Fondant Techniques: The Sweet Treat Tower
Marina Sousa
Class Preview
0:47
- In-depth Instruction; over 178 mins
- On-demand video access anytime
- Bonus downloadable PDF resources
- Access to class Q&A
Introduction & Structure Basics
9:48
Meet your instructor, the talented Marina Sousa, and preview the amazing, gravity-defying cake you'll make in this class. Then, get started raising your cakes to the sky as you learn how to construct a sturdy and stable center-pole support, a structure that allows you to create cakes with extraordinary height and off-kilter elements. Marina shares her favorite building materials and walks you through each step of constructing your support.
Covering the Boxes
32:54
Cover three cakes in fondant using Marina's easy wrapping and paneling techniques. Re-create a pastry box wrapped in brown kraft paper or panel a sweet little cube cake. Marina even shows you how to emboss your panels using a stencil and some petal dust! Then, work with edible lace as Marina offers professional tips for handling and attaching your lace to the outside of your open macaron box.
Whimsical Layer Cake
26:09
Make the whimsical cake that adorns Marina's treat tower. You'll love the professional tips Marina shares for creating your cake slice cutout, adding the ombré detailing and covering your cake in fondant. Gather Marina's advice for adding realistic details to your cake, including textured icing between your cake layers! Master using an onlay mold as Marina demonstrates how this clever tool offers a great way to add dimension and design to your cakes.
Ribbons, Bows & Roses
23:40
Master Marina's innovative inlay technique to make smooth and seamless fabric-inspired sheets of fondant with stripes, polka dots and more! Then, continue to use textiles as inspiration as you add grosgrain texture and form strips of fondant into bows and beautiful rolled ribbon roses.
Sculpted Cupcakes
14:26
What's more playful than re-creating a cupcake in fondant? Form your cupcake base and top out of rice cereal treats and emboss your fondant wrappers using a standard veining tool. Then, sculpt the icing out of fondant and swirl it high atop your cupcake. Complete the look with handmade sprinkles and a fondant cherry on top!
Playful Sweet Treats
29:42
Model your fondant into delectable macarons that look like they came right from a Parisian bakery as Marina shows you how to make their famous "feet." Pipe in a layer of delicious filling. Then, expand your treat-making skills as you make brownies, pastries and enough different cookies to fill a sweet shop! Discover how to cane fondant to make a variety of candies and how to manipulate sheets of gelatin to create candy wrappers.
Putting It All Together
40:35
Assemble all of your pieces: pastry-box cakes, bows, cupcakes, cookies, candies and more into an amazing treat tower that any client would love! First, Marina will show you how to stack the box cakes securely on your center pole. Then, gather Marina's design tips for filling the macaron box, adding the sweet treats and dusting golden color onto the cookies and baked goods. Finally, Marina shares her ingenious method for creating authentic-looking ice cream that will never melt! .
Master an array of amazing fondant techniques alongside Marina Sousa as you create a toppling tower of extraordinary cakes and treats! Start by constructing the simple, sturdy center-pole structure that elevates this lofty design. Use fondant wrapping and paneling techniques to make fun package and box cakes, and decorate them with elegant edible lace and beautiful embossed panels. Make a whimsical cake with ombré detailing and impressive onlay embellishments. Create grosgrain-striped and polka dot bows with an inlay technique. Use fondant to recreate a luscious cupcake with swirled icing, as well as a variety of other sweet treats: macarons, eclairs, cookies, doughnuts, brownies and even candies with edible gelatin wrappers. Then, get tips for assembling your tempting treats into a sweet tower your clients and friends won’t ever forget!
Marina Sousa
Marina is a Food Network Challenge champion and the owner of Just Cake in Capitola, California. She holds a degree in baking and pastry arts from the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley. She's appeared regularly on the Food Network as a challenger, judge and featured chef for Food Network Caters Your Las Vegas Wedding, and her work has been featured in several magazines including InStyle, Bride, Modern Bride and People.
Bonus materials available after purchase