If you are looking for a fun and pretty way to decorate a cake for a party, this marble drip cake is for you! Follow this decorating tutorial for and easy drip cake with a marble effect, and you’ll have a stunning cake in a matter of minutes! Also check out our marble candy apples!
We’re sharing a deliciously easy way to create a marble drip cake! Drip cakes can be so intimidating to make, but to be honest, they’re actually a fairly simple way to frost a cake!
As long as you’re comfortable using fondant to cover the cake, the frosting part is easy peasy! Fondant isn’t difficult either, it just takes some strength and time to roll it out!
We used a simple icing recipe and added a little corn syrup to keep some of the shine.
How to Make a Marble Drip Cake
Supplies to Make a Drip Cake
Fondant – Homemade or store-bought. You can try our marshmallow fondant recipe too!
Rolling Pin – Used to roll out the fondant.
Fondant Smoother – To get a smooth texture.
Baking Sheet and Cookie Rack – Used to place the cake so the icing can drip down and not create a mess.
Measuring Cup with Spout – To pour the icing over the cake.
Directions
Bake a homemade cake. We love this vanilla recipe and this is our favorite chocolate cake. We also love our funfetti cake too!
Bake the cake in a standard 8″ round cake pan. Lightly frost the cakes before adding the fondant.
Knead and roll out the fondant to about 1/4 inch thick. Then place it over a lightly frosted cake.
The reason you frost the cake is so the fondant will stick to it and hold. Frost all the way down the sides, top, etc.
Place the fondant on top and then smooth it out using the fondant smoother. This will remove any bumps, it doesn’t have to be perfect!
If you need, store these cakes in the refrigerator for one day.
Place a rack on a rimmed cookie sheet and place the cake on top. This way the frosting will fall beneath.
Make the frosting (recipe below) and add drops of desired food coloring. We used food coloring gel for this recipe.
Don’t stir it, it will marble as you pour. Since we love blue so much, we did different shades of it to create our marble effect. You can use any color to make this cake!
Pour the icing over the top of the cake and watch it drip down the sides. It’s awesome to see the colors blend together and make such stunning patterns!
In about 30 minutes, your marble drip cake will harden and keep its shape!
A Fun Decorated Cake
This cake is perfect for any occasion.
This is great for a birthday cake, and you can make it with the person’s favorite color.
Tips for Decorating
- Make sure your cake has cooled to a warm temperature before decorating.
- Once the cake is covered in fondant, you can let it cool in the refrigerator for 30 minutes if needed.
- Remember to place the cake on a rack over a cookie tray before pouring the icing over it. This will ensure you don’t end up in a mess!
- Finish decorating the cake with fresh fruit or edible flowers.
- For the marbling, try to stick to different shades of the same color. It will give the marble drip cake a marble look.
- To make it even easier, call your local bakery and order an 8″ round cake covered in white fondant. Then all you need to do is add the icing.
When to Serve a Marble Drip Cake
This cake is perfect for parties or special occasions. Here are ideas for when you can serve a marble cake:
Birthday Party it’s also perfect for a last-minute birthday party!
More Recipes You’ll Love!
Looking for more? Here are some of our top cake recipes!
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Marble Drip Icing
Ingredients
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp corn syrup
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- food coloring, gel or drops
Instructions
- Cover a round cake in fondant.
- Add all of the ingredients, except the food coloring, in a bowl and whisk until smooth.
- Add in drops of food coloring, or use a wooden popsicle stick to add drops of gel food coloring to the icing. Do not mix it. It will give it’s own marbling effect when it’s poured.
- Place the fondant cake on a cooling rack with a cookie sheet underneath.
- Pour the icing over the top and let it dry.
Will candles ‘shatter’ the glaze?
Not if you blow them out after a quick birthday song.
Can the cake be frozen when the icing is on? If so, what is the best way to defrost it?
Many thanks.
Do I have to use the almond extract? I’m asking because my youngest son has a peanut allergy so if I can skip it that will be great. If not, is there something alternative to use besides almond extract?
You don’t! It’s just for flavor.
Does the drip icing set hard? I need to ice a bowling ball cake.
Not super hard but it does set.
Do you have to put fondant icing on first?
It helps with the marble frosting to have the fondant. You can try with a smooth, thick buttercream but I would make sure it’s cold. It might not work though.
Hello will this work if I cover the cake in royal icing first as its to cover a fruit cake. I want to use greens to make a water lily pond.
Hi! We’re not sure if that would work. If you try it let us know!
Can I use the marble effect on a cookie cake
We’ve done this on cookies that have fondant frosting and we dipped them into a bowl of marble icing. It did work! You can see the cookies here https://sugarandcharm.com/easter-brunch-ideas
Hi! Love this technique😍can I skip the corn syrup? Do you think this will work on buttercream? Thank you
Hi! Thank you! Unfortunately we don’t think it will work if you skip the corn syrup.
I tried this on a fondant cake and i love how it looks except that on mine it seems the icing drip broke away a little so I have spots where there is just color runand no icing. The icing is very clumpy in spots. I’m thinking my cake was maybe too cold? Or my icing too warm?
Will this work over cream cheese frosting??
Most likely not, but if you try it let us know!
HI i have to make the cake 2 layers i was wondering if i would be able to double the recipe will it still work thanks
Yes try to double and that should cover it!
This is amazing! First time I’ve baked a proper cake, and I couldn’t be happier with the end product. I used teal, royal blue and sky blue for the icing and it almost looks like a gemstone, so gorgeous!
Thank you Kayla! Love hearing that!!
Hi i am making this cake this weekend and was wondering if you need to use gel food colouring and if so how did you get different shades thanks
You can use gel and you can mix the colors to make different shades or leave them and they will blend together as you pour.