Valentine Cake ( Peanut Butter Fondant Cake)

Happy Valentine to my dear readers,blogger,friends and family!! Let's me present my first own make Fondant paste or sugar paste(cake) to you! Usually I will just use store bought Fondant paste to decorate the cake.But this time I would like to try to make my own fondant. I know buying a ready to use fondant is much much easier but it's freaky expensive!! A pound for $19.99!!.Furthermore, I would loves to learn how to make my own fondant. The last time I decorated fondant cake was the day I received my Wilton's Certificate of Merits. As they said,practise make perfect!! I gather so many fondant recipes but dunno which one is good/suitable for me. So I decided to use a recipe from AllRecipes but adapt some measurement and ingredients to suit me. I find it's not really hard at some point.The down side to make fondant is kneading. I think my fondant is not really elastic or smooth due to lack of kneading.

Fondant Ingredients:

1 1/2 tbsp unflavored gelatin

1/2 cup cold water

1/2 cup glucose syrup

1 tbsp glycerin

2 tbsp shortening

1 tsp vanilla extract

10 cups sifted confectioners sugar

Method:

1:Combine gelatin and cold water in a stainless bowl,mix well. Place gelatin mixture in double boiler and stir until dissolved.

2:Add glucose and glycerin, mix well. Stir in shortening and just before completely melted, remove from heat and stir in vanilla.Mixture should cool until lukewarm.

3:Place 5 cups confectioners' sugar in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and using a wooden spoon, stir in the lukewarm gelatin mixture. Mix in confectioner sugar and add more a little at a time, until stickiness disappears.

4:Knead in remaining confectioner sugar. Knead until the fondant is smooth, pliable and does not stick to your hands. If fondant is too soft, add more sugar, if too stiff, add water (a drop at a time).

5: Add in desire color and knead again. Use fondant immediately or store in airtight container in fridge. When ready to use, bring to room temperature and knead again until soft.

Cake Ingredients:

4 tbsp butter,softened

1 1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter,generously

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup milk

Method:

1:Prepared 12 cupcake paper cases in a muffin pan and a small heart size baking pan..Preheat oven at 350 F.Sift flour and baking powder in a large brown,then set aside.

2:Combine butter,brown sugar, and peanut butter in a bowl and beat together for 1-2 minutes, or until well mixed.

3:Gradually add the eggs,one at one time,then add in vanilla extract.Fold in sifted flour mixture,alternating with the milk.Spoon batter into paper cases and heart baking pan.

4:Bake cupcakes and heart cake in preheated oven at 350 F for 25 minutes or until well risen and golden brown.Transfer to a wire rack and let it cool completely before decorate.