What's the best way of putting fondant / roll on icing on a cake dummy (polystyrene one)?
Thanks!
Sue

Wow, I was just going to post the same question and saw it posted already....hope someone answers soon. I'm starting to build a portfolio and cant figure out how I should apply the fondant to the dummy...makes me feel like a big dummy LOL.

I've decorated dummy cakes with buttercream before. I'm wondering should I just do it as I would a cake...cover with buttercream then apply fondant.

Someone please help!!

I have brushed it with a light layer of piping gel and also brushing the dummy with a very light coating of water. HTH

I soften the edge of the dummie, mist with a mixture of cornsyrup and water then cover. I find the problem is with harsh edges the fondant rips more.

Jlynnw, Is right, I did mine dry and my top tier was ripping

Use your rolling pin around the edge, to make them rounded or smooth.

I just did one and i just brushed on a tiny bit of water on them and then added the fondant and it ended up fine although i had a bit of trouble with the bottom not sticking but it eventually did but i am gonna do the same thing as Jlynnw and maybe try a little corn syrup with the water. Oh and i also softened the edges and didn't have any rips or anything on them then.

Some people also cover theirs in glad wrap first then spray that with water except i had trouble getting the cling wrap smooth and not bunching up on the sides so i just did it without it

i've done it two ways. i've tried piping gel and i've spritz the dummies with water and they've both worked well!

I WAS GOING TO COVER MINE WITH SIRAN WRAP SO I CAN REUSE THEM, THEN COVER IT WITH BUTTERCREAM AND THEN COVER IT WITH FONDANT AND DECORATE FOR PRACTICE..............WHEN I AM DONE ADMIRING MY HANDY WORK i WILL PULL EVERYTHING OFF AND BE ABLE TO PRACTICE ANOTHER DAY.......THATS MY THEORY......WILL IT WORK?

that will work. I have covered the dummies in wax paper before to seal them. I cut a circle and do the top like covering a base and then the strip around for the sides. This works better for me than the pastic wrap as there are no wrinkles. I just hate to waste the bc on dummies though. It does give you more realistic practice.

yeh even though i put my fondant straight onto the dummy i am hoping i can just break it off in the end and then i can reuse them, cose i figure its only icing sugar and marshmallows that wouldn't ruin the Styrofoam?

Also i just made one and i thought right after a while i will just rip the fondant and design off but now after all that work i don't want to to pull it apart but i want to reuse them and don't wanna keep buying more dummy things Damn it i got too emotionally attached LOL

I have not had an issue ripping the fondant off the dummies when the time comes. The dust and the light, a boss wanting new designs and too cheap to buy more. It does get hard. That is what photos are for, easier to store and less of a mess overall. I am so glad I don't work in that bakery anymore!

yeh it's funny how i don't want to pull apart my dummy cakes yet am quite happy for one of my real cakes to get cut up lol

thanks everyone...I just started on my dummy and its so much like doing the real thing. I started before I came back to the thread and now I know why my edges are tearing. I covered the dummy in "practice" buttercream then the fondant. It went on smooth except for the top edges.

When I rip this off to do another one I'll be sure to smooth down the edges first. But is it ok to use this dummy again even though I've covered it with buttercream. I mean...no one's gonna eat it, it's for picture purposes only.

I have used the same dummy cake for over 4 years and many many designs. It was unbelievable. I used chocolate to hold the tiers together. A little heat, warmth, is more like it and they pop. I did discover that putting them in the freezer worked better to remove all the old. Popped off like dried mud. I wanna see your finished dummy!

Royal which I've watered down a little and then brushed on. I use the same dummies over and over. I separate the tiers and put them in a sink full of hot water. It takes a while but the royal dissolves some and the fondant can then be taken of in big pieces.

Thanks everyone, what is piping gel? Perhaps this has a different name in the UK? I attached it with heated marmalade in the end, but will try some of the suggested ways now! It worked okay but was difficult to smooth - more difficult than with an actual cake because of the weightlessness of the dummy on the stand!

You need to stick the dummy to the board with some RI, otherwise yeah its gonna flop around everywhere

aah right yeah of course, silly me. Thank you!

I have used Glad press in seal once for a demo, I covered it in RI. When I was done I was able to just peel it off. When I covered it in fondant I just put water on it, just becareful not to over do it, as it runs down and makes the fondant sticky.

Hi how do you soften the edges? do you mean just rounding the styrofoam edges with a tool?

You can soften the edges by gently rubbing a small rolling pin or fondant smoother along them, or you can roll the edge on the countertop.

There's no need to cover the dummy with anything at all.  If you rub it well with a coating of vegetable shortening, the fondant will be easy to apply and easy to remove--even months later.  You can then was the dummy in hot water & dish soap and re-use it.

I used shortening  to help the fondant adhere to the dummy

Interesting topic and all useful to know... I've also used water with a little sugar dissolved in it and then brushed onto dummy. Then spray and cook, lightly, also helps fondant adhere to dummy