• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Ashlee Marie - real fun with real food

  • Recipes
    • Main Dish
    • Desserts
    • Breakfast
    • Sides
    • Bread
    • Soups & Salads
    • Drinks
    • Food Tutorials
  • Cakes
    • Cake Recipes
    • Cake Tutorials
    • Carved Cakes
    • Wedding Cakes
    • Smash Cakes
    • Party Cakes
    • How to Video Series
  • Parties
    • Complete Parties
    • Party Cakes
    • Party Food
    • Party Crafts & Decorations
    • Printables
    • Invitations
  • Holidays
    • Valentines
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Easter
    • Cinco De Mayo
    • Mothers Day
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
  • Travel
    • Culinary Travel – Cooking Schools
    • Family Travel
    • Disney
    • Universal Studios
    • Blogger Trips
  • Videos
    • Recipe Videos
    • Short Videos
    • Kitchen Tip Videos
    • Video equipment links
  • Crafts
    • How to & Craft Tutorials
    • Crochet & Knit Patterns
    • Decorations
    • Photoshop
    • Sewing Projects
  • Shop
    • Video equipment links
    • Baking and Kitchen equipment
Home » Cakes

Creating a Suede Fondant effect

Published: December 17, 2014 | Updated: January 3, 2020 | By Ashlee

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly

I have been obsessed with chocolate cakes lately!  I mean I love a gorgeous white wedding cake, but for our last wedding photoshoot I created the most gorgeous chocolate wedding cake ever.  And I can FINALLY share it!  Eeek!  Here it is!  You can get the tutorial for the ombre gumpaste ruffles now too.

Creating a suede fondant cake is easy to do, and the effect is absolutely gorgeous!

I used this same technique on this Fall table centerpiece as well.  And I plan on trying in on a traditional white cake as well as on colored cakes soon too!  It has so many possibilities and I love how soft it looks.


It’s easy to create and the effect is lush, rich and gorgeous.  I tried a few different effects to create this one.

Supplies
Satin Ice dark Chocolate fondant
white fondant
cocoa powder
steamer
blush brush (but one I only use for food)

creating a suede look on a fondant cake

The dark chocolate fondant is really dark, so I added some of the white with it to lighten it a bit.  When your happy with the color cover your cake with it.

Steam the cake to get it tacky, if you don’t have a steamer you can paint it with water, but not too much, you just want it a little wet/tacky, barely damp.

Use the blush brush to dab cocoa powder all over the cake.  Brush it around, brushing the excess off.  You can have as much or as little as you want on the cake to get the desired effect!  I layered some regular and some dark cocoa on to get some depth to the cake.

It's easy to get this soft suede look on your fondant

And Voila!  Easy and lovely!  Try different chocolate and white fondant mixtures for your base and try cocoa and dark cocoa mixtures as well.  So many different looks.  I used the different cocoas to create a deeper look, adding the dark over the regular for extra depth.

this soft velvet or suede effect of this cake is divine

What do you think? Have you ever created colored powdered sugar? That’s my new quest.  Maybe a red for over a red velvet cake? Ohhhh that could be luscious!  What color would you try first?  Of course the darker the color the hardest it will be achieve.

you can use dark or regular cocoa on chocolate fondant or a powdered sugar cornstarch mixture on a white cake

So it’s been awhile since I’ve done a cake tutorial, but I have plans to do a lot more in 2015!  Any techniques you’ve seen lately that you’d like me to teach?  Or do you want a full tutorial on any of the cakes I’ve already done? I’d love to hear what you guys are looking for!
a tutorial to create this soft suede effect on any cake

Related Posts:

  • Fondant Roses Tutorial
    Fondant Roses Tutorial
  • Delicate ombre gumpaste ruffles
    Delicate ombre gumpaste ruffles
  • Kermit and Constantine Cake
    Kermit and Constantine Cake

JOIN MY NEWSLETTER!

Become an insider and receive this FREE Maple Icing Recipe (not seen on the blog!)

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Privacy Policy: We hate spam and promise to keep your email address safe. You'll receive email updates through AshleeMarie.com. You can unsubscribe at anytime.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly
ashlee marie

About Ashlee

With the right tips and tricks, I believe YOU can make, bake, or create anything. This is what I love to do - make some awesome, teach you how, and give you that boost of culinary confidence you need to rock your own kitchen! Read more...

youtube facebook instagram twitter pinterest email rss

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Shini

    January 3, 2015 at 6:30 pm

    This is a great idea Ashlee, didn’t think to do this without an airbrush tool! So effective! Happy New Year xx

    Reply
    • Ashlee

      February 1, 2015 at 3:08 am

      huh? how would you get this dull powdery look with an airbrush gun?

  2. Diane Bush

    January 15, 2015 at 8:40 pm

    Beautiful! I have used corn starch on the white fondant and I love the look!!! Had not thought of trying it on the chocolate. I love it!

    Reply
    • Ashlee

      February 1, 2015 at 4:03 am

      very fun!

    • Margie

      February 15, 2015 at 7:15 pm

      Diane Bush, was the effect similar to the cake Ashlee did, only in white?

    • Donna

      November 13, 2017 at 2:29 pm

      Why not powdered sugar instead of cornstarch? Must taste better with sugar

    • Ashlee Marie

      February 3, 2020 at 4:41 am

      powdered sugar will get sticky

  3. Dee

    January 16, 2015 at 8:58 pm

    I love this idea and I really like the idea of coloring powder sugar or corn starch just to see the effects and different colors ….just wow so go ahead and try it waiting to see the results hope you don’t mind but I will be trying this idea.

    Reply
    • Ashlee

      February 1, 2015 at 4:04 am

      me too! can’t wait to play with it for a bit

  4. cakewhiz

    January 17, 2015 at 2:28 pm

    This is so pretty! I did something similar last christmas with powdered sugar. I just brushed it on with a blush brush. It had a subtle snowy effect and wasn’t as harsh as using shredded coconut.

    Reply
    • Ashlee

      February 1, 2015 at 4:17 am

      agreed, I’ve also used non perils over fondant for a soft look too, but this powdery look is luscious!

  5. Satin Ice

    February 11, 2015 at 1:52 pm

    Would love to see a tutorial on quilling…

    Reply
    • Ashlee

      April 7, 2015 at 8:57 pm

      ohhh that would be really pretty! I’ll add that to my list of ideas!

  6. Leia @ Eat It & Say Yum

    February 15, 2015 at 8:02 pm

    Wow, that cake looks so lovely! I’d love to try that technique myself. Beautiful. I’m enjoying perusing your blog, great work! I hope I get to meet you at BYB this week!! 🙂

    Reply
    • Ashlee

      April 7, 2015 at 9:20 pm

      Thank you so much! you should totally try it!

  7. Jasmine

    March 4, 2015 at 4:46 pm

    Could this pass for a suede look too? It almost looks like it in the pictures. Very cool idea. I haven’t seen this before. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Ashlee

      April 7, 2015 at 10:46 pm

      totally! it’s probaby more suede than velvet, where were you when I was trying to come up with a name??? 😉

  8. Cynthia

    March 29, 2015 at 8:31 am

    Just gorgeous…….love that softened look. Your work is absolutely flawless. I just joined and I know I’m going to learn so much from you and your artistic ability. These are things you don’t learn at a lot of the classes available. Thank you so much for sharing!

    Reply
    • Ashlee

      April 7, 2015 at 11:38 pm

      thank you so much! I’m looking to expand my classes so I’ll let you know when I do!

  9. Toni

    November 12, 2015 at 4:42 pm

    Beautiful, and now we know how to do the suede look, without using a spray. Fantastic and simple! XO

    Reply
    • Ashlee

      November 15, 2015 at 6:29 pm

      you are so welcome! I’d never used a spray for this technique, I’ll have to search for it!

  10. Toni

    November 12, 2015 at 4:44 pm

    Hi Ashlee, would you use XXX Sugar to make a white fondant cake look like suede?

    Reply
    • Ashlee

      November 15, 2015 at 6:30 pm

      I’m not sure what xxx sugar is, and i’m nervous to google it? I’d just use powdered sugar.

  11. Sheila Sanchez

    June 9, 2016 at 12:22 pm

    Just wow. I have seen several cakes in book shapes and wouldn’t that be beautiful as the jacket of a book, even using various colors. Cant wait to see what new tutorials you have. I throughly enjoy all you offer. Blessings to you and your family.

    Reply
    • Ashlee

      September 19, 2016 at 10:40 pm

      thank you so much!

  12. Aisha

    June 20, 2016 at 2:40 pm

    This is great!! Just wondering…How do you move the cake tier without damaging the “suede” effect?

    Reply
    • Ashlee

      September 19, 2016 at 10:53 pm

      I just brought some extra cocoa and the brush with me so if I need to do some adjusting on site I can just brush over it. Once it sets, it’s actually not as sensitive.

  13. Nikki

    June 20, 2016 at 10:43 pm

    It’s pretty and all, but how’s the taste? Cocoa Powder is down nasty stuff.

    Reply
    • Ashlee

      September 19, 2016 at 10:59 pm

      1. it’s such a thin layer it hasn’t been a problem for anyone and 2. most adults just peel off the fondant so only kids eat it and kids don’t care 😉

  14. Andrea

    September 23, 2016 at 12:58 am

    you’re a genius. 😀

    Reply
  15. Cream and Cocoa

    February 3, 2017 at 3:24 pm

    Such a great idea!

    Reply
  16. Sue

    February 26, 2017 at 12:09 pm

    I was wondering if I use coloured powdered sugar, finish decorating and store in fridge before transporting, do you think the changes in temperature from chilled to room temp will affect the design? I’m worried about condensation on the fondant.

    Reply
    • Ashlee Marie

      February 3, 2020 at 4:42 am

      don’t refrigerate cakes – it will dry them out, fondant doesn’t need it

  17. Ashley

    March 17, 2017 at 4:55 pm

    This is beautiful… i never thought of doing suede like this… I would maybe add a sift of powdered sugar over the top of each layer for a more romantic look or winter look even…. or add some rustic/ burlap roses to add a rustic feel… thank you for the awesome Idea!!!

    Reply
  18. Andrea

    April 2, 2017 at 8:39 am

    Do you think you could do this with moulding chocolate instead of fondant?

    Reply
  19. Jackie

    July 12, 2017 at 11:46 pm

    I love this idea. How would you do it in different colours?

    Reply
    • Ashlee Marie

      February 3, 2020 at 4:41 am

      I’d use colored powdered sugar mixed with a little cornstarch https://ashleemarie.com/three-ways-color-powdered-sugar/

Primary Sidebar

about ashlee marie
youtube facebook instagram twitter pinterest email rss

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Privacy Policy: We hate spam and promise to keep your email address safe. You'll receive email updates through AshleeMarie.com. You can unsubscribe at anytime.

Popular Posts

Homemade deep-fried monte cristo sandwich
homemade choco taco
one pot loaded baked potato soup
tamatoa cake - moana - disney
I love these candied strawberries, like a candied apple, a glorious crunch with a ripe strawberry center!

Footer

SEEN ON

as seen on
  • TV and Media
  • Privacy Policy

COPYRIGHT © 2007–2023 Ashlee Marie - Real Fun with Real Food

ashlee marie lets make some awesome
  • Recipes
    • Main Dish
    • Desserts
    • Breakfast
    • Sides
    • Bread
    • Soups & Salads
    • Drinks
    • Food Tutorials
    • Back
  • Cakes
    • Cake Recipes
    • Cake Tutorials
    • Carved Cakes
    • Wedding Cakes
    • Smash Cakes
    • Party Cakes
    • How to Video Series
    • Back
  • Parties
    • Complete Parties
    • Party Cakes
    • Party Food
    • Party Crafts & Decorations
    • Printables
    • Invitations
    • Back
  • Holidays
    • Valentines
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Easter
    • Cinco De Mayo
    • Mothers Day
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • Back
  • Travel
    • Culinary Travel – Cooking Schools
    • Family Travel
    • Disney
    • Universal Studios
    • Blogger Trips
    • Back
  • Videos
    • Recipe Videos
    • Short Videos
    • Kitchen Tip Videos
    • Video equipment links
    • Back
  • Crafts
    • How to & Craft Tutorials
    • Crochet & Knit Patterns
    • Decorations
    • Photoshop
    • Sewing Projects
    • Back
  • Shop
    • Video equipment links
    • Baking and Kitchen equipment
    • Back