I am making a cake for my younger brothers high school graduation. I want to show off my new cake obsession to my family so I have planned a detailed cake that I am really excited about. The only problem is that I live six hours away. When I went to my cake supply store I started talking to the owner and she gave me second thoughts about how I planned on constructing the cake.
Here is my plan: A row of books standing on end with bookends on each side with a graduation hat on top. I dont need to serve many, so I have a square cake dummy for the bottom to give it height. I will be baking a 6 square and I estimate it will be around 4 tall. So the final cake will be 8 tall.
I was planning on putting dowels through both the cake and the dummy so the cake wont slide off. I would then cover all of it with buttercream and fondant. The store owner seriously doubted this idea and said that with the constant vibration of the car the cake will move and the dowels will cause large holes to form in the cake, and the cake could still slide off, bubble, or shift.
My new idea is to make large flat slabs of either pure chocolate or modeling chocolate (I have even though of using chocolate covered sugar cookies) to support the sides think of a gingerbread house with cake inside.
Do you think this will work? Do you know any other way to keep a cake like this from failing?
Thanks for your help!
ps. I wont have time to make it once I get to my parents house, so that is out of the question.
, I just wanted to say that it sounds like a fabulous cake and I'd love to see the finished product!
If you can keep it from sliding around in the car it should be fine. I use shelf liner in the back of my suburban and its worked fine. Never traveled that far with a cake though -- if you have to hit your brakes hard you might be in trouble!
You can dowel them like you described and as long as the cake is level you should have NO PROBLEM transporting that cake. I live in the mountains of KY and my cakes have to go through the crazy curves, hills, bumps, gravel roads, and pothole hell. As long as you have your construction sturdy and the cake level it will do just fine. I would however, if the cap is gumpaste/fondant Not put it on the cake until you arrive at your destination. Better safe than sorry. Decorative items like that are best put on at location when driving that far.
HTH's and post pics of cake, it sounds like it will be gorgeous. 
edited to add. Use the non-slip spongy shelf liner stuff you find at the dollar store, or walmart. IT will NOT allow your cake to even think about moving.
If what I understand from your description of how you are going to make the books, standing on end, then I would be afraid to transport them very far. Are you meaning on end like you would see them lined up on a shelf? 
If so, I think it would be more stable if they were laying down, as though someone was reading them and laid it down. You could stack them on top of each other at different angles , in other words, not neatly. This structure would allow an easier transit and be less worrisome to you. Stack each "book" on a cakeboard so they don't set unsupported weight on the cake below and the dummy cake will support all of them. You will have to change your design some for the rest of the cake but I think it will arrive in one piece for you.
evelyn
I have transported a 4 tier wedding cake 4 1/2 hours through 4 canyons and it made it without any problems. It just depends on how you stack the cake.
If what I understand from your description of how you are going to make the books, standing on end, then I would be afraid to transport them very far. Are you meaning on end like you would see them lined up on a shelf?
If so, I think it would be more stable if they were laying down, as though someone was reading them and laid it down. You could stack them on top of each other at different angles , in other words, not neatly. This structure would allow an easier transit and be less worrisome to you. Stack each "book" on a cakeboard so they don't set unsupported weight on the cake below and the dummy cake will support all of them. You will have to change your design some for the rest of the cake but I think it will arrive in one piece for you. evelyn
I was thinking that stacking them the way first described might be a problem until I realized that the cake portion is only 4" tall. If the cakes are set together, then doweled it would be sturdy. BUt I live the idea of a haphazard book stack, that sounds really cute.
I think you'll be more than fine...........honestly.......what you're describing here is no more than a 6" square cake on top of a foam cake board (in essence). You don't need to dowel the cake dummy.......put the 6" cake on it's own board (so it's easy to cut and serve when the time comes) and put it on the dummy cake, then I personally...would drive a couple central dowels down through the 6" cake all the way down through the dummy and into your main cake board below the dummy.
Then frost, fondant, decorate. Definitely use shelf liner under the box in the car...but honestly I would NOT worry about transporting this cake.....it's small and really it's only a normal 4" tall cake since half is the dummy!
I would make sure the decorative board that you have it on is big enough that it can stabilize the whole thing (since it will be skinny and tall)
Only other suggestion I have for you is to wait until you reach your destination to put the grad cap on top...........OH and don't forget your camera.....I bet it's going to be awesome!!
Thank you all for your responses. You have made me feel much better.
KHalstead: Exactly: it is just a 6" square (4" tall) cake on top of a dummy the same size. I wasn't too worried about it until I talked to the cake store owner. You guys have really reassured me!
Thanks for all the tips about transport - I have a prius and the back is flat. I also have a bunch of non-slip spongy shelf liner and will make sure it is secure. I will also plan on putting all the extra decorations (like the grad cap) on AFTER I get there.
I like the idea of the haphazard stacked books, but it seems like more work because you would either have to cover each "book" separately or work with the fondant to get into the different angles.
I'll attach my sketch of this cake to give a better idea of what I am planning.
The cake is for June 26, I just wanted to get started planning early - but I will definately post pictures when I'm finished. I hope it turns out like I am planning!
Looks like it will be a great cake! Please post a pic when you complete it.
Good Luck!
If what I understand from your description of how you are going to make the books, standing on end, then I would be afraid to transport them very far. Are you meaning on end like you would see them lined up on a shelf?
If so, I think it would be more stable if they were laying down, as though someone was reading them and laid it down. You could stack them on top of each other at different angles , in other words, not neatly. This structure would allow an easier transit and be less worrisome to you. Stack each "book" on a cakeboard so they don't set unsupported weight on the cake below and the dummy cake will support all of them. You will have to change your design some for the rest of the cake but I think it will arrive in one piece for you. evelyn
I don't believe she will have the cakes perpendicular to the board. They will be stacked like normal, its just the outside that will make it appear that will appear to be standing up.
It it were me I probably wouldn't even bother with the dowels as long as you attach the cake board down to the cake dummy, but either way would work fine.
I think it looks like a great design. Best of luck and can't wait to see the final product.
I love the sketch you have and can hardly wait to see the finished cake. Good Luck
evelyn
Sorry it took so long to post the cake! I made another cake that same week and I just about went crazy. I'm only a hobby baker and these were really difficult for me to finish in a week with just a couple of hours to work after a full day of "real" work each day.
Due to my time restrictions, I only had a square cake covered in white fondant when I arrived at my parents house late the night before the party. Somehow, I managed to throw it all together in a couple hours before the party started.
The other cake was for some friends' reception/house warming party. They got married in Mexico and wanted a sunset, beach, palm trees, and sea shells.
Thanks again for everyone's help!
Sorry about the picture quality, I was in a hurry and only had my point and shoot.
They are both amazing! you did a professional job!! Congrats!
Wonderfully done, both cakes are beautiful. If you can toss things that creative together.....well then I hope to see you on a challenge one day! 
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