Urgent help needed - rolled fondant icing has cracked when laying on cake

[99redballoons]

I'm in the middle of making my sister's wedding cake (for tomorrow!) and I've iced the three tiers, however, unfortunately there are cracks all around the edge where the top meets the sides. This hasn't happened before (typical it does when it's such an important cake). I've tried 'buffing' with my fingers and palm but they're still really noticeable. I've also tried a little warm water which also doesn't work.

How can I get the icing to smooth out?

Two tiers look 'ok' but the middle tier is terrible. HEEEELLLPPP

I was going to suggest warm water and a pallet knife....

Peel it off and buy some more?

I was going to suggest buffing with your hands...

what is the fondant on top of - buttercream or marzipan? if marzipan can you peelit back off and reroll? kneading it well before rerolling?

if on buttercream could you remove it an buy more if it is that bad?

really HOT water (just out of the kettle in small amounts) then do the rubbing with your finger tips thing (find fingers better than pallet knife, myself...

I will most likely have to re-ice, but just wondered if there was anything I could do before resorting to that! I'm so upset. I have to do them all today as my sis wanted sponge instead of fruit cake.

I will try REALLY hot water.

Thought about getting the hairdrier on it, but that might make it worse do you think?

99redballoons. BEst of luck.

Hairdrier will make it worse as it'll dry it out. That's probably why it's cracked anyway, too dry.

Is there any decoration to go on it that could help disguise the cracks (its amazing how little people notice - and at least i's the middle tier, not the top one) Garland of fresh flowers is classy (imho) and very simple to do (if you have some time at the last minute) - could co-ordinate with wedding flowers...
Good luck

(And agree, wouldn't use hairdryer, will deffo make it worse...)

Maybe too late. Really really hot water and a good palette knife. You smooth the hot water over the crack with the palette knife repeatedly and that should help smooth out the crack, been there done it.

Thanks all, tried the hairdrier on a spare piece of icing and yes it dried out completely, then went a little softer, but wouldn't smooth out the cracks (I had read to make it supple stick in the microwave for a short while, so thought maybe the heat would work - haha).

Have decided to take it all off and start again. Also read if it's too thick the weight of the icing can pull it down and create cracks. I think this is what has happened, plus I didn't kneed the icing as much as I should have done in the first place (tisk tisk it was all my fault).

Fingers crossed for second time round.

Thanks for all the tips

good luck

hope it goes ok - post a pic when you are finished

let us know how it goes. And we'll definitely need to see a picture!

Yey! It's finally done. Second time round worked a treat, a little thinner and kneeded it for a good 5 mins before rolling it out.

How do I post a pic? Must admit, first time I've ever done something more than Christmas cake (my sis was very brave asking me to do it for her!) and I'm quite proud of the result

Have just added a pic to my profile

Wow... I am in awe.

It is beautiful.

Your hard work definitely paid off.

Well done you.

Well done.looks lovely hope your sister enjoys her day

thanks all. Thankfully it was one of the few weekends lately where we had no rain (it arrived around 7pm in the eve and only close family were left) - phew! My sis looked LOVELY. I was so happy for her.

(largest tier was a little dry but the other two were fine. She loved it which was the main thing!)