Buttercream On Styrofoam?? Or What Else Can I Use?

Decorating By Lucy0618 Updated 25 Oct 2016 , 8:44am by me_me1

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Lucy0618 Posted 22 Aug 2008 , 5:08pm
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I want to make a couple of display cakes out of foam...do you guys just use it as a cake and butter it? Or do you use something else? Truly appreciated.

Luz

8 replies
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ByTheSlice Posted 22 Aug 2008 , 5:52pm
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I have see people use royal icing in place of the buttercream for a display cake. I would think that buttercream would yellow really fast, and fall apart. I have seen grocery stores put up displays that are styro and they are covered in buttercream, I just don't know how long they let them set out before replacing them. Good luck, Kellie

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tiggy2 Posted 22 Aug 2008 , 7:51pm
post #3 of 9

I've used crusting BC on dummies and it worked great. It dries very hard if let out in the air and is easy to dust off.

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indydebi Posted 22 Aug 2008 , 10:59pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ByTheSlice

I would think that buttercream would yellow really fast, and fall apart.




Nope!

It will change color if left in bright light (like in a window display). I have a 6-tier dummy, iced in white, in my window. At first, it yellowed a bit, but ironically, after being in the window a while longer, it changed back to white! icon_lol.gif

I have dummy cakes that are 2 years old and they look just fine. I apply my regular BC right onto the dummies. When applied to styrofoam, it hardens like concrete. Even my 14 month old grandson, who likes to touch EVERYTHING, can't hurt these things!

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rvercher23 Posted 22 Aug 2008 , 11:12pm
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Wilton sells this big tub of decorating icing at the store for like 11 dollars. I do dummy cakes out of that because it is easier than using my own ingredients and making it, and it holds up very well.

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mommicakes Posted 23 Aug 2008 , 3:15am
post #6 of 9

For the displays I have made 1/2 are of fondant, the other 1/2 is BC. I have had some since April and are still looking nice. icon_smile.gif
I had one iced in bc fluffy, with sparkles on it, still as nice as the day I made it.

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Tamera3130 Posted 24 Oct 2016 , 10:05am
post #7 of 9

I'm about to make a dummy cake using only BC. But I was only going to take pictures of it, tear it down, and make another one. My question is, will the styrofoam still be in good enough condition? Will the grease from the BC have an effect on the styrofoam? Styrofoam isn't cheap, so before I buy it, I want to know what I'm getting into first  thank you in advance. -Tamera

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jgifford Posted 24 Oct 2016 , 1:06pm
post #8 of 9

Styrofoam is plastic, so no, bc won't have any effect on it. Scrape off as much bc as you can then soak off the rest in really hot soapy water.

Generally unless you dent it, melt it or break it, styrofoam will last forever.

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me_me1 Posted 25 Oct 2016 , 8:44am
post #9 of 9

I use royal icing when I'm doing dummy cakes that I want to look like they have a buttercream finish. Then when I'm done I just melt them down in hot water, dry them out and they're good to go again.


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