While they are very similar, these two cake decorating mediums are very different!
They're both soft doughs that can be made into edible cake decorations, but they create different results and textures, and have different purposes.
But that doesn't mean one is completely better than the other! They both have their pros and cons. But let's take a closer look at both.
Fondant is an edible sugar dough that usually contains a type of gelatine. This makes it elastic and pliable when it comes to decorating.
You will see fondant used for covering cakes and making those fun decorations. You can find fondant in many colours, it's also super easy to customise with food colouring!
Like fondant, it is a soft and pliable sugar dough, made with edible gums that give it that stability and strength. Gum paste unlike its fondant counterpart dries hard making it perfect for creating those detailed cake decorations like florals and lace patterns.
You absolutely can! You can secure fondant pieces together using gum paste like an edible glue so you can assemble your sugar flowers, figurines, and other layered fondant decorations!
Feature | Fondant | Gum Paste |
| Texture & Drying | Stretchy and pliable. Doesn't harden entirely, so it stays soft and chewy | Stiff with 0 stretch. Dries quickly and sets completely hard. |
| Primary Use | Covering whole cakes, draping, simple cut out shapes. | Sculpting realistic sugar flowers, delicate ruffles, and standing figures. |
| Rolling | Rolls relatively thick, especially for covering cakes. | Can be rolled paper-thin with no tearing. |
| Edibility | Designed to be eaten with the cake, stays soft and chewy. | Edible, but dries like porcelain. Usually removed before serving. |
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