A type of icing that is used to sculpt cake and pastries, you have certainly seen fondant before. It has a unique texture compared to other icings in that it’s similar to clay and easy to mold. It surely allows for the creation of show-stopping cakes, but is fondant considered vegan-friendly?
No, traditional fondant is not vegan. Fondant is typically made with gelatin, which includes collagen from animal bones. However, there are vegan-friendly fondant brands, such as Satin Ice, RENSHAW, and FondX. Other healthier and vegan alternatives to traditional fondant include Simple Mill Organic Vanilla Frosting, Miss Jones Organic Vanilla Frosting, and Wholesome Organic Vanilla Frosting.
In this article we will discuss what fondant is, if it’s considered healthy, and what a vegan diet consists of. We will also analyze the nutritional information of the most common brands of fondant and see how they stack up to the alternatives we have chosen. Let’s dig in!
Contents
The History Of Fondant
Avid bakers and chefs believe that fondant originated in the 19th century in France. The word fondant comes from the French fonder which means “to melt.” It is also thought to have come from Turkey. However, today’s fondant was established in the 20th century and is known as a cake icing or a cake decorating material.
Fondants are used in baked goods and confectionery products. They are typically used for cake topping, covering and decorating. They are also used for seed crystallization in fudge and chewy candies. They can also be used as the base material for other frostings and icings.
Is Fondant Healthy?
Fondant is typically made from sugar, water, gelatin, vegetable fat, or shortening, and glycerol. Unfortunately, none of these ingredients provides very many nutritional benefits, so fondant would not fall under the category of “healthy.”
However, it is safe to consume in moderation, just like any other food. So if you’re at an event where there is cake with fondant icing or other pastries dazzled with it, there’s no harm in having it every now and then. But a majority of your diet should be made up of lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and starchy carbohydrates in order to have a well-balanced healthy lifestyle.
What Is A Vegan Diet?
Similarly to vegetarians, vegans do not consume any animal product such as beef, chicken, pork, turkey, or fish. But vegans also do not eat any animal byproduct (any product that comes from an animal) including eggs, and milk, and some vegans do not eat honey.
While it’s not necessary to follow a vegan diet to live a healthy lifestyle, including more fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, and whole grains can lead to a healthier life. These foods are often rich in many nutrients and can help fight some diseases that are common in America today including heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. Eating a more plant-based diet along with living an active lifestyle can help you live a long healthy life.
Nutritional Information Of Fondant
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular types of fondant on the market and see what they are comprised of.
Satin Ice – White Vanilla
Satin Ice is one of the most popular fondant brands. Used for the finishing touches on any cake or cookie all of Satin Ice’s fondants are 100% vegan.
The ingredients in this product are:
- Sugar
- Corn syrup
- Water
- Palm oil
- Gum tragacanth
- Natural and artificial flavors
- Cellulose gum
- Glycerin
- Caramel color
- Modified corn starch
- Potassium sorbate
- Titanium dioxide, Acetic acid
Nutritional Facts (per 2 tbsp):
- Calories: 134
- Total fat: 1g
- Sodium: 7mg
- Total sugar: 28g
- Total carbs: 30g
- Protein: <1g
RENSHAW – White Ready To Roll Fondant
RENSHAW has over 30 colors of fondant available. Made in the United Kingdom, RENSHAW is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
The ingredients in this product are:
- Sugar
- Glucose syrup
- Palm oil
- Humectant
- Emulsifier
- Stabilizer
- Preservative
- Flavoring
Nutritional Facts (per 100g):
- Calories: 388
- Total fat: 3.2g
- Total sugar: 88g
- Total carbs: 90g
- Protein: 0g
FondX – Virgin White Rolled Fondant
FondX is the preferred rolled fondant amongst professionals and beginners alike. It is very easy to knead and is very forgiving fondant to use. According to their website FondX is vegan-friendly.
The ingredients in this product are:
- Sugar
- Corn Syrup
- Water
- Interesterified Soybean Oil
- Gum Blend (Sodium Alginate, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Guar Gum)
- Natural and Artificial Flavors
- Titanium Dioxide
- Glycerin
- Potassium Sorbate
- Citric Acid
Nutritional Facts (per 100g):
- Calories: 370
- Total fat: 4g
- Total sugar: 85g
- Total carbs: 90g
- Protein: 0g
Cake Craft White Fondant
Cake Craft offers 17 vibrant colors of fondant to use for your next cake or cookie masterpiece. Cake Craft’s vanilla flavored white fondant is vegan-friendly.
The ingredients in this product are:
- Sugar
- Water
- Corn syrup
- Sustainably harvested palm oil
- Tragacanth gum
- Glycerin
- Arabic gum
- Carboxy methyl cellulose
- Modified corn starch
- Potassium sorbate
- Acetic acid
- Sodium acetate
- Artificial vanilla flavor
- Artificial color: titanium dioxide
Nutritional Facts (per 1.2oz/35g):
- Calories: 130
- Total fat: 1g
- Total sugar: 30g
- Total carbs: 30g
- Protein: 0g
Healthier Alternatives To Fondant
Want a product that will be sure to be vegan-friendly while also helping you achieve your health goals? We’ve complied some of the best alternatives to fondant on the market. Let’s check them out and see how they compare!
Simple Mills Organic Vanilla Frosting
Simple Mills is made from real, simple, and wholesome ingredients that will make you feel good while tasting delicious. This product is vegan.
The ingredients in this product are:
- Organic Palm Shortening
- Organic Powdered Sugar
- Organic Coconut Oil
- Organic Tapioca
- Vanilla Extract
- Sea Salt
- Organic Rosemary Extract
- Monk Fruit Extract
Nutritional Facts (per 2 tbsp):
- Calories: 140
- Total fat: 11g
- Total sugar: 9g
- Total carbs: 10g
- Protein: 0g
Miss Jones Organic Vanilla Frosting
Whipped to perfection, this sweet, creamy, plant-based frosting tastes delicious!
The ingredients in this product are:
- Organic powdered sugar (organic cane sugar, organic cornstarch and/or organic tapioca starch)
- Organic palm oil
- Organic tapioca and/or organic agave syrup
- Vanilla extract
- Sea salt.
Nutritional Facts (per 2 tbsp):
- Calories: 150
- Total fat: 12g
- Total sugar: 12g
- Total carbs: 12g
- Protein: 0g
Wholesome Organic Vanilla Frosting
Wholesome Organic Vanilla Frosting’s delicious flavor and ready-to-use convenience make it a pantry staple for all your last-minute baking needs! It has a smooth, spreadable texture – perfect for topping cakes, decorating cupcakes and adding a sweet finish to your favorite cookies!
The ingredients in this product are:
- Organic Powdered Sugar (Organic Sugar , Organic Tapioca Starch)
- Organic Palm Oil
- Organic Invert Sugar
- Water
- Organic Corn Starch
- Organic Vanilla Flavor
- Natural Flavor
- Unbleached Sunflower Lecithin
- Natural Sweet Cream Flavor (Corn Maltodextrin , Corn Starch , Natural Flavors)
- Sea Salt
- Natural Mixed Tocopherols
- Organic Citric Acid
- Organic Gum Acacia
- Xanthan Gum
Nutritional Facts (per 2 tbsp):
- Calories: 140
- Total fat: 6g
- Total sugar: 22g
- Total carbs: 22g
- Protein: 0g
Final Thoughts
While fondant can certainly be a fun addition to make the most unique cakes and cookies it can have a lot of added sugar to it. It also isn’t always necessarily vegan friendly so it’s important to always check the ingredients list. If it contains gelatin, it is not a vegan-friendly product. However, there are plenty of vegan-friendly products available, many of which tend to have better ingredients, less sugar, and less of a caloric value.
As always, it is okay to enjoy everything in moderation. As long as you pair it with an active lifestyle and a well-balanced diet it is absolutely fine to enjoy cookies, cakes, and even fondant from time to time and still live a long healthy life!
Related Questions
How Many Types Of Fondant Are There?
There are two main types of fondant: poured and rolled. Poured fondant is a paste usually used as an icing or filling for cakes and other pastries. Rolled fondant, on the other hand, is more like dough.
Is Fondant Gluten Free?
Yes, traditional fondant is gluten-free. However, not all brands are certified gluten free. It is important to always check the labels on brands before purchasing.
What Makes Fondant Shine?
Many bakers use egg whites to add a glossy finish to their fondant. However, if you do use egg whites which are an animal byproduct, it will not be vegan-friendly. If you want a vegan-friendly shine, you can mix 1 part vodka with 1 part corny syrup and brush it on your fondant.