Hi! I live in Phoenix and I am new to cake decorating. I am anticipating fininshing the third Wilton class and taking a private course for gum paste in May. How do I deal with the severe heat with cakes? Especially transporting them? Crayons melt within thirty minutes in the car or less!

Any suggestions?

I live in Miami so I have a good idea of what you're facing. For transporting it all depends on what type of car you have, I have an SUV so im fine as long as I have my AC on which is all the time. Ive never had a porblem with my icing melting in the car. My biggest concern is what happens when you get to the venue. If the cake table is outside then ask that they keep it in the fridge until ready to serve, if they cant then just make sure its out of direct sunlight. Also always keep in mind that whipped toppings, cheesecakes and some custard fillings MUST stay cool or they will go bad. There is also a product called "Stay Iced" ,not sure about the selling, but its added to your buttercream to help stabalize it in hot waether. I think "Ladycakes" has some info on it, im sure you can PM her and ask her.

Hi! I live at the edge of the Mojave desert in California. So, I'm feeling your pain. I run the air conditioner in my car. I place most cakes on the front floor board of the car with the a/c hitting it directly. For larger cakes, I get a large box, place frozen ice packs in the box and place the cake inside of it. BTW, all my cakes are delivered in cake boxes.

I tell ALL customers, cakes cannot be kept outside in the heat. If they choose to do so, it is at their own risk.

pinky,

I live in Mesa, Arizona, so I am all too familiar with your problem. I recently finished all three Wilton courses and have done a couple of cakes for family members and hubby's work. When I took the cake to hubby's work, I used the frozen packs, the kind that you put into lunch boxes to keep food cool. Those worked pretty well. I traveled all the way from east Mesa the central Phoenix with no problem. I always transport my cakes in cake boxes to help with stability. It makes it much easier for me to get the cake to wherever without damage. Good luck.

Thanks for all the help! I moved from Fort Lauderdale to Phoenix last year in April. Going from the humidity to the dry heat was a challenge! I love this site! Everyone is so eager to help and I don't feel silly asking basic questions!

My husband had a scare at the hospital yesterday and had a spinal tap but is okay now. He is fine, and I have a wilton class tonight and it's my FAVORITE HOLIDAY, VALENTINES DAY!!!!!

Sweet Thoughts!

Pinky

Pinky,
I hope your hubby is feeling better! Spinal taps are no fun! Tell him he better stay laying down or he'll get that bad headache.. I know from experience!! Hope you didn't have to miss your class!

Hope your hubby feels better too!

I keep a huge cooler in the back of my SUV. It can hold 6-12" cake boxes and 4 or 5 pie boxes! I just toss an ice pack or two in there to keep it cool!