Valentines Petits Four Tutorial

Wanna know how to make my super easy and fun petit fours?  Well you have come to the right place my friend.

Lets start with the main ingredients.

Oreo cakesters. (They used to make vanilla which worked the best, but I havent seen those for a long time...if you find um, grab um, buy 25 boxes and send them all to me!  Or, just email me.)

Fondant (I use pre-made)

Rolling Pin

Red Food Coloring (not pictured)

Optional: Royal Icing, small round cookie cutter, small heart cookie cutter, corn syrup, sparkling sugar

I made these hearts the day before with some royal icing.  I also made a few white ones just in case I changed my mind and didnt like the red.

Meet Mr. Oreo Cakester.  I call him Lou.

Grab a good size chuck of fondant.  Especially if this is your first time.  You are going to want to play around.

Knead your fondant so it is more pliable.  Since I need to make some pink today, I am going to add one little dot of Ateco red gel food coloring.

That one little dot made this cutie patootie pink.

I wanted to use three colors, so I made some red as well.

From your white fondant, take about a small egg size.  Since the cakester is black, and I am covering it in white, I want it to be a bit thicker then usual.

Roll out fondant into about a 1/4 inch thickness.  I am working on wax paper.  If you have granite or marble or a special fondant matt you can use any of those.  They work way better. 

I am poor.  I use wax paper.

Place the rolled out fondant over the cakester.

Gently press down on the sides.  I use the sides of my pinky to smooth it over.  This takes practice, so just relax and have fun working with it!  (also watch Cake Boss and Food Network Cake Challenge's lots and lots)

If your fondant tears or you have any problems, just start over!

 

Take a pizza cutter or a sharp paring knife and cut closely around the bottom edge.

This is what it should look like after you have trimmed it.

Gently flip over the cakester and smooth the edges of the fondant over.  Be sure to remove any crumbs you see along the way.  If you dont you could accidentally rub it into your fondant.

And here is the fondant covered cakester!

Or, Lou with his clothes on!

Here it is again in pink.

If you want to reuse your fondant, be on the lookout or crumbs.  Just cut them off or pick them out.

Here are the three colors for Valentines Petit Fours.

You can now decorate them any way you want... write on them with royal icing or place a candy heart on top that says 'be mine' or place a Hershey's Kiss on top!

I decided to roll out a bit extra of the red fondant for some hearts. This fondant is pretty thin as I am just using the hearts for decoration.

To decorate the pink cakesters I am using a bit of watered down corn syrup and some white sparkling sugar. 

I will *paint the sides of the cakester with the corn syrup then gently roll it on a plate of the sparkling sugar.

*Make sure you have a paint brush that is for food only.

  For the red cakesters I am going to attach those royal icing hearts I made the day before.  Just drop a dot of white royal icing (this must be the traditional royal icing with meringue powder) in the center and attach the heart.   They are delicate, so be gentle. 

Since I didnt have time to sit and hold the heart in place,  I propped it up with a toothpick.

Would you like to see the final product?

Really?

Are you sure???

Ok...here goes...

Here are the pink sparkling sugar petit fours with red fondant heart.

Here are the red petit fours with white royal icing heart.

And here are my favorite.

The white petit four with a red fondant rose delicately resting on top. 

Or, Lou all dressed up with a gift for his lady.

These were a last minute addition, because my red royal icing hearts I had made didnt quite look like I wanted them too.  So I went to youtube and watched a video on making fondant roses. 

Although they are my first, I really like them, and cant wait to do more!

 

What do ya think?  Are you ready to try some of your own?

I cant wait to see!

 

 

Comments

[Sylvia]

So pretty! I like how you did the royal icing!

[Gale Reeves]

I'm not ready to make my own, but yours are beautiful!!!!!!!!!

[Renee]

Those are beautiful Amanda! Have you ever made them with real cake instead of cakesters? I've been wanting to try sometime, maybe with some kind of filling in them...yummy. How does the wilton fondant taste? I've never tried it. The only fondant I've used is homemade marshmellow fondant.

[3rascalsmama]

Gorgeous! I'd love to attempt something so daring, but I'd need a week's worth of patience and maybe a Caribbean cruise to help me relax first.

Great tutorial!

[angie]

these are beautiful, wow

[Amanda Rettke]

I have made them with real cake, and I found it to be a lot harder to work with. Especially with the fondant. The cakester is just so sturdy!

And wilton fondant is not good... but I have never tasted a fondant that does taste good... so I am not a good judge!!

Have a blessed night!
Amand

[Livingondreams-coffee.blogspot.com]

Ooh So Cute! Please keep making Petit Fours (and tackle square ones soon). I am going to be making them for my wedding (360 of them, 180 Ganache covered mini brownies, and 30 pies- 3 different kinds!) Also, I would love to hear what kind of food colorings you like.

[Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com}]

stunning!
I love February and all the RED! All the hearts! What a great idea!

[Liz]

I can't handle your talent.

[Kate]

Are you KIDDING me?!?

These are awesome!!! Great tutorial, Amanda.

Love them!
Love YOU!

[jaime]

Forgeous! Might be something I have to try! I love how you share your secrets and it's something that "regular" people can do! You know, those of us that aren't as awesome as say... you?! Thanks!

[Jodi]

wow. i don't even know what to say! they are tres cute. <3 love your blog, amanda! thanks for being you!

Jodi

[bp]

So I have a question....do you eat them if the fondant doesn't taste good as you mentioned above???

Very pretty!

[danielle]

adorable as can be!!!

[Stephanie S.]

Adorable!!!

[Amanda Rettke]

Nope! None of us can stand the taste of fondant here... so we dont eat them! And I dont dare give them away for that very reason!

[Kathryn Harter]

You are fu-nee! and they are beautiful, I love it! Thank you!

[Memoria]

Oh wow!! Everyone in the blogosphere is going to love you for this one!! Wow! They all look beautiful.

I smiled when you wrote "I am poor. I use wax paper." LOL!!!!!!! I hear ya!

[Julie]

Gorgeous! love the roses...love all of them! Try making your own fondant with marshmallows...WAY better...it's what I use for all of my cakes. It's called MMF
I will be trying these...thanks!

[Julie]

Sorry, my link didn't attach for the mmf...
http://www.bakespace.com/recipes/detail/Rolled-Marshmallow-Fondant/13583/

[Mr. P]

Gorgeous!

I remember teaching myself to make roses and it took AGES until I could do it and be satisfied with the result. Yours are great!

[Gala]

Soooo cute! Thank you for the great instructions!

[cindy]

Just gorgeous...I'm going to show these to my fellow pastry chefs!!

[meaghan (chic cookies)]

These are perfect and gorgeous! I did fondant-covered Cakester petits fours, too, on my blog last year, but these put mine to shame!! I love the details and decorations. (Oh, and of course, I had to post a link to your great tutorial on my column at ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com)

[deana@lostpastremembered]

I am terrified of fondant... you really made it seem easy and the results are wonderful. HOw kind of you to take such perfect photos for us amateurs!!! Thanks

[BNDQ8]

this is a perfect idea!! love it!! i usually love working with fondant...its fun :) they looks soo beautiful!!

[Raelynn]

These are fabulous!! And look so yummy to eat!!

[Carolyn Jung]

These are so romantic looking. I would have thought they would take days to make, but you make it look so easy. ;)

[bridget {bake at 350}]

Oh, Amanda....you ROCK!!! I am actually about to CRY because I love these SO much! I.Am.Going.To Try.This. I AM! I've always wanted to and you've given me courage. Lou looks so cute! AND, I'll be using wax paper also, unless I can find a counter top manufacturer who would like to install marble in both of our kitchens. I mean, they should, right?

I saw the twitter discussion...just to clarify...these are the FULL size cakesters, and you haven't trimmed them in any way? I KNOW I've seen the mini ones somewhere!

OK...I'm off to tweet about your genius!

[Jessica @ How Sweet It Is]

Again, I am reminded of your amazing creativity and attention to detail. This is a fabulous idea and they are gorgeous! I have never worked with fondant. I've heard it tastes bad?

[TidyMom]

GORGEOUS........I've heard fondant doesn't taste good, I've never used it.......how do these taste?......they're just BEAUTIFUL!!!

[Carrie]

Great idea! I'm in awe, you just learned how to make roses? It looks like you've been doing them forever. Bravo!

[Sarah]

I love these - so cute! I can't believe you made those fondant roses on your first try, they are beautiful.

[Amanda Rettke]

Yes! Very. But on commenter left a great link for a marshmallow fondant... plus and old friends told me a while back... I think its the kick I need to make my own!!

[Tracy]

They are all so gorgeous! Love!!

[Amanda Sikes]

Awesome as always! They are beautiful but my favorite are the red with white hearts!

[Amy (Sing For Your Supper)]

These are absolutely beautiful!! Those roses are so perfect!

[Tonic]

Beautiful! Wonderful step-by-step instructions too!

[Tasha Pepi]

So excited to try those!! For you:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190311112312&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=WVS%3F&GUID=6a1eba081210a0e204978c07fe10bc22&itemid=190311112312&ff4=263602_263622

[Amanda Rettke]

Thank you!! Thats a BIG box! :)

[Alex]

Too cute. I'm going to have to try those with my home made cakesters.

[Heidi McMaster]

Those are so cute..but too bad they're just for decoration since you don't actually eat them or give them away! By the way, I think it's great that you've "joined forces" with MckMama. Being a guest poster will be a great way to get your "fabulousness" out there even more! :)

[Jackie]

Oh. My. Gosh. Those are fabulous! Someday I'll be able to do that! :)

[Ally]

Why would anyone spend so much time decorating trans-fat laden, heart attack-inducing, mass-produced baked goods? I thought Amanda actually baked things. And why oh why would she want MckMama to get all the blog traffic instead of MckMama just linking up to "I Am Baker?" Seems like Miss Amanda may be getting the wool pulled over her eyes on this blogging relationship.

Cakester Petit Fours: Nice on the outside, but junk on the inside. Just like MckMama!

Amanda, you can do better. With your petit fours AND your choice in advertising venues!

[Megan]

Wow, sorry about that previous poster! I am so glad I found your blog through MckMama! It was just in time for my son's 1st birthday next weekend! I made baseball sugar cookies and the letter "Z"! You are wonderful and it is very easy to understand your instructions! Thanks!

[Suzanne]

Girl, you are too much!!! Those are some of the cutest petit fours I have ever seen! You are beyond talented!!!
Can you bottle your talent and sell me some?
Blessings,
Suzanne :)

[Katie]

I'd love to try these, but maybe with the home made marshmallow fondant as suggested by another reader. I'm pretty sure I can still buy the Vanilla oreo cakesters in Canada...I'll have to check it out.

Thanks for the great tutorial!

[smgoodie]

These look soooooooo good. My hips and thighs say thank you. Might have to try doing this, looks so fun. This is not for those of us who need to watch what goes into out bodies.

[Jana]

Just so you know, they have the vanilla oreo cakesters at Walmart Neighborhood Market in Mesquite, TX. Are you ready for a road trip? I didn't buy you 25 boxes but I did buy some for me. Hope you can find them again and I hope I can make treats as cute as yours!

[Sarah Valente (Kingdom Mama)]

OK...now that I see the MMF link I am soo excited to try these! They are absolutely gorgeous but I'd hate to spend time on something I wouldn't eat;)

Thanks for this gorgeous and informational post.