Woman in apron inspecting a fondant-covered cake for cracks in a warm kitchen setting

Top 7 Fondant Mistakes – And How to Avoid Them

By Makai Cake Decorating Supplies

 

 

Fondant can transform a cake into a sleek, elegant masterpiece — but it’s also unforgiving when things go wrong.

If you’ve ever dealt with cracks, bubbles, or stickiness, you’re not alone. Here are the most common fondant mistakes and how to fix or avoid them.

 

 



 1. Cracking Fondant 

 

What causes it?

  • Fondant that’s too dry or cold

  • Over-handling or rolling too thin

 

How to fix it:

  • Warm it gently in your hands before rolling

  • Add a touch of shortening if it feels dry

  • Patch small cracks with a damp brush or softened fondant

 

 

Fondant-covered cake with a large vertical crack running down the side

 

 



 2. Air Bubbles 

 

What causes it?

  • Trapped air between the cake and fondant

  • Rolling too quickly or unevenly

 

How to fix it:

  • Use a pin to gently pop the bubble and smooth it with a fondant smoother

  • Apply fondant from the top down, pressing out air as you go

 

 

Fondant-covered cake with a visible air bubble forming under the surface

 

 



 3. Fondant Tearing 

 

What causes it?

  • Rolling too thin

  • Stretching the fondant too much when covering the cake

 

How to fix it:

  • Roll to about 3–5 mm thickness

  • Use a fondant smoother and lift gently, not pull

 

 

Fondant-covered cake with a large tear revealing the sponge underneath

 

 



 4. Elephant Skin Texture 

 

What causes it?

  • Fondant left exposed to air for too long

  • Low humidity or improper storage

 

How to fix it:

  • Knead shortening into dry fondant

  • Work quickly and cover unused fondant with cling film

 

 

Fondant-covered cake with visible fine creases and a dry, wrinkled texture resembling elephant skin

 

 



 5. Sticky or Sweaty Fondant 

 

What causes it?

  • Humidity or condensation from refrigeration

 

How to fix it:

  • Don’t refrigerate fondant-covered cakes unless necessary

  • Let cakes come to room temperature gradually

  • Dust with cornstarch if tacky

 

 

Fondant-covered cake with a shiny, moist surface and visible condensation marks

 

 



 6. Bulging Sides or Dents 

 

What causes it?

  • Soft or overfilled cake underneath

 

How to fix it:

  • Chill cake before applying fondant

  • Avoid overfilling and use a strong filling like ganache for structure

 

 

Fondant-covered cake with visible bulges and indentations along the lower sides

 

 



 7. Uneven Coverage or Wrinkled Bottoms 

 

What causes it?

  • Fondant too thick/thin, or poor smoothing technique

 

How to fix it:

  • Practice rolling evenly

  • Trim excess neatly and smooth from top down with proper tools

 

 

Fondant-covered cake with visible wrinkles and uneven folds at the base

 

 



 Related Reading 

 

 

 

 

 

 Final Thoughts 

 

With practice — and by avoiding these common mistakes — working with fondant can be a fun and satisfying part of cake decorating.

Save this list and refer back anytime your fondant misbehaves!

 

 

 


Back to blog