I am doing two sandbox cakes this weekend for twins, they are in love with the backyardigans and I would like to make them each a cake with the backyardigans playing with them. I plan to make a square cake but not covered in fondant but with those wood replica sides. My question is what is a good material to use for the wood sides. I don't want to use all gumpaste because it is so expensive. I'm not sure that fondant will stay sturdy enough to be a wall. Have you done these sides before? What is the best material to use? Also if you have any ideas about the decoration of the cake that would be great too!

Thanks, Jasmine

dont know what to use for the wood sides but i have found finely crushed graham crackers make wonderful "sand" gives the graininess of sand and taste good to kids

You can mix CMC into the fondant or mix gumpaste/fondant to make the fondant sturdier 50/50 is a good ratio. If you had more time, you could premake the walls and let them dry, and should there be a gap between cake and wall, it's easy to fill in with the sand.

I'd use ground up Nilla wafers as the sand or a Nilla wafer/graham cracker crumb mix.

As for the sides, chocolate would work great if you have a mould for it. Otherwise, fondant or fondant/gumpaste mix pre-made and dried would be how I would do it.

I think I would use cookies, they are my new favorite decorating addition to cake and you could pretty easily make the wood pattern and may paint them Sound like cool cakes and I'll be looking forward to seeing them.