Fondant VS Buttercream

So you’re planning your wedding cake! And one question that needs to be asked & answered is “fondant or buttercream?”

I'm happy to work with either fondant or buttercream - but fondant isn't as awful as some people think! There are some really quality fondant choices out there, and many of them are super tasty.

A big factor in the choice is your actual cake design - some designs just cannot be done with buttercream. Or if you prefer a coloured cake like navy or black, then fondant is a wise choice. It will help avoid guests having dyed lips & teeth after eating a slice with navy buttercream!

Photo credit: Ariana Del Mundo Photography

And then there is buttercream - yummy, glorious buttercream. At Fancy That Cake I use a Swiss meringue based buttercream, light and smooth and not too sweet.

If you are after some texture in your cake, then buttercream may be the way to go - it is pretty versatile that way! From a smooth look, to a “striped” look, or maybe a rustic spackle look is what you are after.

Or maybe buttercream palette painted flowers? Or spots of colour swirled throughout?

Photo credit: Fedora Media

Photo credit: Lindsay Coulter Photography

But you’ve heard stories of icky tasting, super thick fondant. A skilled cake designer can roll it nice and thin so there isn't a thick layer on the outside of the cake. Plus, the cake will still have a nice layer of buttercream under the fondant - so all the yummy goodness is still there.

And most venues will slice the cake in a grid pattern (even if it is round) so most slices won't have a huge piece of fondant anyway - likely just the strip across the top of the slice. And added bonus - the fondant actually help keep your cake sealed in and fresh!
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So don't shy away from the possibility of fondant!

It also isn’t a case of fondant OR buttercream either! If you go with a fondant exterior, there is still a very yummy coat of buttercream under that fondant. Fondant needs something to “stick” to in order to stay put. And, every tier in a Fancy That Cake cake has 4 layers of cake, 3 layers of buttercream/filling. So it can be the best of both worlds!