While talking with other cake decorators about getting a fondant cake to look shiny, we were all throwing out different ideas we had tried, like using a paint brush to put a very small amount of water all over the covered cake would give it a nice shine. There were others who talked about using different luster dusts to get a shiny appearance on a cake or particular object. Then I brought up what I had recently tried that worked very well and many thought I was a little crazy, but I have been using the spray pam and it works like a charm. I have used the name brand spray, and I have used my local stores brand and they both worked equally well, the nice thing is I used the butter flavored ones and they seemed to soak into the fondant very nicely and left a beautiful shine. I did not discover this great thing on purpose. I had a cake on the counter that was covered in fondant, and I was spraying a empty baking pan to get ready for baking a cake, and noticed the over spray got on my cake, I was very surprised to see how cool it looked, so I sprayed the entire cake to see what would happen. I thought I would let all my cake friends in on this cool little technique that I am sure will have the need to make their cake or object shiny in the future.
The Sugar Lane 
How do you make an already dry fondant sample cake shiny? I let it sit for 3 weeks and the black fondant seems to have faded. I need to display it
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I really appreciate your efforts and I am
waiting for your further post thank you once again.
Can’t u use a Lil of heat like a blow dryer
Hello R…..
Yes, I don’t know why you could not use a hair blower to add shine to a fondant covered cake. However, I would be very careful since I the direct force of heat could cause issues with your cake if you do not do it in an even fashion. (NOTE:I have never tried this yet and cannot say what kind of results you will get)
If using the steam method to get your fondant to shine, is the shine permanent? Or does it ultimately dry with a matte finish?
Hi Wendy
When using steam to add a shine to your fondant you will end up with more of a matte finish.
I just used the baking spray last night on chocolate and navy fondant and it worked perfectly! Thank you all for the tips!
Hi,thankyou so much for the tip about the spray I am making a black baby grand piano this week and was looking for a way to make it shiny! My only worry is that some people here say it is no longer shiny when it dries,if this is what happens could you suggest anything else? Many thanks,Kerry 🙂
Kerry sorry to just be getting to your question but I am going to answer…..there is a great product on the market that is perfect for adding a shine to your fondant creations. It is an edible clear spray and made by PME here is the link to purchase it….. http://www.globalsugarart.com/product.php?id=27834&name=Edible%20Glaze%20Spray%20Clear%20by%20PME
WOW just what I was searching for. Came here
by searching for diaper bag totes
did the spray pam (off brand) and so far shiny!!TUVM 🙂 darlene
does it affect the taste?
Barbara no it does not affect the taste it soaks in and leaves a shiny effect.
OK, thanks.
try confectioners glaze
Dis receipe is great
I realy need to know d name of the spray dat can make icing shine
I think applying egg whites can make fondant look shiny.
does steaming only work with bows or the entire fondant surface of the cake? if not how do i make the fondant surface shinny as i dont have a steamer.
I hold my steam iron not quite over the cake so no drips will get on it, then hit the steam button on the iron, works quick and I haven’t needed to buy a steamer.
I am 12, and I’ve made over 5 fondant cakes in the past month, and this week i am going to be making a new years cake with 3 tiers and each tier with 3 layers. For the fondant i wanted to use black but I want to make it shiny. I have tried Pam spray and it makes it shiny but it doesn’t stay once the fondant hardens. I want to use pretty much anything but a steamer, only because I don’t have enough time to purchase one. Is there any product that can be bought at a local supermarket to make it stay shiny?
Madison….wow 12 yrs old, how awesome that is!! Sounds like you are doing a great job with your cakes…I use a teapot with boiled water to steam my cakes I just hold the cake about the teapot while it is boiling and allow the steam to flow on the cake. I hope this makes sense!
I don’t have a steamer, but i’ld love to steam my cake since it gives it a leathery look. This Would be my first time. Could I use steam from boiling Water in a kettle?
Thank u
I actually use steam from a boiling kettle myself to steam my gumpaste flowers, cakes and such so yes that will work!
Hello to all. I am a cake decorator as well and I’ve found that clear writing gel painted on works really well but I am interested in trying this method with the cooking spray. Thank you…….
Thank you so much for sharing with us. I am planing on making a corset cake for my boyfriend’s birthday and its the first time I’m attempting to work with fondant. I’ve been trying to figure out for days how to make it shine and this is the perfest solution.
cool tip. Im going to have a try. thank you for the tip as cakes do appear a bit bland.
Does steaming fondant to get a shine work with MMF too?
What about if I airbrush white MMF with RED airbrush color and then steam it for shine? Will the color be afected?? Does any one know?
Cris
To be honest I have never steamed over an area on fondant that has been airbrushed….I do know that Marshmallow Fondant will shine from steaming the same way
as commercial fondant. I would be more than happy to do an experiment for you and airbrush some fondant and then put steam to it to see what it does
and then I will post my results for you and anyone else who may be interested in this same question.
I will let you know what the results of the experiment are very soon!
Have a great day my friend!!
Make sure not to apply too much steam to one spot or the excess water may cause the color to run or become uneven. I like to mix about 2 parts water and 1 part piping gel, and then apply that with the airbrush. Make sure to run that mixture through a fine strainer to get the clumps out before you put in the airbrush. Don’t get heavy handed with this technique either. It will run too, but the airbrush is easier to control than steam, and the sheen is permanent.
So I tried my first fondant cake today…and I did try the non-stick spray…I tried the back-side with the butter-flavor, but it turned a little yellow since my main color was white. So the regular spray worked verry well. I am happy with the result.
I use Pam to spray my clay gun with to make the fondant/gumpaste go through easier and it does come out very shiny. However, after it dries, it does not stay shiny. I think it’s because of all the alcohol in those sprays. What about using piping gel? I saw a caker on an extreme cake challenge use it, but I am not sure what residue it would leave. Thanks!
Another way is to steam it…. it makes it shiny and gives it a little bit of a leathery look.
I watch food network cake challenges a lot. Buddy uses a steamer to make his fondant cakes shiny.
I am so happy that I happen to see this sight and you are really great with the videos,I can not wait to join your website.I love to bake and want to get started decorating but for some reason I feel like I don’t know where to start and there for I hesitate.
Can you give me some guideance?
Thanks
How do you become a member?
Just go to http://www.cakedecoratingwithdonna.com and click on Join Now in the Main Menu at the top of the page!
You will be taken to paypal to pay the $20.99 monthly fee which gives you access to the video room which houses our
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Hi,
Am also a self taught cake decorator for the past 22 yrs. I have to admit I don’t know how to sculpt but will love to learn. how do I become a member to your website.
laling.
To become a member click on this link Cake Decorating with Donna
The monthly membership fee is $20.99
and gives you access to our how to videos
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done each month!!
Thanks
wow, thank you very much for these tips, I am going to make my first fondant cake this week and your tips are very very helpful!
Will the Spray Pan not make the fondant taste funny? I am abit worried to try it out, I am in the process of making a cake for tomorrow and dont want it to taste weird, do you have any other suggestions of how to make the cake look shiny?!
I have never noticed a bad taste with the spray!!!
Other ways to make a cake look shiny, is to steam the fondant on the cake lightly and it will give you a nice sheen on the cake, or you can purchase a clear glaze online at different cake supply places,
i have tried all 3 but steam works the best but i wish there was aspray . please give me the name of it . thank you
you can steam the fondant to make it look shinier
To make your fondant shiny you can also use vegetable shortening. Just rub a small amount into the fondant and it’ll become shiny.
To get your bows to look shiny, you can add luster dust to the bow, I use a luster dust that is called an oyster pearl and it does a great job, I hope this helps.
I have seen bows on cakes and some of them look shiny like a silk ribbon, how do you do that?
This is something I’ve been wondering about for months! Thanks for the tip!
mixing in shortning when you are molding the fondant makes it shiny. Allow for extra time to dry out though and make it a little thicker.