I want to make several dummy wedding cakes so that I have something to physically show a potential client. How do I preserve a fondant covered dummy cake from fading and getting moldy, etc.? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Found this on
http://whatscookingamerica.net/PegW/FondantQA.htm
QUESTION:
I am starting a wedding rentals business. I would like to make a fondant wedding cake soon. It will be a fake cake. I have bought three different size styropfoam squares for the tiers. Once I cover them with fondant and decorate them, how do I preserve the cake? I've heard there is a spray you can use to preserve the cake for ever, but I don't know what it is or where I can buy it. Any suggestions you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!! - Lisa (10/17/05)

ANSWER:
The product that I have heard of folks using is called Perma Ice. You can get it from SugarCraft.

Perma Ice - NOT EDIBLE Used for display cakes, wash off when dirty - you don't need nearly as much of this as you would icing... just so it covers the dummy completely with no 'bumps' showing from the styrofoam. Stir before using or if it has set for a long time. To thicken, add cornstarch. To thin it, add water.

Perma Ice gallon #35-501 $47.25 - Acrylic non edible Color 6-pc set - Used to color Perma Ice - this is NOT food coloring. You cannot color Perma ice with food coloring. Includes red, pink, blue, green, yellow and brown (from these you can combine to make more colors) #35-550 $13.50

I havent heard of a spray to preserve the fondant. Most of the ladies that I know either put the cakes in glass enclosures to keep the dust and fingers off, or just show their work with pictures.

P.S. Your cakes are beautiful!!!

I've heard of Perma Ice, but never tried it. I've been using royal icing on my dummy cakes and they have lasted pretty good, as long as they are kept out of sunlight and protected from dust. I have a picture of it in my album it's a stacked square dummy with pink decorations.

They fondant will hardern and shouldn't mold. I have a few cakes in my cake room that are around 6 months old, and there is no mold.

Sunlight and florescent lights will fade your fondant faster than anything. I do think over time some colors fade some naturally, no matter what ya do.

even though Fondant isn't my "thing", I've run it by people, and they told me the smae thing TexasSugar said here about shouldn't mold. I think however it depends on your home, and whether it's succeptable to mold and things like that, that could make something go wrong with the product.

As long as it's stored somewhere dry snd dust free id shouldn't be a problem. I usually store in a carboard box on top the wardrobe in my spare bedroom. I make sure it has a well fitting lid to avoid dust and to prevent any colours fading