Fondant Tree

I made a fondant tree recently for the first time and wanted to share the steps I took to make it. It was my first attempt, so it’s by no means perfect, but I think pretty darn good for a first try!

Here’s a step by step breakdown of the process I used and the changes I’d make in the future:

• take a piece of floral wire and bend it in half, form it into a “Y” looking shape – the two points will be the main tree branches.
• form some dark brown fondant around the wire (I should have used gumpaste since it dries harder, but I had some brown fondant already available)…leave some wire exposed at the bottom of the trunk so you can stick it into some styrofoam to dry
• once the fondant is formed around the wire stick it into some styrofoam
• cut another small piece of wire and cover in fondant, stick it onto the tree as a third branch
• take some small pieces of fondant and make the roots
• using a veining tool make some veins on the trunk and branches
• leave on the styrofoam, standing upright, to dry

• make the leaves using green fondant and a leaf press
• I had the leaves dry overnight, but in hindsight it would be a lot easier if they were still soft and formable when applying to the tree.

• once the tree has dried, apply the leaves with some gum glue
• let dry completely

I wasn’t crazy about how the leaves turned out. They were really hard to apply since they were dry and hard to stick onto each other. I think it would be a lot easier if they were still formable. Overall though, I was pleased with it and I think it went well with the rest of the cake.