How to Stick Fondant Decoration on Fondant Cakes

1. Water

This is the most cost-effective and easiest method. All you need is a brush and some water ( filtered water).

You brush your fondant cutouts with a damp brush and simply stick them onto your fondant covered cake.

With this method, you need to be mindful not to use too much water or your fondant will turn soggy and sticky. You only need to use a damp brush to moisten the cutouts for them to stick onto the fondant.

Water may not be a very good option for heavier fondant pieces or 3D pieces.

2. Sodium Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) Glue

Do not be overwhelmed with the name of this substance. This powder is commonly known as CMC and is widely available in cake decorating stores.

It is a food additive used in fondant to allow it to retain the shapes of various designs it is used to form. When mixed with water, it turns into perfect glue for fondant pieces.

You can make CMC glue by simply adding water to it. Keep it covered in a bottle or container and that way, it does not dry up and can be used for many projects. Click here to see how I make my CMC fondant glue.

3. Shortening

This is the best glue for fondant, especially small cut outs. I use this for most of my projects.

The biggest advantage of using shortening as glue for fondant is that you can remove your decorations and put them on again, with having to worry about leaving any marks on your fondant base, unlike water which tends to leave watermarks and color stains when you remove and rearrange fondant decorations.

Shortening helps to hold fondant cutouts in place and is easy to use. All you need to do is apply a thin coating for shortening onto the pieces you would like to stick and stick them and that's all. 

4. Royal icing

This is another option for glue to stick fondant decorations to fondant cake. I used royal icing to attach this fondant loop bow to a gift box cake.

Royal icing is as good as shortening and fondant glue however, it is more obvious than the other options. You cannot use too much of it on your piece as it would show.

Royal icing is also not as convenient as there other 3 options as you cannot make it in advance and keep it for long. And it crusts very quickly too.

How to choose the best glue?

You can use water for small fondant decorations. It may not be very suitable for heavier fondant pieces. I use the CMC glue for heavier decorations like fondant bows and gum paste flowers. CMC glue dries hard and faster than water, so its very effective for heavier decorations.

With shortening, there is a risk of heavier decorations not holding in place and sliding off. Therefore, I tend to limit the usage for small fondant decorations and cut outs and lettering as it gives me the much-needed flexibility to remove and adjust them if required.

Royal icing is probably a good option for larger decorations like this loop bow where the joints are hidden. It is also a good option if you have extra icing to use. Otherwise, it may not be a preferred option as it takes time to make the royal icing.

How to stick fondant decorations to buttercream cakes

When the buttercream is the base for sticking fondant decoration or cutouts, you do not need any 'glue'. Small flat fondant cutouts stick on buttercream icing without the help of any special medium such as fondant glue. 

For heavier fondant decorations like cake or cupcake toppers, you will need to have skewers or toothpicks attached to the fondant and they need to be poked into the cake or cupcakes.

There is no special glue to attach fondant decorations to buttercream cakes that is able to hold larger fondant pieces.