Soft roll on icing recipe anyone?

[Tizzy]

'ello ... i'm making a birthday cake next week and i usually cheat and buy ready to roll white icing from the supermarket. But i always fins that this icing is much harder in texture when eating than the roll on icing on bought cakes! Does anyone know a recipe for Softer roll on icing? Thanks! T x

[woofgang]

You would need to experiment but I understand that the icing is kept soft by using glycerine and or vegetable oil

[incitatus]

heres a recipe for fondant ( the soft icing) from fannie merret farmer, 1918. White Fondant 21/2 lbs. sugar 1/2 cups hot water 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar Put ingredients into a smooth granite stewpan. Stir, place on range, and heat gradually to boiling point. Boil without stirring until, when tried in cold water, a soft ball may be formed that will just keep in shape, which is 238� F. After a few minutes' boiling, sugar will adhere to sides of kettle; this should be washed off with the hand first dipped in cold water. Have a pan of cold water near at hand, dip hand in cold water, then quickly wash off a small part of the sugar with tips of fingers, and repeat until all sugar adhering to side of saucepan is removed. If this is quickly done, there is no danger of burning the fingers. Pour slowly on a slightly oiled marble slab. Let stand a few minutes to cool, but not long enough to become hard around the edge. Scrape fondant with chopping knife to one end of marble, and work with a wooden spatula until white and creamy. It will quickly change from this consistency, and begin to lump, when it should be kneaded with the hands until perfectly smooth. 44 Put into a bowl, cover with oiled paper to exclude air, that a crust may not form on top, and let stand twenty-four hours. A large oiled platter and wooden spoon may be used in place of marble slab and spatula. Always make fondant on a clear day, as a damp, heavy atmosphere has an unfavorable effect on the boiling of sugar. if you add a teaspoon of glycerin to the mix just after boiling it stays softer longer.

[molly]

1LB ICING SUGAR, 1 EGG WHITE, 30 ML LIQUID GLUCOSE. Warm glucose to make it easier to spoon. Mix all ingredients till it looks like breadcrumbs. Dusting worktop with icing sugar, turn out and knead until pliable. Good luck.

[molly]

Sorry,(forgot to mention) woofgang is right, a few drops of glycerine or vegetable oil will make it softer.

[Tizzy]

Cheers every1 :o) much appreciated! i think what i may do is buy the ready to roll on icing and experiment with it by adding glycerine to begin with ... failing that it's make your own time! T x