) while in Florida. I linked to your site though... yours look so real.
So Pretty! Thanks for sharing. I just love to do all sort of thing... I took cake decorating classes years ago but, my stuff never looked like that! Mine was the typical stuff. You are so creative & they have also come out with some great new products. The one thing that hasn't changed... where to store all the stuff between uses?
Che bella idea, stupenda!! :)
very nice! unfortunately, we can not buy this material in Switzerland...
l.g. Claudine
It does look easy and its fascinating to see what you did. They're really beautiful!
Just gorgeous. I've been looking for an excuse to make a batch of cupcakes -- and a trip to Michaels. Guess what???
Thank you for sharing on you did that! I would love to attempt this giant cupcake.
Beautiful POST love the shell cake..
thanks for the info
hugs,Patty
Ohhh! They are so lovely Cindy. I would make a tray of shells just to sit out. I adored the cupcake. You are just to clever!
Stop by and visit the baby hummingbirds that have taken up residence on my patio chandelier.
oh what cute shells - cute! Thank you! Thank you!!! Thank you!!! for the great step by step instructions
Thanks for the tips! I will remember them! I have tons of paste coloring for cake decorating...now all I need is that gigantic cupcake pan, luster dust and some fondant...oh, yeah, and that mold, too! Where did you get that fabulous shell mold??? Is it silicone?
Oh MY! I am so impressed! I have never seen anything like that. So pretty! Really mazing, and you made it look so easy!! Thank you so much for sharing.
Have a wonderful Easter Sunday tomorrow.
Mona
Thanks for the how to on these cute shells, my daughters gonna love this! :)
Gosh these are beautiful, I am always finding wonderful inspiration on your blog. I love the decorated cupcake at the end.
Lee
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