Fondant vs Buttercream Birthday Cake: What's Better?
Whether you’re making a birthday cake for yourself or someone else, or you’re getting ready to place an order from your favorite cake shop, there are a lot of decisions to make. What flavor will the cake be? What kind of frosting will you use? Will there be a separate filling between layers of cakes, or will you use the same frosting as the outside of the cake? How will you decorate it? Will you use fondant? Or buttercream? Or something else entirely? The fondant vs buttercream birthday cake debate may be especially fierce if you’re looking to impress or ordering and so really going for it to get your dream party cake. Knowing the key differences between the two, as well as the pros and cons of both, can help you sort through your options and pick the right cake. Here’s what you should know.
Buttercream Frosting
Smooth, rich, and indulgent, buttercream is a critical component in any cake shop. Made from butter, sugar, vanilla (and sometimes meringue), it’s a deeply delicious and oh-so-versatile ingredient that is absolutely perfect for celebrations. Here’s why we love it:
The Taste: Buttercream is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. It’s sweet, creamy, and buttery, so really, what’s not to like? At ECBG we use Italian buttercream which includes meringue and is very buttery and very subtly sweet.
The Texture: Soft, smooth, light, and fluffy, well-made buttercream is pretty heavenly. The creamy texture is perfect for piling onto cupcakes, spreading between layers, or decorating with romantic swoops.
How Easy It Is To Customize: Because buttercream is so versatile, it’s super easy to switch up the color, use lemon or almond extract, whip up a chocolate version, and more.
Although buttercream frosting might sound pretty close to perfect, it does have some drawbacks, namely, that it’s pretty heat-sensitive. If you’re planning an outdoor event on a warm day, buttercream might not be the right choice for your birthday cake.
Fondant Icing
Fondant can add a touch of drama and glam to any cake. Because it’s a sugary paste rolled out like a dough, it can be draped over the whole cake for a smooth finish, or cut, shaped, and sculpted for gorgeous decorations. Here’s why we love it:
Picture-Perfect Finish: If you know what you’re doing, fondant can give you a super clean, super polished finish with smooth sides and sharp edges that anyone will love.
Super Versatile: Because you can cut, mold, shape, and sculpt fondant into so many different forms, you can use fondant to make your cake look exactly the way you’d like (even with more intricate design elements like flowers, bows, even people!). You can also color fondant with food coloring to make it better fit the theme of the cake.
Very Durable: Though buttercream will melt if it’s too warm, fondant is a bit more durable and resilient and can sit for longer periods of time. That being said, fondant is very susceptible to moisture and high humidity environments. Some fridges are even too moist for fondant, so if you’re working with fondant (or ordered a fondant-covered cake), you need to be very careful of that!
Our favorite fondants:
But while buttercream isn’t perfect for everything, neither is fondant. It looks amazing, but not everyone loves the slightly lackluster flavor or chewy texture of fondant. Fondant is VERY sweet. If you prioritize flavor profile over everything, it might not be the right option for your birthday cake. Plus, when ordering a cake, fondant will usually be more expensive.
Fondant vs Buttercream Birthday Cakes: Which Should You Choose?
So, which type of frosting is the best choice for you? Here’s the scoop:
Want a cake that’s basically edible art?
Go for fondant, which is perfect for elaborate decorations or Instagram-worthy moments.
Want a cake that tastes as good as it looks?
Buttercream is the clear choice here. While fondant can make elaborate cakes look beautiful, buttercream tastes way better.
Want a cake that won’t break the bank?
Like with flavor, buttercream is generally the better option here. Buttercream can help you save a bit without sacrificing your flavor or overall aesthetic.
Worried about the weather?
Whether you’re hosting an outdoor party or worried about the too-hot venue, fondant is going to hold up better if you’re dealing with a lot of heat and humidity. If you want the cake to sit out, that’s your clear choice. If you can store your cake somewhere else or aren’t worried about the weather, buttercream will work just fine!
FAQs
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It depends, but fondant definitely can cost more because it requires skill and time to work with it. Plus the fondant itself is more expensive than the buttercream ingredients. Buttercream piping can be intricate and require a lot of labor as well, but typically, fondant is going to cost more than a buttercream cake.
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Yes! Fondant is a sugar-based paste that you can roll and sculpt. It’s edible, but not everyone loves the sugar-forward flavor or chewy texture. If you don’t like it, you can always peel it off your slice before digging in.
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Yes. Buttercream can melt or slide off of the cake at high temperatures or if it's too humid. The amount of butter in the real buttercream frosting means it won't be the right consistency if it gets too warm. If you’re planning parties in warm weather or outdoor events where you won’t be able to keep the cake chilled, fondant is the perfect choice to keep everything looking gorgeous until you’re ready to eat.
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Yes, but it takes effort (and time). When you do it well, a smooth buttercream cake can look nearly as polished and perfect as a fondant-covered cake.
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Tastes are personal preference, but buttercream is generally going to win in flavor (the best part of using buttercream frosting, honestly). Rich, creamy, and easy to customize, buttercream pretty easily beats the overly sweet, plain taste of fondant.
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Absolutely! A lot of bakers will use a layer of fluffy frosting beneath the fondant layer to give the cake more flavor and moisture as well as to help the fondant stick to the surface of the cake.
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Generally speaking, fondant is going to be easier to work with if you’re trying to make different shapes, sculpted details, or 3D designs. Buttercream is better for swirls, flowers, and texture, but while it is strong and durable, it’s not the best for 3D designs.
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Fondant cakes: Store at room temperature in a cool, dry place. Refrigeration can cause condensation, making the fondant sticky, so it’s better to leave it out.
Buttercream cakes: Refrigerate if you need to store them for more than a day. Bring them to room temperature before serving for the best flavor (the cold temp in the fridge can dull the flavor of the rich, creamy buttercream!).
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Buttercream is usually the go-to for kids’ cakes because it’s so delicious, soft, and loved by most tiny humans. Fondant is great for elaborate designs but might not get devoured as quickly.
At the end of the day, your cake should reflect you. Whichever side of the debate you land on—team buttercream, team fondant, or somewhere in between—the most important thing is that your special occasions are perfect—and that the cake tastes amazing.
Looking to order a cake that tastes as good as it looks? Contact us today, and let’s create something fabulous together!
Check out our Cake Shop or reach out about custom cakes here.
