How to make marshmallow fondant

Marshmallow fondant

Here is a little “How to” on how to make marshmallow fondant also known under the name MMF or chocolate MMF. You can use it to cover cakes. If you want to make flowers and figurines you will just have to knead in some Gum Tragacanth or Tylo powder so they dry up hard.

This is what I use:

Makes about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds

White marshmallows (16 oz)
Water (2 tbsp)
Icing sugar sifted (1 to 2 pounds)
Crisco
Heatproof bowl
Spoon
Sift
Food colors or cocoa powder
Flavouring optional

Note: you can of course use your kitchen mixer when mixing in the icing sugar. Just remember to grease the bowl and paddle attachment well with Crisco.

Step 1:
Making marshmallow fondant

Put the marshmallows in a heatproof bowl and add the water. Put the bowl in the microwave oven and heat it for approx. 2 mins. until the marshmallows puff up like on the photo.

Step 2:
Marshmallow fondant

Stir the marshmallows until they get smooth. This is the time where you can add your chosen food color/cocoa powder or give it flavour.

Note: Color the mixture a bit stronger than desired. You can always make the color lighter afterwards by mixing it with white marshmallow fondant.

Making marshmallow fondant

Chocolate marshmallow fondant

Step 3:
Making marshmallow fondant
Now add the icing sugar and stir the mixture with a well greased spoon. Keep adding icing sugar until it looks like a dough. Turn out the “dough” on a greased work board and with your hands greased with Crisco start kneading the marshmallow fondant. Keep adding a little icing sugar at a time until it is not sticky anymore.

Be careful not to use all the icing sugar as to much icing sugar can makes it too dry. It is ready when it feels pliable and ready to roll. If you are not using the marshmallow fondant straight away then rub a bit of Crisco on it and wrap it in cling-film and seal it in a airthight bag.

Note: Some uses the marshmallow fondant right away but I prefer to let it rest for a day before use.

If your marshmallow fondant feels very hard you can always warm it up in the microwave for a few sec. at a time. Then it should be more pliable to work with. If it feels dry then knead in some Crisco or if it is too soft add more icing sugar. I hope you can use it.

Please visit my tutorial section if you want to learn how to make other icings and frostings.

Happy Caking!

Louise

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SabyCakes says:

Jul 24, 2012

I plan on trying this out later today but I need 4 different colors. Can I add the color after I make the MMF or does it have to be added to the marshmallows?

Louise says:

Aug 20, 2012

You can add color when the mmf is melted or afterwards

Cindy C. says:

Jul 16, 2012

Okay, I’m making roses with a gum paste/fondant mix. How much fondant do I need to make, probably, 150 flowers? I can’t seem to find this information anywhere and I’m going to be using your MMF recipe. (I like it much better than ready made.)

I must admit that I rarely take any notice on how much gum paste I use when making flowers and so, sorry! I just take my gum paste and start working It is good to add some Tylo powder/gumtex to the mmf to make it more flexible and firm while drying.

Karen says:

I have made this many times but when it comes to covering a cake it tears what am I doing wrong!
Any tips pleeeese.

So it is only when you cover a cake that you have problems? Does the mmf seem dry? To get it more pliable you can add some vegetable fat.

Gihan says:

Jun 15, 2012

Thanks Louise for your explanation I didnt know that gum paste exists in mixture where you can add just water! I will try it someday. No, i didnt make MMF yet because i still have a pound or so of ready made fondant, so i thought when i am done with it i will give it a try but i tried using some shortening in my dry fondant and it worked like a miracle, it became easier to manage and stopped being sticky and its texture become silky! Wow, i need to read a lot and keep experimenting! But as the weather gets hotter and more humid i suffer from fondant sweating all my decoration and colors melted and smeared on my cake, the minute it got out of the fridge, i felt very frustrated! However, i googled it and they said it should be transformed gradually to room temperature and this is by keeping it in a box in an AC room and after a long while out into open air! Thx Louise for your concern Mwahhh, GiGi

Hi Louise! I have a question if you can help! In one of the videos in Youtube, someone added 1 tbsp of Gum Paste to 1 libra of powder sugar before mixing with the 8 oz of marshmallow, she said it gives it some elasticity! the question is: Is Gum paste a powder or paste? i know its a paste, then how would it be mixed with 1 pound of sugar before adding the marshmallow? and do you think this information is good? Thanks again, I trust your experience GiGi

Personally I think that MMF is OK elastic in itself. But you can add gum past powder or Tylo for extra elasticity (making flowers and so) Normally gum paste is a paste but maybe they were using a gum paste powder mixture? The kind of mixture were you only add water? Have you made MMF??

Neil says:

May 28, 2012

On your Star Wars cake did you use this type of fondant? Does it work/taste just as well/good as storebought fondant??? Is this easiest for a beginner?

Jun 3, 2012

No, ready made fondant. I rarely make my own fondant these days. It can be a great solution if you are a beginner. But buying fondant saves you time. It taste OK.