How much fondant do I need? And what do I do?

Question

I'm going to be making my daughter's 4th b-day cake and would like to do one of those barbie in a dress cakes, where the dress is the cake like a ball gown, and she'll be on two 8" round cakes layered as a stage. I'd like to put fondant around it. I found a 2 lb blue fondant tub for under $12. But how much do you think I need for JUST the barbie dress part and how much for just ONE of the 8" rounds? JoAnn's has a 4 pack of 4.4 oz tubes of multi color pastel fondant for $7.99. It has a light blue. I could do each round a different color, and the bell of the dress the blue (making Cinderella). Would 4.4 oz be enough for each round and the cinderella dress? I won't be fondanting the bottoms or tops of the rounds, just the sides. And won't be fondanting the bottom of the bell of the dress. Also, do I put on thin frosting before the fondant or just the fondant?

Also I don't want to have to make my own fondant. And fondant is expensive, so I prefer not to have to go buy additional items if at all possible. We have a JoAnn's but Michael's is about 30-45 minutes away from us. And the cake is being made on the 15th this month.

Answer 1

Well, this has been an informative search! The first reference gives instructions on how to make fondant AND says that, yes, you do need a first layer of frosting (they suggest buttercream and 'a nice thick layer (1/4")' of it to help the fondant stick. It also has some really good steps about actually putting the fondant on.

The 2nd ref is a chart for calculating how much you'll need. (You'll want to do some math yourself, as that has never been my strong point!) but if your 8" rounds are either 3 or 4" high, then you'll need 18oz (for the 3") or 24oz (for the 4"), plus whatever amount you'll need for the skirt... (the chart does not say if this amount is for the top of the rounds or not... it may be! Sorry, you may just have to experiment... and leave yourself some time to go back for more if need be.)

I'll put in 2 more ref's related to the last site that you might find useful, including one where they say you need a thin layer of glaze or frosting first! Obviously, this is going to be the sort of thing where each time you do it, you'll perfect your style! You're a brave lady, I'm thinking! Good luck! And Happy Bday to the little girl!

Answer 2

Try going to MIchael's and getting one of their Wilton recipe books, it will tell you how much to use. I would think the more the better instead of coming up short and running to the store for more.