Baking: SPIDERMAN

My dear friend Robyn has 2 children, 7 year old Liah and 4 year old Ethan - they are beautiful kids. Twice a year Robyn contacts me with a strange request, her brainstorming for birthday cakes... I remember once telling her that I really do not like doing novelty cakes, I have tried to palm her off, she is great with her own skills, but secretly I love it, she keeps challenging me and she makes me feel needed and appreciated.

This time it was Spiderman, I am not creative enough with kiddie cakes, so we googled ideas and I set to work.

Hard and far into the planning when my phone buzzes, a new challenge - Marshmallow Fondant. I had never even heard of it, but the marshmallows got bought, the kitchen became a sticky mess, I had a taste tester stealing from the bowl of leftovers, and I kneaded! Well I am one step closer to having buff Spider Man arms now. It tasted squishy and devine, the texture was good and it was set aside to rest until baking day. 

I have found that when it comes to children's cakes, decadent doesn't cut it, frills and fancys, marzipan and plastic icing, does not cut it! So the good old, plain simple light and foolproof beer box cake hits the spot! Big enough and easy to cut and shape.

I am impatiant and can never wait for the cakes to cool, so I practiced icing webs, I blogged, I had whatsapp chats, I ate and eeeventually I started doing the fun stuff! I am no pro at plastic icing, I found that my marshmallow icing was even trickier. The cracks don't just join when rubbed, it's soft and tears quite easily. The first layer was unattractive.

I persevered and it started to come together. I noticed that marshmallow fondant is very glossy, so you notice errors quite easily.

Once I had started, I couldn't slow down, dinner didn't get prepared until I was happy with my end product and this is it. 

Happy Birthday Ethan

Please keep in mind that this was my first attempt at marshmallow fondant and web icing, I will stick to my day job, but I will always play in the kitchen and I will always give my all to each and every project. I am pretty damn chuffed. 

Marshmallow Fondant Recipe

1 x Giant Pack of Pink and White Marshmallows

2 Tbsp Hot Water 

1kg Icing Sugar

Plastic

Vegetable Fat

Chop up marshmallows, place them in a large microwaveable bowl, water poured over.

Set the bowl in a microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir, back in the microwave for 30 seconds, etc. Continue until you have a smooth shiny and sticky consistency. Should you want to add colouring, this is the stage to mix it through. 

750 grams of sifted icing sugar can be tipped into the bowl and stirred through until well blended

Cover a tray with a coat of icing sugar and begin to knead the sticky mess on a tray, adding icing sugar as you knead/need 😄. (Approx 250g)

The dough should become firm and not spongy, as similar a consistency to plastic icing as possible. 

Wrap your icing in plastic, coated with vegetable fat to prevent it sticking. Allow your icing to rest for a day before rolling out between plastic and moulding over a cake.