Fondant roses are beautiful. These roses harden up and are less fragile than royal icing flowers. If you are able to roll the fondant "dough" very thin, the roses can look very realistic. They do take a little bit longer than icing roses, but the end result is wonderful. Not to mention that they last longer.
Please note that the instructions below may seem a little intimidating. To make a full rose takes about 5 minutes. The first time may take longer. Once you get a hold of it, you will be making these roses a bunch at a time. They are worth it.
Before you start make sure you have the following:
- Fondant (and the color of choice: I use Wilton Gel Food Colors
)
- A plastic mat (this will be for rolling the fondant). I use the Wilton Cake Dividing Wheel (it works wonders for me and it has many uses).
- A tiny bit of shortening (to rub the mat so the fondant won't stick)
- A rolling pin
- Flower fondant cutters (I use the Wilton Rose Bouquet Cutter Set
- Ball tool (I prefer the one that has the ball tool on one side and the veining tool on the other- very practical)
- Art brush
- Icing flavoring (this will be used to glue the fondant)
- Toothpicks
- Thin and Thick Foam pads
- And last but not least: Before you start, read the "Working with Fondant" that I have previously posted.
Step 1:
Have the amount of rose centers you need ready (toothpick with cone fondant centers). Instructions on how to make this: "Fondant Rose Centers".
Step 2:
Prepare your mat by applying a very thin layer of shortening. This will avoid the fondant from sticking to it. Make sure the amount of shortening you place is very minimal. Too much and it will make the fondant sticky.
Step 3:
Knead a portion of your colored fondant until it is a little bit softer (this shouldn't take long). Roll it into a ball and place on top of the mat.
Step 4:
Roll the fondant from center to the edge to stretch into a very thin layer. I know it is thin enough when I cannot roll it any thinner and I can read the mat printed font through it (see picture below).
Step 5:
Use your medium sized flower cutter and cut as many flowers as you can (remember we are only rolling a portion of the fondant as this will dry very fast). You need three flower cutouts to make one full bloom flower.
Step 6:
Take one cut out (tip: wrap the rest with plastic wrap to prevent drying) and place on top of your thin foam. Make short straight incisions in between each petal as shown on the picture below. This will allow the petals to be more flexible and not rip when bended.
Step 7:
In order to create a more realistic effect, we have to thin the edges of each petal with the ball tool. Place the one side of the ball tool at its middle (i.e., half of the ball is touching the fondant and the second half the thin mat). Roll your ball at the edge on each petal by pressing a little hard. You will see the petals "rippling". DO NOT go back and use the ball tool again on a thinned petal. This will rip the petal. This is a one chance only. I will refer to this step as "balling".
Step 8:
Place your thinned or "balled" flower cut out on top of the thick foam pad. Note that I covered the foam with some corn starch to prevent sticking. With the ball, press its center (as shown on the picture below) slightly hard. This will create a "cupped" center.
Step 9:
Apply a little icing flavoring with an art brush at the cupped center. We use icing flavoring instead of water because the flavoring has alcohol and this evaporates faster thus the flower will dry faster. Insert the rose center toothpick through it. This first petal will be the center petals of your rose.
Before we continue to setp 10, visualize the picture below. Each cutout has 5 petals. Imagine that this looks like a gingerbread man, with petal 0 beign the head; petal 1 and 2 the arms; and petals 3 and 4 the legs.
Step 10:
Apply flavoring to petal 0 (the head). Glue the petal to the center fondant cone as shown on the picture below.
I assume that by this time you know the process, so a picture is not necessary. Apply flavoring to opposite leg, in this case petal 4 and 'glue' it to the cone center.
Step 13:
Apply flavoring to the remaining arm (petal 2) and 'glue' it to the cone center.
Step 14:
Apply flavoring to the remaining leg (petal 3) and 'glue' it to the cone center. The center petals of the rose are complete. Stop here if you want a rose button.
SECOND LAYER
Step 15:
Take another flower cutout and make the incisions between the petals. Place on the thin foam pad and ball all the petal edges. Transfer the balled flower cutout and place on top of a thick foam pad. INSTRUCTIONS ARE DIFFERENT HERE.
Step 16:
Place the ball tool on middle of one of the arm petals (petal 1) and cup the petal. Do the same to the second arm (petal 2) and then to the center. Turn the petal to the other side and cup the head (petal 0) the two legs (petal 3 and 4).
THIRD LAYER
Step 16:
Take another flower cutout and make the incisions between the petals. Place on the thin foam pad and ball all the petal edges. Transfer the balled flower cutout and place on top of a thick foam pad. INSTRUCTIONS ARE DIFFERENT HERE.
Step 17:
Cup the center of the flower cut out with your ball tool and then cup all the petals one by one.
Turn the flower cutout to the other side and insert the toothpick on cupped center (petals should be curved on the outside) and glue the petals one by one to the 2 layer rose (where two petals meet).
An easier way is to turn the rose upside down and glue all the petas one by one to the 2 layer rose.
Your full rose bloom is done. CONGRATULATIONS.
as this doesn't have any color). Food flavoring contains alcohol, which evaporates (dries) faster than water. Remember, moisture is not good for fondant as it makes it sticky. Therefore, this will work perfectly.