Fake Cake

I think it's a great idea. I would suggest that you make one "layer" a real cake so you can get those great cake cutting/feeding photos. Otherwise, I don't think your guests will even know it's not a real cake unless they try to sneak some!

Duskie, I also thought to do that, I too am a DIY only thing is in the cake department I don't even know where or how to start. Maybe you can give me some ideas on how too. My theme is beach so not sure how that would work, use real shells or candy shells from molds.

What I did was grabbed some boxed from work. They had cups in them so they were very large and strong. I did the sides 4 inches. The bottom layer is 12x12, the next 10x10, then 8x8 and 6x6. I find out that a glue gun works the best for gluing the sides. The bottom is open. No one will see that anyway. I used royal icing. It's 2 egg whites and 3 cups of powdered sugar. It also calls for lemon juice, but I left it out because it cause the icing to be an off white and I wanted it white. You mix the eggs and sugar with the mixer until thick. The most important part is having a cake scrapper that will cover the box. I used a 12inch flat one from work. The icing dries smooth and hard and sets up pretty quick. But remember, it takes a few hours before it's harden completely. It's actually pretty easy and really fun!

Yes, definitely a great idea especially with the high prices now for wedding cakes. I was looking to do the same thing to cut back on costs but we we're lucky to find a venue that is providing our wedding cake in our package. Remember if you need a back plan for creating a fake cake, there are sites on online that sell the styrofoam cakes and even the cake tiers that you can play with too. Have fun making your cake!

No one will care or even know! There is even a few businesses that rent and sell fake cakes. What I like about the one's I've seen it they have a little "cake compartment"...it's a little cut out where a real piece of cake is put so you can have those "cake cutting" and eating photos.

But you are so right practice makes perfect and you have just the right training to pull something like this off with out anyone being the wiser.

One thing that also works really well are those sheets of Styrofoam, the come on a bunch of sizes and thicknesses, you can cut and glue them easily, so these are great to use if you want a round fake cake. Fondant frosting is also great to use to disguise things and make it appear "pro"

Here's the link to the local rental company I use, they ship everywhere for those less crafty then yourself but their gallery pictures might give you some inspiration: http://www.cakerental.com/choose_ready.html

Have fun with it and best of luck with your "project"!

I wish I had done that. I love decorating extravagant cakes and things like that. If I could have done my own cake I would have but I didn't want to be baking the last minute. For me it wasn't to save money because our venue included the cake in our package, I just wanted to do it for myself. But I figured it'd be easier and better to leave it to the professionals since it wasn't costing anything. Well I was WRONG! They did horrible fondant work, I could have done it so much better! I should have done the fake cake for the look and then let them make the cake we'd all eat. Remember to leave a chunk out that you can put some real cake into for the cake cutting! I think this is a wonderful idea, no one will notice. It's not like people walk up and stick their fingers into the cake so how would they know it's Styrofoam underneath the frosting or fondant and not real cake? Go for it!

Actually, in Iowa, where I used to live and all my friends still do, that is what they do anyway, so no, I don't think people will get upset...and if they do, seriously? They want to get upset over a fake cake? Because the weddings I've gone to are so big (400+) that is the best and most cost efficient way to do cake. Usually one layer is real for the cake cutting, but the rest is syrofoam or cardboard. Then they cut up and serve sheet cake. People have always thought I was weird here in OK when I suggested that, so it's nice to see other people do it too! I say go for it!

Check out this post:

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/20000-wedding-on-6000-budget/be11d02704b6a4e8.html

Particularly this page of the linked article, where it shows a picture of their rented cake - a styrofoam replica: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Story?id=6969926&page=2

Thanks for the comments everyone! I would be almost done, but everyone came home early today and we ended up getting into an icing fight. I don't recommend this! Icing is everywhere and it's drying faster then we can clean it! I hope it washed out of clothes easily! I'll post pictures when we get it all done!

That is an AMAZING idea!! Have fun with it! Most of the time those fancy looking cakes dont taste as good as they look. So I think you are going to hav the best of both worlds!!! Have FUN!!

I've seen a lot of weddings where they bring out a fake cake, then later on during the reception, they wheel it out to the back and bring out little plates of a different cake. This is totally fine, lots of people do this. People won't get mad.

Actually Martha Steward wrote a whole book on wedding cakes and how to create beautifully extravagant fake foam wedding cakes.you should check out her book for wonderfull pics and ideas.

I don't know if you're having trouble with the boxes or not, (they might get saturated with oil and become weak) but if you are, go to a craft store and buy styrofoam and stack it. Many cake vendors do this for display cakes in their bakeries.

Thanks for the instructions, I am going to attempt this lol we will see what happens

No one would ever know the difference ;]

As an officiant, and one who gets involved with other vendor referral and general information, I have seen fake cakes many times. It is a great idea not only for the DIY couple, but also for those who simply wish to pick and choose as to where they want to spend their money.

As others have noted, you would want to have part of it as real cake, so you can get your "Cake Pictures." Thereafter, roll the fake cake to the kitchen and start to bring out your pieces of sheet cake.

No one will know the difference.

Just my opinion,

Reverend Stan

www.specializedweddings.com

The cake is coming along pretty well! The boxes are holding up great. The worst part is it take a long time for the icing to dry. Patience in not my strong point. I'll post pictures when it's finally done

I am having a real cake for my wedding, BUt what will your guests have for dessert?

Does anyone know how long the fondant will last and still look good on a "fake cake"? I have a while, but I would still like to start early. Could you freeze it once its done since it won't be eaten anyway to preserve its look? I think I might try to do a practice one and see how long it takes until it starts to look blah. Duskie, or anyone else doing this, please feel free to share your tips and "what NOT to do" in this fake cake creation.

Our guest will have cake from a sheet cake. It is way cheaper this way. I'm not using fondant, but royal icing. I've been told that royal icing will last for a couple years and is what the stores use for their display cakes. It's cheaper then fondant. Royal icing is just 3 cups of power sugar and 2 egg whites whipped with a mixer. It covers a good bit. The only problem is the wait time for it to dry.

I haven't worked with fondant much, but I'm almost sure that if you freeze it, you'll have problems with it when you unthaw it. Check on that for I'm not 100% sure. Maybe try a small box and freeze it for awhile then take it out and see how it holds up. This first one I'm doing I'm just playing with. I can tell that I will need to change the size because I need more room from one layer to another. Hope that helps you!