Creative Wedding Cake Stands

So you are getting married and have decided to make your ceremony and reception a unique reflection of you and your spouse to be. You've come up with some pretty good ideas for decorations, flowers, music and the wedding cake.

Now let's figure out a creative way to display the wedding cake. One easy way to create a stand yourself is to take an inexpensive round or square base and cover it. You could choose a beautiful satin fabric or use real or imitation flowers and leaves. Browse through you local fabric or arts and crafts store for ideas. You may be pleasantly surprised at all of the different ways there are to change an ordinary cake platform into a special work of art.

Browsing the internet will also give you many great ideas for wedding cake stands that you don't see every day. If you have some money to spend, there are some pretty specialized and elaborate cake stands out there. You can find stands that revolve slowly or that have an actual water fountain in them. There are now stands that have 10 cascading tiers. Perhaps you could have a different type of cake on each level!

If you would prefer not to spend too much money on the stand for your cake, you still have many options available. Use your imagination to come with ideas that are related to either the theme of your wedding or some of the interests that you and your partner share. One couple that enjoyed surfing displayed their wedding cake on a miniature-sized surfboard. Another couple used a tree trunk for a natural themed stand for their cake.

Some of the simpler types of cake stands lend themselves to further decoration. Purchase a ceramic pedestal stand and find a creative family member to paint the stand for you. The same idea would work well for many of the platform stands that are easily found online. You could also check with the cake designer to see if they will decorate a stand to coordinate with the design of your cake.

This is your special day and you can express yourself in any of the wedding details that you choose to. With a little thought and a look online, you should be able to find or create a beautiful and unique wedding cake stand that will add a special touch to the display of your cake.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Sheehan

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How to Make Homemade Rolled Fondant

Fondant is a type of cake decorating icing that is comprised mostly of confectioners' sugar and gelatin. It's much like a chewy, creamy sugar paste. Fondant is very popular with cake decorators because of its versatility and smooth, silky appearance. While it can be pretty difficult to get a perfectly smooth finish with a spatula and regular frosting, fondant makes the job much easier.

Besides its main use for covering entire cakes, fondant can also be used for covering cookies and cupcakes. Fondant can also be shaped into edible shapes and figures. When used for cakes, fondant tends to seal in freshness and is popular for weddings and outdoor events because the cake usually holds up better during hot or humid conditions for short periods of time.

You can find ready-made fondant online and at many cake decorating stores. While this option is less time-consuming, most people agree that the store-bought variety is also less tasty. If you're facing a time crunch and understand that most people will peel off your fondant so they can eat your cake, buying ready-made fondant might be a good choice. However, if you have some extra time and would rather have people eat your entire work of art, it's probably worth it to make your fondant from scratch.

First, gather the following ingredients:

¼ oz. package unflavored gelatin
3 tablespoons cold water
½ cup corn syrup
1 tablespoon glycerin
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
1 teaspoon clear pure vanilla extract
8 cups sifted confectioners' sugar (you may not use all 8 cups)

Mix together the gelatin and cold water in a medium bowl and let the mixture stand. Once it starts to thicken, transfer the mixture to a double boiler and stir continuously over medium heat until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Now, add the corn syrup and glycerin until all ingredients are completely mixed. Stir in the shortening and right before it looks like the shortening has completely melted, remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. If you want to color your fondant you should add that with the vanilla. You can also substitute different flavors for the vanilla. Now, let the mixture cool until it reaches about 90 degrees F.

Once the mixture has cooled, place 4 cups of the confectioners' sugar in a large bowl. Using a wooden spoon, make a well in the center of the sugar and pour the mixture in the center. Gradually pull the sugar from the edge of the bowl into the mixture until it all becomes incorporated. If the mixture seems extremely sticky add ½ cup sugar at a time.

Spread a layer of shortening onto your work surface and transfer the fondant so you can start kneading the mixture by hand. You want to knead the fondant until it feels smooth, workable, and doesn't stick to your hands. If you think it feels too soft, add more sugar. If it feels too stiff, add one drop of water at a time. You can use the fondant right away or store it in an air tight container in the refrigerator. Make sure whenever you're ready, that the fondant is brought to room temperature and kneaded until it's soft and pliable again. Your fondant is now ready to be rolled and placed onto your cake.

You may be afraid to work with fondant for the first time but just like anything else you'll become more confident with practice. You can find more information on decorating cakes with fondant and other cake decorating ideas by visiting my website: Cake Decorating Tips Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amanda_K._Jones

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