Can You Eat Fondant? (Don’t Do It Until You Read This) (2024)

These days I find myself binging baking shows a little too often, always in awe of the intricate designs they create with fondant that you might very well call art! And I’m clearly not the only one.

With the rise in popularity of baking shows, I’ve definitely been getting more and more requests from clients for fondant-covered cakes. With these requests come the repeated question, “Is fondant edible?”

The fact of the matter is, you most definitely can. But to tell the truth, as a baker of over 10 years, fondant is not my favorite icing option nor is it something I’m dying to put in my mouth.

In this article, I will explain what fondant is made of and the reasons why you can but might not want to eat fondant.

Let’s get into it.

What is Fondant Made of?

Fondant is a type of icing used to decorate and coat cakes and other baked treats. The ingredients are simple. All it is is sugar, water, and corn syrup. Sometimes, vegetable fat or shortening is also added.

The combination of these ingredients gives fondant its soft and elastic texture. It is typically rolled out before being layered over a cake or molded and shaped as decoration.

You might also have heard of the terms sugar paste and gum paste in baking, which is essentially fondant but with gelatin and glycerin added for extra firmness.

Does Fondant Taste Good?

Does sugar taste good? Well, there you go.

Classic fondant is very sweet as it consists of mostly powdered sugar. A flat type of sweetness if you ask me, similar to that of marshmallows.

What I mean by this is that there isn’t much complexity to the sweetness like caramel does for example, which is also mostly sugar but has a unique toasted richness to it from the addition of cream and having been heated at a high temperature.

That said, you can always use flavored fondant for a more interesting contrast. Flavored fondant can be found in baking supply stores and online.

The brand Satin Ice for example sells tubs of vanilla and white buttercream flavored fondant. You can also get creative and flavor your own fondant by simply adding into it a few drops of your favorite flavoring.

Can You Eat Fondant?

Yes, you can. Fondant is made specifically to be used on cakes and desserts and is made of 100% edible ingredients.

Reasons Why You Might Not Want to Eat Fondant

While it is edible, many choose not to eat fondant, and here’s why.

SUGAR

For every 100 grams of fondant, there are 88.9 grams of sugar. I don’t know about you but that to me is a LOT, considering that there’s already sugar in cakes and the recommended daily added-sugar intake is only 24 grams for an average woman and 36 grams for men.

Sure it’s okay to exceed your limit once in a while, but there might be other taster treats out there that might actually be worth the sugar and calories, just saying.

Food Coloring

While it is common to see white fondant used to cover cakes, it’s usually the vibrantly colored fondant that really jazzes up the cakes, making them look even more visually appealing.

But let’s face it, food dye isn’t exactly tasty. Nowadays, most food coloring is made to have a neutral flavor, but some brands still carry food coloring that tastes slightly bitter.

Although food coloring is made safe for ingestion, eating too much of it and in high concentration can be detrimental to our health. Chemical additives in food dye have been linked to hyperactivity in kids, and can be possible allergens.

Since fondant comes already colored, it’s unlikely that you will check what chemicals might be in the food dye used to color it. The easiest thing to do is to avoid eating it altogether.

Texture

Fondant usually comes in the form of a stiff dough. It warms up from the heat of the hand as it is being kneaded and gradually becomes softer and more malleable. Once it is worked through, it should have a clay or playdough-like consistency.

This is of course, perfect for molding and draping on cakes, but this gum-like texture may not be pleasing to chew on. Many are put off by the elasticity of fondant paired with the texture of a cake. That said, it is all personal preference and may not be something that bothers you.

FAQs

Here are some other commonly asked questions regarding fondant in case you’re wondering.

Is fondant icing meant to be eaten or is it just decorative?

For bakers, fondant icing serves a decorative purpose only. It can be eaten but is not expected to be eaten.

How do you make fondant icing that tastes good?

Flavoring your fondant can better its taste. I like to add a few drops of rosewater or vanilla extract to make my fondant icing taste more pleasant.

You can also make fondant out of marshmallows that taste just like marshmallows. Check out Rosanna’s video on how it’s done!

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Can you eat fondant cake toppers?

If the cake topper is made only with fondant, it should be safe to eat. I suggest you always checking with the baker to confirm.

Can you eat fondant with braces?

Because of its gum-like texture, fondant can be initially hard to chew on and get stuck if you’re wearing braces. However, know that since it is made of mostly sugar, it will melt.

Do you eat fondant or peel it off?

This really depends on how big of a fan you are of fondant. As a baker, I use fondant solely for decorative purposes so I would peel it off and I would expect others to do the same.

Final Thoughts

There’s no denying that fondant gives you creative freedom when it comes to your cake designs like no other. It’s an easy and fun way that instantly turns your bakes into art.

Fondant is safe to eat, but it is by no means healthy. Its texture and taste may not be for everybody. Are you a fan of fondant? What is your go-to brand? Let us know in the comments below.

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