Fondant Animals - Monkey

 Ingredients: 3 fondant balls in different colors (see picture) small rolling pin brush bowl with water sharp-tipped knife heart-shaped mold (small size) decorating tip (preferably a metal one)

To create these adorable fondant figures, we will start by preparing three balls of fondant, each having a distinct color. The first ball, a dark brown, should be approximately the size of a walnut. The second ball, a light brown, will be slightly smaller, about the size of an olive. The last ball, white, will be significantly smaller, about the size of two peppercorns. From the dark brown fondant ball, we will take a small piece aside to create the monkey's ears, and the rest will be used for the monkey's head.

Once we have prepared the balls, we will focus on the light brown ball. This will be shaped in our palms until it is smooth, then it will be gently flattened between our fingers. Now, using a rolling pin, we will roll out the light brown ball to a thickness of 2 mm and cut out a heart, ensuring that the pointed end is cut off, keeping only the top part of the heart. The fondant scraps will be kept in a plastic bag to prevent drying out.

We continue working on the monkey's head, where we glue the half-heart onto the ball using a wet brush to moisten the fondant. From the remaining light brown fondant, we form a roll which we flatten into an oval shape and glue it under the already applied half-heart. Using the end of the brush, we make two holes that will represent the monkey's nose, and with a sharp knife, we will gently cut a line to create the mouth, which we will slightly open to give it a cheerful look.

Next, we work on the monkey's eyes, cutting out two small pieces from the white fondant, which we glue over the light brown fondant. From the fondant we set aside at the beginning, we take two small balls and shape them into teardrops, adding a dot of light brown fondant on each. These will be the monkey's ears, and to attach them, we glue them on the sides of the head, making sure not to place them too high to avoid an unpleasant look.

With a toothpick, we take a bit of black food coloring to add black dots on the whites of the eyes, and from the brown fondant, we shape two small balls into little sausages, which we place above the eyes to create eyebrows. Now, the monkey's head is complete, and to dry it, we can stick a toothpick in the bottom and place it in a sponge.

These fondant figurines can be kept for months and are very popular at children's parties, being successfully used as cake decorations or in various candy arrangements. If you want to go further and create a 3D monkey, we continue by shaping the body. We make a ball from dark brown fondant, which we round well and flatten slightly to form the body.

For the legs, we roll two small pieces of fondant into sausage shapes, flatten one end, and shape the ends like little feet. These are glued to the bottom of the body. Later, for the arms, we make two longer pieces which we flatten at the ends, gluing them to the monkey's body. We bring a dot of light brown fondant to the belly, which we will pierce to simulate the belly button, after which we position the arms.

Don't forget the monkey's tail, which will also be made from dark brown fondant, and if you want to give it a banana in hand, shape a yellow sausage and cut it at the ends. Securing the head is done by inserting half a toothpick into the body, after which the head is attached, ensuring the stability of the figurine. This creative process will bring smiles and joy, both during the making and at parties!