Ok.... as you can tell by my question, I am very new to this entire process. I decorate mostly for family and friends, but I am trying to start a little business on the side. I hear everyone talking about dummy cakes. What is this and how do I do one?

I would like to practice but I don't want to eat all that cake. Please help me understand what this is.

They are styrofoam cakes that are called "dummy" cakes. Good to practice on, without using a real cake. Also good if someone wants a cake to appear larger but doesn't need that many servings... it's used as a fill in!

No question is a dumb question...
A dummy cake is a piece of styrofoam shaped like a cake.
Altough, I am not sure of an easy source to find one. Maybe someone else will help us there. It depends where you live and what stores are available to you, but I suppose there is a website as well.

You can just decorate and wipe the frosting off and start over again. Some people like to cover it in saran first.

So then you can decorate the styrofoam? How does the icing all come off without getting in the little holes?

I think I can get the styrofoam at Hobby Lobby or someplace like that?

Dummy cakes are cakes done on styrofoam blocks, often sold at cake supply stores, if you are really just goofing around, turn a baking pan upside down and ice that. If it comes out nicely, photograph it for your book. If it doesn't, wash it off and try again!!!

Thank you tastycakes. I always thought that if you decorated the metal pan, the icing would slide off the sides.

Some people like to wrap theirs in plastic, or even in the adhesive shelf liner stuff.

Mrs missey is correct. It can also be used to make cakes appear larger. In the case of a small wedding etc. If they only need cake for say, 50 people, but want the larger 100 serving size on their table. It usually costs less as well.

I just bought a few dummy cakes to practice with. I prefer that to a cake pan b/c of the size. I thought about buying styrofoam at Hobby Lobby or Michaels but actual dummy cakes from a cake supply store are a different type where the icing won't get into the holes, it seems more compact somehow...it also washes better!
Where's Converse?? I'm in the DFW area and could tell you a good place but I have a feeling your a ways away! I have seen places you can buy them online, and in a ton of different shapes!

I am near Converse in San Antonio, I was actually in Converse dropping off a cake today too... If you find out where you can get some dummies please let me know and I will do the same.

Converse is down by San Antonio. AliciaL where are you located? I have not found dummies yet... I am thinking about getting floral styrofoam and covering that with something to improvise. I have been to Terry's on West Ave and they don't sell them. I don't know where else to look. I know Garden Ridge doesn't have them. Let me know if you find them!!!

I am thinking of using floral fowm too.. or I may break down and order some online.

Have you found them online? Where at? Are they expensive?

Where are you located aliciaL

norhtwest near 1604 but work north east near 410. www.kitchencrafts.com
http://www.americancakesupply.com/dummies.htm
http://shop.pattycakes.com/Categories/DMMY.htm

Has anyone actually ever purchased one online? There are notations all over these items talking about how UPS may charge for a 30# item due to the styrofoam being lightweight but bulky?

I am afraid to order because they don't tell you what the shipping charge is until after you place the order.

I have not purchesed any online.

However I just checked www.kitchenkrafts.com and they show shipping prices before you even have to enter your customer information. I have ordered through them before and they have great customer service.

You may also want to try www.sugarcraft.com I know I have seen cake dummies on their site also.

Good luck!

Leily

I just purchased some dummies from Country Kitchen, www.countrykitchensa.com. I have a wedding cake coming up in September to feed about 150--square cakes 6, 10, and 14, but the bride wanted 4 tiers, so I told her I'd do a dummy 18" tier.

Well, no one, that I could find, sells actual dummy cakes that large (I found a few places that sold 18" squares, but it was the really pourous styro...and that just doesn't work very well). Anyway, I order a 12" square and 5 6" squares from Country Kitchen to make an 18" square. They charge a flat shipping rate depending on your order total, and then add on a fee for bulky items. According to my invoice, the extra charge for the dummy cakes was $1 per 6" square and $2 for the 12" square. So, the total extra shipping cost was $7. That's not bad at all--you should've seen the size of the box I got (but I had ordered some new pans as well).

I did a lot of price comparing before I ordered the dummies from CK, and they had the best price including shipping that I found. (They also had my order here super fast!)

Thanks for the link... www.kitchenkrafts.com I just ordered from there because there were no notations on there being a higher shipping charge.

countrykitchensa.com was where I originally wanted to order them from and they were pretty inexpensive BUT...it was 6.00 + 9.95 STANDARD Shipping...so that doesn't include any additional shipping costs.

Sorry for $6.00 worth of items, paying even $17 shipping would be outrageous!

Kitchen Kraft charges $5.95.

Thanks all!
Mixee

(I will let you know if there are any suprise charges or anything.)

I agree...I am kicking myself now too, because I just placed an order last week with Country Kitchen...! But I didn't find out until this week that I would need dummies...ah well...I think it worked out.

At least someone else will have something to read and learn if they ever try to do this and run into the same problems!

Thanks all!
Mixee