Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

I would like to attempt the Santa using fruit cake. Do you think I could use marzipan instead of the ganache? Would this work?

Hi MumsCakes

Covering a fruit cake with marzipan and then fondant is the correct way of getting a smooth surface and should allow you to create the Santa cake.

Hope this helps!
Danielle x

Thank you. I was just wondering if it would adhere properly on a 3D cake! Do you think it would?

Hi MumsCakes

Fruit cake can sometimes be tricky for carving particularly if it hasn’t matured. When fruit cakes mature the fruit begins to break down making the crumb compact, dense and moist. A fresh or unmatured cake can still have big pieces of fruit and a crumbly, dryish crumb which can make the cake break in lumps while carving. To get best results when carving a fruit cake use a serrated knife with a thin blade and carefully carve by making sawing actions to prevent tearing. To adhere the marzipan to the cake, boil some apricot jam in a little water or alcohol, sieve out any bits of peel and use the jam as glue. You won’t need too much, just enough to make the surface tacky. Allow the marzipan to dry for at least two or three days to ensure a stable structure, brush with clear alcohol like vodka or some boiled water before icing. When rolling out the marzipan don’t use cornflour as this can cause a fermentation reaction between the icing and marzipan. Roll out on icing sugar.
Paul has a good tutorial on enrobing fruit cake here

Goldfish

Happy decorating! x

Thank you Madeitwithlove, my fruit cake is very mature and I will follow your advice and carve with a serrated knife. I knew not to use cornflour but it is good to be reminded. It sounds like it is possible to do the 3D cake so I will give it a go. I didn’t want to go ahead without advice as it costs a lot for a fruit cake and I would hate to spoil it. I will, of course, eat all the scraps from the carving, perhaps in the Lancashire way with a little cheese and a glass of sherry! It is Christmas after all!!!

I carved the sofa in fruit cake from Paul and David’s Christmas book last year. It’s no where the scale of the santa but a good carving experience because of the scroll arms and back. I took it steady and it worked out fine. Had a thought after I posted earlier, fruit cake, marzipan and sugarpaste is very heavy so goes without saying to ensure the stability of the stand.
Fruit cake, cheese and sherry sounds delightful, just make sure you attack the sherry after all the carving is done!! Would love to know how you get on, good luck with it. x

I will certainly make sure the stand is stable – my partner is a joiner, ha ha! I will leave the sherry till it’s all done. All this work for free (for school raffle ) as well – I must be mad!