Make your own Fondant

As I said in 5 Ways to Save on your Wedding Cake, making your own cake can be a great way to save some money, if you've got the time and willpower. You can buy the supplies to make and decorate your cakes or even improvise with some household items to incorporate different designs and textures. Some supplies can come at a hefty price, especially if you want a professional looking cake.

Fondant is available online and at cake supply stores and can be bought in buckets by the pounds (2 lb, 5 lb, 10 lb buckets). Depending on the size of the cake you are making, you'll most likely have fondant leftover which is great, so you can make decorative pieces. However, these buckets of fondant can cost anywhere from $15 to $80 a pop. An easy alternative would be to make your own fondant and cut that price by 97%!

Ingredients

1 bag of mini Marshmallows

2-3 tbsp. Water

1 bag powdered sugar

In a metal bowl, combine the marshmallows and water. Microwave the mixture on high for one minute. Using a rubber spatula, stir the mixture to form a mound. If some marshmallows did not melt, return the mixture to the microwave for another minute. Add a cup of powdered sugar to the bowl and stir with the rubber spatula. Keep adding cups of sugar and stirring until the mixture has lost most of its stickiness. Sprinkle some powdered sugar on a clean flat surface and place the fondant on it. Knead the fondant with your hands and add powdered sugar as needed to make sure all the stick has gone.

You can add food coloring or cake coloring to your marshmallow fondant, as desired. This recipe makes about a pound of fondant.

Marshmallow fondant is very easy to make and often tastes better than actual fondant. It is very pliable and is a great, CHEAP, alternative for cake makers on a budget.